The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-21 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

Sardanapalus, the "fast" King of Assyria, a bur-
lesque of the first water, was performed here for the first
time last evening, and met with the most complete suc-
cess. Like most of the A delphi's extravaganzas, it is
one act, yet, in that ono act, every telling point in the
magnificent or:ginal is very cleverly compressed. The
curtain rises and discovers the breakfast-room in the
palace of Sardanapalus, the housemaids of the palace
being in a state of revolt at the tyranny exercised over
them by Salamenes (Mr. Keeley), "the king's private
mother-in-law," and who is by them voted to be a
"public nuisance. " Sardanapalus (Miss Woolgar)
enters, suffering from the effects of a " lark" at Green-
wich, and, after trying soda water and brandy, prepares
to receive his five hundredth wife, Myrrha, (Miss Collins),
in this case a fair Patlander. A pic-nic to the Vale of
Palms is proposed, and Salamenes and her daughter
Zarina, the four hundred and ninety-ninth wife, are not
included in the invitation. The king's mother-in-law,
overhearing the arrangement, determines to follow the
royal barge in a wager-boat, and arrives only to find
the place deserted, and all the " nic-nacs" any-
thing but agreeable, Sardanapalus having, on hear-
ing of her approach, emptied the pepper-box
into the apple pie, the vinegar into the sherry, and the
salt into a trifle. Determined not to be baulked in his
pleasure-trip, he visits his military encampment at Can-
vass-town, and here a "night surprise" is effected, the
military evolutions consisting of a " waltz march" and
a " polka square." During the time the king is
"idling his time," the usurping Mede, Arbaces (Paul
Bedford), has succeeded in gaining over the "affections"
of the army, and at a night orgie, at the Assyrian palace,
vanquishes the king, who had previously ordered all his
goods and chattels to be made into a bonfire, well knowing
that they were allinsured. However, with the general con-
sent of all, things take a favourable turn, and the curtain
falls amid blue fire and a chorus. The engrossing topics
of the day all come in for their share of hits and puns,
most of them being greatly relished by the audience.
The acting of Miss Woolgar, Miss Collins, Keeley, and
Paul Bedford was capital. The musical portion of the
burlesque consist of parodies on the newest ballads—
Mario's delicious morceaux in the last scene of Verdi's
opera .Rigoletto, not escaping the appropriating hand of
the adaptor. The scenery and dresses were magnificent
in the extreme—the Adelphi burlesque rivalling in splen-
dour the Princess's spectacle. Like Mr. C. Kean, Mr.
Webster has taken Layard as his authority, and winged
bulls, &c., &c., are found in abundance. The burlesque
was announced by Miss Woolgar for repetition every
evening, amidst the applause of a house crowded to the
ceiling.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—The performances of the
German company this week take a decidedly Shaks-
perean turn. Last] night Humid, which achieved such
a success last year, was produced with Herr Devrient
as the Prince of Denmark, and Othello, with Herr Des-
soir as the Moor, is announced for to-morrow. A Ger-
man version of this latter tragedy will be a novelty to
the London public.
ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.—Mr. Cooke, the proprietor
of this establishment, is upon the eve of returning from
Paris. A new equestrian act of a peculiar character is
in preparation for Mr. Alfred Cooke, the premier rider
of the establishment. Mr. Cooke, during his continental
trip, made several very important engsgements for Miss
Emily Cooke, who will shortly make her debut in the
presence of the Imperial Court of France.
ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION, 14, REGENT-
srEEET.—This successful diorama, illustrating the route
of the Ocean Mail, has been visited during the past
week by the following distinguished and fashionable
personages :—The Duke and Duchess of Cleveland and
Lady Somerset Fane, the Marchioness of Clanricarde
and pa rty, Earl de Grey, Earl of Rosso and family, the
Bishop of Worcester and family, the Countess of Strath.
1 more and party, Lord Viscount Barrington and party,
Lord Viscount Ranelagh and party, Lord Ashburton
and ix arty, Lord and Lady Overstone and party, Sir
John and Lady Harrington, General Sir Richard
Doheii Ly and party, Sir Richard King, Sir Thomas
Dyke and Lady Acland, Lady Joddrell and party, Sir
Henry Webb, Bart., Colonel Boyd and party, Major
Gore, : Mr. Scholefield, M.P2. and party, &c. &C.
RIB' IN THE PRICE or BREAD.—Yesterday another
advane e took place amongst tne second-class bakers
throng] lout the metropolis of Id. in the 4lb. loaf, which
is now increased from 6d. to 7d., a very large increase
to a poi n• man with a numerous family, where bread is
the stt gde article of food ; animal food, cheese, bacon,
and sin iilar commodities, from the increase of price, are
scarcerr within their reach, there being no corresponding
increase of wages and employment.
WRY), LOUTH—STEAM SEA TRIPS.—The "Prince " pro-
ceeded o n an excursion from this town on Thursday last,
July 1,1, and called at the following places ; viz., leaving
Weynn yu th at 10 a.m., for Bridport ; 12.30 p.m., for
Lyme ;. 1.30 for Sidmouth ; 3 for Torquay (to remain
that xn glit). July 15.—Left Torquay at 10 a.m. for
Dartmc )uth, and proceeded up the River Dart to Totnes,
leaving homewards, at 1 p.m., and arriving at Torquay
at 3.30 ; Sidmouth, at 5 • Lyme, at 6.30 ; Bridgport,
at 7.30 The scenery of the Dart has justly been at this
season of the year considered as equal to that of the
river Rh ine. Amongst the numerous objects of interest
presentee Ito the excursionist in his progress up this de-
lightful r iver, may be enumerated—the Castle of Kings-
wear, Go mereck Castle, Mount ißoone, Old Mill Bay,
Maypool, Anchor Stone, Village of Dittisham, Wadde-
ton Court Sanbridge, Stoke Gabriel, the Ruins of Dun-
cannon, 1 he celebrated Echo, and Wind Whistle Cot-
tage. Th e "Contractor" left here July 14th, at 7,30
a.m., for Portsmouth and Spithead, calling at Cowes ;
and '!left I 'ortsmouth at 4 p.m., for Cowes and Wey-
mor t(-) view the grand fleet, which are daily mar
Igo al Tuag them