The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-25 00:00:00

Drury-Lane Theatre.

The commencement of the winterseason at Drury-
lane Theatre has always been regarded as one of the
events of the year, and, on Saturday evening last,
one of the largest audiences ever assembled within
the four walls of the national establishment met to
celebrate the occasion. The fact was all the more
pleasing from the circumstance that the immense
attendance was attracted by the announcement of
" Macbeth" and "Comus" for representation, as it
bore convincing evidence that the works which
charmed an English audience nearly two hundred
years ago still held their ground as firmly as the
greatest lover of Shakspere could well desire.
The cast of characters differed somewhat from
that of last year. Mr. Swinburne now sustains
the part of Macduff, Mr. Macintyre that
of Rosse, Mr. 11. Drayton Hecate, and Miss
Atkinson Lady Macbeth. On Mr. Phelps's
Macbeth it is unnecessary to dilate, for it is too
well known and appreciated. It has great vigour,
most careful study, and is read with an intuitive
perception of the poet. The mingled visionary and
determined nature of the character, with its strange
mental susceptibility and ferocious criminality, are
thoroughly ur.derstood and appreciated by Mr.
Phelps, and it is a fine Shaksperean interpretation
of the wonderful creation. The reception of Mr.
Phelps by the audience was enthusiastic. • Mr.
Swinburne's Macduff was the novelty of the evening,
and it is satisfactory to find that he is imbued with
true Shaksperean appreciation and feeling. His
reading of the part was natural, and highly
artistic. Miss Atkinson's Lady Macbeth was
one of the best we have witnessed for a long
time. The music was very efficiently given ;
indeed, more so than last year, as the fine voice of
Mr. Drayton as Hecate was a great improvement
over the metallic organ of the gentleman who last
year attempted the undying music of Matthew
Locke. Miss Poole and Miss A. Thomson, as the
principal female singing witches, sang their respec-
tive scores with great effect, and the choruses were
all executed in a remarkably fine manner.
The Masque of "Comus" followed the tragedy,
Mr. Drayton assuming the part of Comus. There,
we think, he got a little out of his depth. He is a
careful and judicious vocalist, but he is by no means
a brilliant elocutionist, and the latter quality is
requisite to embodying the character of the arch
enchanter. Mrs. Vezin, as the Lady, delighted the
audience with her beautiful and tasteful reading,
and Mr. E. Phelps received great applause for his
performance of the part of the Elder Brother.
The scenery and decorations, both in the tragedy
and masque, were superb. Taken altogether, the
opening of the theatre was attended with great
success, and gave happy augury of a prosperous and
brilliant season.

THE. MURDERER OF MAJOR DE WERE.—We are
informed that there is an inaccuracy in the paragraph in-
serted on Saturday respecting the execution of Currie. In
Kent criminals are executed on the first Thursday after the
third Sunday from the day of conviction, which in this case
will be Thursday, Oct. 12, on which day the execution wil
take place at 12 o'clock at Maidstone gaol.

THE AUTHOR OF " GUY LIVINGSTONE" has
arranged to contribute to Once a Week a aerial tale, which
will appear forthwith. It is to be entitled " Sans Ilerci, or
Kestrels and Falcons."

SWISS GARDENS, SHOREHAM.—As these cele-
brated gardens are about to close, after a most suc-
cessful season, we should advise the visitors to Worthing
and Brighton, to pay them a visit while they have the
opportunity to do so. Mr. Goodschild, the spirited pro-
prietor, having obtained a theatrical licence, has laid down
a new stage in the theatre, and has for the first time pro-
duced a burlesque, entitled "Prince Hassan." The piece
is smartly written, and contains the following plot. A cer-
tain Princess Fairstar (Miss F. Howell) being kept a
prisoner by the Uglymuggio, the gnome king (Mr. Hillier),
Prince Hassan (Miss Maria Rhodes), a knight of the usual
gallant order,{ leaves his home to set the maiden free,
but, unfortunately, ho is caught by the Gnome
and condemned to death unless he can procure
something which his satanic majesty cannot swallow. The
Prince consnAs his papa and sister, King Sillibillio and
Priuce'ss itlina.nica (Mrs. Leicester and Mr. E. Ravens-
wood), aria viith 'the assistance of Rhoda (Miss I. Howard
they prepare the most extraordinary and indigestible dishes
the.3Yoild has ever known ; but, to their utter dismay, the
Gnome not qt)y, swallows them, but, like Oliver, asks for
more—these not being forthcoming, he determines to
have_Prince Hassan served up, after being well pep-
pered. Fairstar, to save her lover, and to gain time,
commences a long story, with so many improbabilities in
it, that the Gnome is forced to own he can't swallow it.
No sooner is the word uttered than his magic power deserts
him, and, like all bad people, he is doomed to reside below
The lovers are then united, and all ends happily in a grand
transformation scene, painted by Mr. Marston, which
would do credit to one of our metropolitan theatres. The
ladieS and gentlemen engaged made the most of their
parts, and a triangular combat between the gnome, Prince
Hassan, and King Sillibillio is much relished by the audi-
.ence. The other amusements consist of boating on the
lake,, archery, the story of the far-famed Cinderella carried
out by dissolving views by Mr. Childe and a Bal de Nuit,
where those who are fond of saltatory exercise may enjoy
thethselves to their hearts' content. We understand
'during the recess Mr. Goodschild 'intends to enlarge tho
auditorium of the present theatre, and will commence the
forthcoming season with a variety of novelties, and a new
burlesque, which is to rival some of the old Lyceum
•
pieces.

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress will give a
banquet to the Lord Mayor-Elect, Court of Aldermen, and
chief officers of the Corporation, at the Mansion House, on
.Tuesday, 3d October. This banquet usually takes place on
Michaelmas-clay, but it has been deferred this year till the
above-named date in accordance with the wish of Mr.
Alderman Phillips, who will, in all probability, fill the
office of Chief Magistrate during the ensuing year.—City
Press.

FALCONER V. PHATTERTON.—The following is the
order of the Vice-Chancellor, nri the opening of the
theatre :—" Let the motion stand over, and, without pre-
judice to the notice, let the theatre he opened, with Mr.
Roxby and Mr. Phelps as stage managers. Let the money
be paid to the bank in the usual manner, but with liberty
for Mr. Baker to attend in the treasury and to investigate,
if ho think proper, the accounts of the money-takers, check-
takers, and box-keepers, and other accounts of the theatre,
with liberty to either party to apply on a week's notice,
Mr. Falconer himself to be at liberty to concur in superin-
tending the acting management without prejudice to his
allegation that the partnership is already dissolved."
A company is about to the formed at Paris for
establishing a line of steamers to ply between Paris and
London. The capital is to be 5,000,000 f., which aro
e started
back ; a
a line
and
d though of s t rmper be-
tween
ic s
ed r
£200,000. Some large export houses of Paris are at the
hettdofthtehet‘avffoacira.pitAalsf7vlLa
tions were made that it would not succeed, owing to the
voyages up and down the Seim, being, from the windings
and shallowness of the river, both long and difficult, it has,
it appears, been very prosperous. The great advantage of
not breaking cargo more than compensates, it is said, for
the loss of time which h
the voyage -y river and sea occa-
sions—
compared with that by railway and the channel.
Sipping, and Mercantile Gazette.