The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-08 00:00:00

FOREIGN THEATRICALS.

OPERA CONIQUE.—One of Mehul's unpretending little
operas, L'lrato, has been revived hero, for the debut in
the part of Scapin of M. Meillet, one of the pillars of
the Ogre National during the past season. He was
received with marked favour. The other parts
were creditably supported by Mdlles. Lemercier, De-
croix, and MM. Lemaire, St. Foy, and Ponchard.
VAUDEVILLE.—After a remarkably prosperous career,
La Dame aux Camelias has disappeared from the affiche
in consequence of the conge of Madame Doche, whose
admirable acting has not a little contributed to its suc-
cess. The novelty which has replaced it, La Maitresse
d'Ete et la Maitresse d'Hiver, by M. Clairville, aided by
M. Cordier, has one point in common with its attrac-
tive predecessor—it is in five acts—of which three at
least are de trop. There is no deficiency of smartness and
animation, but five acts of incidents more or less
confused, merely to narrate the amorous tribulations
of M. Henri, or M. Arthur, is rather over-estimating
the importance of such . trifles. In this affair, the-
hero .is a Parisian " Giovanni," who in summer con-
descends to hononr with his notice a pretty peasant
girl, whom he all but seduces, while in winter he be-
comes one of the most devoted admirers of iridlle. Rosita,
one of the fair denizens of the quartier Breda.
The maitre.sse d'ete, however, has also a rustic
admirer, who, with a spirit that does honour to the con-
fraternity of modern Melibai, punishes M. Henri by
transforming himself into an accomplished townsman,
making a vigorous attempt to supplant him in the affec-
tions of Rosita, and finally calling him out and " wing-
ing" him after the most approved fashion. Ultimately
the piece concluds with the marriage of the hero with
the village girl.
A3ll3roU.—The most illustrious of ancient dramatists
have been reproached will a too liberal use of the ter-
rible in their dramas, but all the Greek writers, even old
esEichylus himself, must yield the palm to the Arnbigu.
Here the playgoer, who, like Macbeth, would "sup full
of horrors," duds a table ready to his taste. Carnage, pes-
tilencr, murder, suicide,and all the evils with whic poor
humanity is afflicted, are nightly presented here according
to the most correct traditions cf the Boulevart du
Crime. After the Vampire, the Croquemort, Satan, &c.,
we are now introduced to the Croquemitaine, not the
cradle bugbear dreadful to refractory childhood, but
simply a Ghentish glove-maker, who acquires this soubri-
quet in consequence of an order of the Duke of Alva tor
an unlimited supply of green mittens gala " mitaines."
The fierce governor intends them to be worn by the
Spanish troops as a rallying sign in a general massacre
of the Flemish; this massacre, a rather close imitation of
the St. Bartholomew, constitutes the subject of the
piece, which was successful considering its length (six
sots) and its complete deficiency of anything like
literary merit, the scene-painter, costumier, and per-
formers, particularly M. St. Ernest and Mme. Mabire,
more than sharing in the honours with the author, M.
Mex de Revel.
THEATRE NATIONAL. WO have here a genuine
military drama, La Prise de Capree, iii which ice
dashing sabreur, Murat, and his gallant followers go
through those evolutions and the well-known feats
of arms which this theatre (the Cirque Olympique
of former days) has time out of mind been in the
habit of representing, the whole crowned by the
storming of Oaprea, in which a deluge of rockets and a
portentous display of red fire give a very showy and
brilliant representation of something, which, in reality,
must be far from an agreeable affair. The certain fails
in the midst of the enthusiasm created by this feu d'ar-
tifice, and the authors come in for a,share of the ap-
plauses, which we strongly suspect are wholly intended
for the pyrotechnist.
M. Roger has been succeeded in his part in the Juif
Errant by M. Chapuis, the former }vivito, left the
theatre for his annual tour, commencing with Germany,
where be is an extraordinary favourite.
In addition to the hundred and one rumours long cur-
rent on L'Africaine, we now hear that M. Meyerbeer,
by a new modification, has divested it of the character
which seems to have occasioned him some trouble, that
of the Negress. This change demanding the assistance
of M. Scribe, the dramatist, who has been spending the
winter in Italy, has proceeded to Berlin for that purpose.
Mme. Rossi-Caccia has arrived in Paris.
M. Verdi is finishing an opera to be produced at La
Fenice, in Venice, next autumn, under the title of 11
Trovatore.
Jenny Lind (Mme. Goldschmidt) is about to take up
her residence in the vicinity of Hamburgh.
Mrs. Clara Nnvello, and Coletti, the baritone, have
been engaged for the Oriente at Madrid.
A. new ballet has been produced al Vienna, under the
title of Odetta ; it was saved from condemnation by
the admirable
atmet
dancing of Amelia Ferraris, who appears
}Missr aisn form a avou
f rite with the Viennese as Fanny
„rster days. Don Giovanni has been sung
for the time in Italian at the Porta Corinzta, with
rSuizsr, raid Maray, and MM. De Bas-
sin;, Mitreetaa!
complete.• , and Graziani; its success is described as
jn Doniesttrs Lucia, Madame Cuzzani is described as
having achieved a
Turin. She was great success at the Nazionale in
nice times. The other are
tistes, MM. Sacchereecaed lland Walter, are also well spoken of.
Letters from ;Allan give a glowing description of the
perfernaal?ce edaree L
ecatelli and M. Bordas at the
careen°, in evento.
Male. Grilltz has made a sensation at Ferrara, in
Ivabuceo.
—Galignani.
Li No, yo.h. the Corsica, .
Brothers is being played
with the gre3.test favour ,Nt the la
owery and the Astor-
place Opera-houw
dtraombaave
Opera-house.
Lola Alontes
styleda appeared
At the Broad Ally
ult• in the new historical
on the 25th
Monies in Bavaria.
Madame Celeste was playing a very successful en-
gagement at the attalr!ut-streetTheatre, Philadelphia,
baying been engaged for
then
31stia week, she
was
to
appear at the Broad waY on t
alt,
belitg her fare-
well engagement previous leaving England.
still in New Orleans at I
Arose Bishop was last
s dates
from that city.
Miss Davenp

,ort is pliyina at, Pittsburg.

EXTRAORDLivn y ESCAPE.
Perhaps few more extraordinartheascnatphees
following.
mwitan
awful death have ever been recorded
hose names are John
Whose
—On Saturday last two men -
Waine and Thomas Liddiard, were engaged
belonging to
had been at work alld deepening a
well situated at the back of sosoenu!,,
a Mr. Stacey, of Sleugh. They 'clock, returning
the morning, and left for dinner at 1 o
At 2. In a few minutes Liddiard was drawn iucket
holen a b
which had
to the top of the well through a man"
been cut in the crown. Scarcely had he arrived there
his 'luck-
when the earth gave way, falling on A
less companion, completely burying him. diately un
number of fellow-workmen were imme
y.from
the spot, and commenced clearing the earth awa
the body of the sufferer. Liddiard descended u_gawninfunpr
the purpose of assisting, and had scarcely been d
for the second time when the crown of the well,wreligh
ing
more than half a ton of brickwork, fell in also. The
task of disinterring the poor man Waine became now
doubly difficult, few indeed expecting, when completed,
to find him alive. A gaspipo was introduced and forced
.down the well to afford a passage for dr. After some
labour it was found that the position of the sufferer were
nearly perpendicular, affording the opportunity, when
his head should be released, of administering stimulants.
Up to six o'clock in the evening little bad been effected
10 give any strong hope of an ultimate rescue, and
it was foreseen that the labour of excavating must
be continued for hours to come, and through the
night. Pipes were laid from the gas main to the mouth
of the well, and the labourers commenced excavating
by the light thus afforded at the side of the well, and
some yards from its mouth. By extraordinary exertions
the upper portion of W'aine'e body was released by one
o'clock on Sunday morning, and stimulants in the shape
of smell doses of brandy were administered by the medi-
cal gentirmen of the toyen who were in attendance daring
the whole time. At half-past four o'clock the exertions
of all were happily crowned with success, when at that
time the tab:ter was seen emerging from his dreaded
, a walking up the ladder with a firm
prea , step and.a
eheaeul countenance. A warm bath was in readiness at
,
the workhouse, whither the patient was removed and is
recovering speedily, after a fearful incarceration of
fifteen hours and a half at a depth from the surface of
the earth of nearly 22 feet. Too much praise cannot be
giteu to those by whose exertions the life of a fellow-
s/Wawa ins been ultimately saved.