The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-15 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

Last night Mr. B. Webster made his reappearance, after
a very lengthened absence, in the character of Mr. Pen-
holder, in the clever little drama " One Touch of Nature."

Thepersonation of the poor theatrical copyist has always
been regarded as ono of Mr. Webster's finest embodiments,
and certainly he never played the part better than last even-
ing. Like the character of Triplet, in " Masks and Faces,"
it abounds with all those fine touches which none save a
thorough master of his art can produce ; and although
there are portions of it easily over acted, yet Mr. Webster
never for an instant lost sight of the character he was de-
veloping, and the hearty applause the performance evoked
was a worthy tribute to the judgment, taste, and pathos of
the artist.

The novelty of the evening, however, was the re •
presentation of Mr. Boucicault's version of Dickens's
" Cricket on the Hearth," which the adapter calls
a domestic drama in a fairy frame, entitled " Dot."
Although the introduction of a number of fairies into the
piece destroy to a very great extent the reality of the story,
yet it must be confessed it renders it extremely pretty, and
coupled with the elaborate manner in which it has been
mounted, it will, without question, prove highly attrac-
tive. The magical change of King Oberon's haunt in the
woods to the interior of John Perrybingle's cottage was
excellently managed and loudly applauded, so also was
the appearance of the fairy cricket surrounded by fairies at
the conclusion of the first act, Miss Louisa Keeley made her
first appearance as Dot, which she looked and acted to the
life. Mr. Emery's John Perrybingle is too well known to
need commendation, as it was confessed on all sides that his
version of it when the piece was first produced at the
Lyceum, under the successful management
of the Keeleys,
was the living embodiment of the imagination of
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Plummer was nature itself. Miss Simms, as Bertha, and
Miss Latimer, as May Fielding, each acquitted themselves
with great effect.
A little compression might improve the piece ; but, taken
as a whole, it is a very pretty entertainment, and one that
is certain to draw crowded audiences,

The applause at the fall of the curtain was enthusiaatii

EXETER HALL.

The National Choral Society, last evening, gave a per-
formance of Handel's •' Messiah," in which Miss Florence
Lancia, Madame Sainton Dolby, Mr. Swift, and Mr.
Sant ley, sustained the principal solo parts.

It was Miss Lancia's first appearance in the hall as an
exponent of sacred music, and a little nervousness was of
course to be expected. The disagreeable feeling soon passed
off, and the manner in which she gave "Rejoice greatly,"
and " I know that my Redeemer liveth," was the theme
of general approbation. Maclaine Sainton-Dolby of course
sang her music with all that fine appreciation for which she
is so remarkable. Mr. Santley secured one of the successes
of the evening by the manner in which he gave " For be-
hold darkness," "why do the nations," and "The trumpet
shall sound."

The choruses were all exceedingly well given, for one of
which, "For unto us a child is born," an encore was at..
tempted.

The oratorio was very ably conducted by Mr, Martin,