The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-27 00:00:00

Astley's.

The performances at this popular place of amusement
were last night supported in a very liberal manner by
the patrons of hippodromatic representations ; but the
pantomime on this occasion did not, on the whole, repay
the inconvenience acd unpleasantness of contending
against inclement weather to witness its representation.
A pantomime at Christmas is as essential to the full
enjoyment of the holidays by a Londoner as his plum
pudding is on Christmas-day the good cheer of the sea-
son ; and some disappointment is naturally felt when
the favourite house of resort falls somewhat short of
well-grounded expectations from the previous renown of
the establishment. The evening's entertainments com-
menced with the popular equestrian drama of " Rook-
wood, or Turpin's Ride to York," in which the talent of
the company was fully displayed, and justly rewarded
with the applause of the numerous audience assembled.
The piece mainly derives its popularity from the riding
of Mr. J. Holloway (Dick Turpin), and the high train-
ing of his mare " Black Bess," whose wonderful powers
were shown to perfection last night. The piece
also admits of some smart and daring riding, which
at all times finds favour with the public. Then
followed a variety of scenes in the circle, in which
Miss Emily Cooke and Mr. Alfred Palmer displayed
their equestrian talent, which has placed them in the
high position of being the most wonderful performers in
the world. After this came the equestrian pantomime
of " St. George and the Dragon ; or, the Seven Cham-
pions of Christendom," founded on the well-known nur-
eery tale, but abounding in burlesque. The piece
selected was well suited to the resources of the establish-
ment, but there had evidently been but a short time
allowed for its production, which necessarily caused
many incidents to occur which marred its general effect,
but which, by a little attention, might easily be reme-
died, and its value as a Christmas spectacle greatly en-
hanced. The piece bears but a slight affinity to the old
nursery tale, the knights and the dragon being the only
characteristics of the story, so strongly interwoven with
our boyhood's dreams, that appear. The piece opens
with the "enchanted prison," in which sundry sprites,
called Red war, Revenge, Venom, &c., are busily em-
ployed at their avocation:. Redwar is spinning a
rope to hang a vicious bear, Revenge is sharpening a
sword to fix a Russian. It then changes to the "moon-
light retreat of the fairies," a very pretty and effective
scene. The moon shines in bright effulgence on
a pellucid brook, the sides of which are be-
decked with water flowers of various pale and
delicate hues, whose tender petals are slightly
ruffled by the gentle ripple on the stream, an illusion
produced with admirable effect. The secluded and quiet
aspect of the spot, with the tempting green sward and
umbrageous foliage of the various trees through whose
facile branches, moved by the gentle breeze, the moon
sheds her soft light and produces fantastic shapes of play-
ful shadow, is fitly selected for the fairy revel, where the
fairies, accompanied by a troop of horses, await the ar-
rival of their Queen. The introduction of the horses is
out of place. It spoils the general effect, and leaves'one
to imagine the fairies have turned horse-stealers for the
nonce, and have brought their spoils to the feet of their
Queen to receive their reward according to the success of
their predatory expedition. The fairy Queen relates her
adventures on earth, and concludes with recounting the
deplorable case of a beauteous Princess at Memphis,
who is about to be sacrificed to the King of Morocco, a
regular blackamoor. Meanwhile, St. George is under a
spell in Kaylayla's cavern, whither he had been seduced
"from the ragged school before he bad finished his edu-
cation." The hag evinces a passion for the fair youth,
and relieves him from the spell by which he is bound.
The first use he makes of his liberty is to resuscitate the
other six champions of Europe, after which the knight
sets sail for Memphis in a penny steam-boat, called the
Pink, to save the Egyptian Princess from the sad fate
which seems to await her, and to encounter the fiery
dragon,which has been in custody. After many difficulties
he arrives in Egypt, and forthwith rides on his noble white
charger to the dragon's haunt, fastens his horse to a tree,
and surveys the place. Suddenly he encounters the dragon,
who appears with a flag of truce, on which is inscribed
the word " Hango." St. George, " being English,"
grants the truce asked for, but soon after discovers the
Princess a prisoner, and is about to release her, when
the Dragon makes his appearance, dressed as a Russian.
The fight takes place, which ends with the death of the
Dragon, and St. George receives the crown of Egypt
and the " five-shilling-piece of England," with the hand
of the Princess in the Bower of Bliss. Then come
the transformations and the usual tricks of the panto-
mime. In the course of the piece allusion is made
to the prevailing fashion of ladies' hats, and some
passing remarks on many of the less ncto-
nous circumstances and events of everyday life ;
and in the scene representing the presence chamber
in the Grand Palace of Memphis there is a sly hit at
Nitocris. The piece hung rather heavy both on the
corps • dramatic and the audience, but nevertheless the
liltter were determined to be happy, and having made
up their minds to an evening's enjoyment, were exceed-
ingly considerate, and applauded many parts, evincing
not the least uneasinees throughout the evening. With
a little judicious management the piece might be bene-
ficially improved, to the advantage of all, and insure
some amount of success,