The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-28 00:00:00

THE PRINCESS'S.

The entertainments at this favourite theatre opened with
the performance of Tobin's comedy of " The Honeymoon,"
the principal characters in which were well pla3ed by Miss
C. Carson, Miss It. Powell, and Messrs. G. Vining, C. Sey.
ton, H. Forrester, and D. Fisher. The comedy was fol-
lowed, alter the not inconsiderable interval duly allowed in
every theatre on the first night of a Christmas piece, by a
new comic pantomime illustrating what the programme
truly terms " An Extraordinary Number of Nursery
Rhymes." In the course of the action we have snatches
of Little Torn Tucker who cried for his supper ; of Lady of
Banbury Cross, of the old woman whe lived in a shoe, with
her perplexing numerous progeny; of Taffy who was a
Weidman and eke a thief ; and some other of those stories
for little people which we all know of. The connection be-
tween the various tales is certainly not quite so clear as it
might be, and the dialogue is not remarkable for brilliance.
But the action is full of bustle, and the juvenile portion of
the audience evinced much delight at meeting with so many
old acquaintances. As a spectacle this pantomime posses•
ses considerable merits. To give an idea of the way in
which the scenes follow one another it will be enough tosay
ands
that the first opens in old Cocker's Cabinet of Calculation,
Here all work doing their sums, and no play, seem to have
madea Cocker's pupils dull boys. But the Holidaye, in the
Shhlieol pretty and beneficent fairies, intervene, and then
oliday Home. The Holiday Home is a big shoe,
mistress of it is an Old Woman, who having duly
administered to th
bread, Benda them young ones the butter without any
Tom Tucker (mei?, to sleep. Forthwith appears Master
son, with money :ni: Howard), the Old Woman's eldest
this a leg of beef Was his pocket, honestly earned, and with
Taffy (Mr. Milano), wghooti In the dead of the night comes
conveys it to his home—itlihis vocation steals the beef, and
At the same tim the Welsh mountains, we sup-
pose. e, not content with stealing the
beef, the same
the Princess insatiabl
gibber filches e r
obb
h away the king's
daughter, Mary Quite Contra
Barnett)-8 wilful young lady who w ill g o rr (Miss E.
for a walk in

spite of her parents' prohibition. She is taken to where the
beet is, and Master Tom Tucker sets out to recover both if
he can. A dove flies across his path pursued by a hawk,
which latter he strikes dead, and saves the dove in his
bosom. The dove is of course a fairy, recovers her human
shape, and in grateful return shows Master Tom the secret
of Taffy's dwelling. Here he finds the princess, procures
a horse for her flight ; but she being a wilful thing becomes
obstinate, and as a punishment is changed to stone on the
back of the horse. How the change is effected is immaterial,
and if it were not so we could not explain it ; but the lady
on the white horse is next seen at Banbury Cross. Here
she is restored to life and action by a very singular tune
played by Master Tucker; and here the transformation
takes place. This transformation scone is really magnificent
in its scenic effects. The artist, the decorator, and the ma-
chinist have done wonders during some years past in pro-
ducing stage scenery ; but the introduction upon the stage
of a beautiful lake of real water was reserved for the artists
of the Princess's. The scene represents the Moonlight
Abode of the Nautilus, and is the suitable locality for a
grand Fairy Congress—the fairies; all of them lovely crea-
tures, gently emerging from the beautiful shells. Mr. F.
Lloyd, who designed this scene, was justly called before the
lights and vociferously applauded. The effect of the opening
was greatly enhanced by the graceful and piquant acting of
Miss Helen Howard, the broad drollery of Mr. C. Seyton,
and the effective pantomime of Mr. Milano ; and special
praise is due to the taste and artistic skill displayed by
Mr. C. Hall in the arrangement of the music, and to the
striking ability with which Messrs. Milano and Chapin()
have arranged the incidental ballet. Of the action of the
pantomime properly so called little need be said, except that
the tricks and transformations went very fairly for a first
night. These comprised hits at the pre% ailing feminine
fashions, at the practice of betting, at the way in which
Poland has been "aided,' by the Western Powers, with
an ink-bottle and some pens and paper; at Mrs. Lirriper's
Lodgings, and the Pneumatic Despatch Company ; but
none of thorn was either striking or fun-provoking, The
scene we have already mentioned, an exceedingly well-
executed Grand Ballet, and the dancing of Columbine
(nisei Car'line Adams), and Harlequin (Mr. Arthur
Leclercq), tEzether with some success;ul fiddling by the
young under the ditlicultiEs of
simultaneous nle
saltation,astr constitute the interesting parts of
the Grand Christmas Pantomime. Tho theatre, which has
been newly decorated in very tasteful style by Mr. B. W.
Bradwell, was crowded by an audience who seemed duly to
appreciate the entertainment provided,