The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-28 00:00:00

THEATRES.

DRURY LANE.
As we have on so many previous occasions recorded our
opinions of the merits of Mr. Forrest, we need not now
dwell upon the preellence of his performance of the part of
Richard the Third, in which tiC appared last night. It
would be paying but a poor compliment to the taste of the
public were we to think that the Easter piece alone drew such
crowds last night within the walls of Drury : but, as the
Easter piece was the novelty, we must dismiss Mr. Forrest
with a cordial repetition of our former praise, and turn to
the spectacle that was offered as the attraction of the eve-
ning to the mere holiday makers. " The grand serio-comic
romantic Melodrama of Valentine and Orson," as the bills
have it, was revived for their amusement, for the first time,
according to the same authority, these twelve years. The
incidents of the well-known nursery tale were pretty strictly
adhered to in the melodrama, all the characters of which
were ably supported. Mr. Howell took the part of Valen-
tine ; Mr. T. Matthews, as Orson, acquitted himself in a
manner highly amusing to the audience. Mr. Meadows
appeared as Hugo, Miss Taylor as the Princess Eglantine,
and Mr. Mathews as King Pepin. Judging from the ap-
plause with which the piece was received throughout the
entire performance, we should say that its antiquity is not
likely to prove a bar to its success.

CC)VENT- GARDEN.
The tragedy of King John and Dibdin's farce of The
Waterman preceded last night the new piece produced at
this theatre for the entertainment of the holiday folks. The
tragedy and farce were .both strongly cast. Macready,
Vandenboff, Bennett, Mrs. West, and Miss H. Faucit
sustained the former, and Collins the latter. Macready
on this occasion made his first appearance, and was warmly
greeted. His performance of King John is so well known
that we need not particularize it ; suffice it, therefore, to say
that it was distinguished by all its acknowledged excel-
lencies. Vandenhoff played Faulconbridge for the first
time, and succeeded admirably. The new piece is en-
titled Noureddin and the Fair Persian, or " The
Bright Star of Morn;" it is founded on the well-known
tale of Noureddin in the Arabian Nights' Entertain-
ments. The plot is simple, but it is not the less interesting
on that account, and its other recommendations are that it
has a moral, and, above all, affords a splendid opportunity
for the exhibition to our northern eyes of all that is bright,
gorgeous, luxuriant, and enchanting in the East. Collins
played Noureddin, G. Bennett Abdallah, and Miss Vincent
Nourmahal ; their characters of course are mere sketches,
but they made the most of them. The scenery was very
beautiful. The Hall of Silver Mirrors in particular de-
serves commendation, both for the ingenuity of its mecha-
nical contrivance, and its extraordinary effect. Noureddin
is supposed to be asleep, and his dream is represented by
means of four tableaux, which are exhibited in the mirrors.
The piece on the whole was successful.

OLYMPIC.
The managers of this elegant little theatre have the
knack of hitting upon "taking" titles for their pieces. What
subject could be more appropriate for the display of the
airs and graces of the fair company congregated at the
Olympic, what more abounding in pleasing poetical asso-
ciations, than Pope's justly celebrated Rape of the Lock .9
Madame Vestris was Belinda, of course, and beautiful she
looked, and exquisitely she sang I The order of the
scenes is also prettily conceived ; a vision of " Belinda
sleeping" first captivates the true-hearted Frank Cecil
,(Mr. Selby) ; " Belinda's toilette" confirms the charm ;
and the " Cave of Spleen," which follows, forms an appro-
priate contrast, and opens the scheme of " counter-irri-
'taut " spirits, by whose agency the rest of the plot was
managed. The act of cutting off the " shining ringlet," so
destructive to the peace of mankind, by the foolish Lord
Moonbeam, and the union of Belinda with the faithful
Cecil, form a very legitimate, but, we must at the same
time observe, nut a very striking conclusion to the drama.
Mr." Charles Mathews's Dapperwit, though he acted it
with his best grace, was but a caricature of the needy poet
of " olden time." Vining's Lord Moonbeam, and F. Mat-
thews's Sir Theophilus Plume, were too grotesque even for
farce. The acting, however, of Madame Vestris, Miss
Murray, and Miss Fitzwalter, aided by some good points,
occasionally, in the dialogue, and much beautiful scenery
and groupings, carried the piece successfully through.

ADELPHL
Last night this theatre was again opened, the Lord
Chamberlain having given permission to the proprietor to
extend the season for some weeks longer. Some novelties
were produced, which were attended with eminent success.
The first was entitled The King of the Danube and the
IVater Lily. The plot is of the most common-place cha-
racter. As a literary production the merits of this piece
are of a very humble character, but the beauty of the
scenery, and the excellence of the acting of Mrs. Honey
•and- Mr. J. Reeve, will, we have no doubt, make it ex-
tremely popular. The extraordinary effect of some of the
scenes surpass any-thing of the kind ever produced even at
this theatre, so remarkable for its success in this respect.
The music is of a light and agreeable character, and some
of the airs sang by Mrs. Honey and Mrs. Fitzwilliam were
extremely well received. Mr. Yates gave out this piece
for repetition amid the loud and general plaudits of the
audience. This was followed by a burletta, in two acts,
entitled, Ruth Tudor ; or, Rhys the Red Smuggler. This
is a domestic melo-drama, the scene of which is laid in
Wales. The scenery was of the most beautiful description.

ST. JAMES'S.
This theatre was last night re-opened with the operatic
burletta of the,,Postillion, which was. performed with great
spirit. This piece was followed by an entirely original se-
rious burletta, in two acts, called Mabel's Curse, the pro-
duction of Mrs. S. C. Hall. The scene occurs in the tur-
bulent times of the Roundheads and Covenanters. The
burletta was given out for repetition. We must not omit
to say, that Miss Allison's performance of Mad Mabel was
as good as it could be. The performances concluded with
The French Refugee. Mr. Lionel Goldsmid's Mons. St.
Pierre was above all praise ; his acting was never strained
ei tame. Here, too, the powers of Miss Allison were
brought into play with great effect, and her acting received
great applause.

ASTLEYS.
This theatre opened last night for the season, with a new
version of Ivanhoe, under the title of The Lists (f Ashby ;
or, The Conquests of Ivanhoe. The manner in which the
costumes have been got up is deserving of all praise : they
are exceedingly rich, and the greatest pains have evidently
been taken to prepare them from the hest authorities. The
scenery is splendid and well disposed. The representation
of the Passage of Arms at Ashby, of the Burning of the
Norman's Castle, and of the Joust Ground, at Temple-
stowe, as prepared for the immolation of the Jewess, are
particularly effective. The whole of the spectacle, in short,
is got up in a way which reflects the highest credit upon
the proprietors of this establishment, and it will, doubtless,
have a run.