The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

A STLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

Last night, this favourite place of amusement was filled
to overflowing with a Whit-Monday audience of the ordi-
nary description—miscellaneous in its composition, rather
unruly in its conduct, and not over-discriminating in its
judgment. The bills announced a thorough change in the
performances for the holiday week, the first piece being
described as " a grand historical equestrian spectacle, ex•
hibiting effects never before produced." This is entitled
The Cossacks, or Vive la France, is in three acts, and em-
braces—to again use the words of the many of the
stirring and momentous events of 1814, and, while proving
a compliment to France, fully developes a subject which (at
this particular time) is of all-absorbing interest, viz., the
arbitrary, tyrannical, and barbarous Russian rule."
The noise which prevailed during the Brat few scenes
made all that passed on the stage mere dumb-show ;
but the current of the story was clearly discernible in the
actions of the different characters. It is laid chiefly
in the camp of the Russians when located in the French
territory, and it hinges upon the abduction by Count
Manzaroff, the Cossack general, of Louise, the daughter
of a French officer, who has been killed in a skirmish
with the soldiers of the Czar. She hates him with
all the loathing of woman, but, moved deeply by
her charms, he is resolved to make her his wife,
and that by force, if not by stratagem. In this he is as-
sisted by a female slave, and by dint of forgery and lying
he succeeds in inducing the lady to believe that her blind
mother, Madame Blanchard, had given her consent to the
marriage, that being the only condition on which she would
consent to wed a Cossack; and the Count's plans are on
the point of consummation, when the slave, repenting of
her participation in the cruel plot, discovers the whole
transaction, and offers her assistance in obtaining the
escape, not only of Louise, but of Captain Maurice, her
lover, who has bravely run the risk of his life by seeking
his fair one in the enemy's camp, where ho has been made
a prisoner. In the meantime the French Imperial Guard
hold a secret meeting in the court-yard of Madame Blan-
chard's mansion, to devise means for releasing themselves
from the Cossack oppression ; and, having resolved upon
their measures, they swear to conquer or die. The next
scene is the interior of a theatre. The Imperial Guard,
disguised as peasants, occupy the centre, and the Cos-
sacks fill the side galleries. A song calculated to give
offence to the latter is purposely sung by a performer,
who is asked to repeat it. The Cossacks oppose his
doing so, while the others are as clamorous that it
shouli be given again. The poor vocalist is ambitious to
display his abilities, and obeys the majority; whereupon
a Cossack rifle lays him flat upon the stage. This is the
signal for attack, and the disguise-is thrown off, and an
exciting conflict ensues behind chairs, tables, and benches,
which are erected with wonderful rapidity into a kind of
barricade, and out of this affray, of course, the Guards
come triumphant. _ .

- .
We now turn to the more immediate objects in the
episode. The well-meant intentions of the slave having
been thwarted by the proposed escape being detected, she
is condemned to the knout, Louise is ordered to Russia,
and Capt. Maurice is sentenced to be shot. When he is
brought out to the place of execution, he is willing to die
like a soldier ; but when the order to fire is given by the
Count, the soldiers, who turn out to be some of the Im-
perial Guard, present their guns to the breast of the as-
tonished Count, and immolate him with the very weapons
he had intended for his victim. The approach of the
French army under Napoleon and a brilliant engagement
complete the catastrophe, and injured innocence is
triumphant, and all ends as happily as could be desired.
The above is a mere outline of the production, there being
many other exciting incidents and. hair-breadth escapes, in
some of which a fine Newfoundland dog particularly distin-
guished himself. The scenery was excellent, and the dresses
new and brilliant, while the group of the characters in
each spectacle was highly effective. It is unnecessary to
mention the equestrian stud ; it is the finest and best
trained iu the kingdom, and always does its duty well. It
will suffice to say that they conducted themselves as if
imbued with an anti-Russian feeling, and that they never
flinched at the firing of guns and cannon, or seemed to dis-
like the smell of powder.
The chancres were rung upon rancid tallow, train oil,
candles, and. horse-flesh, and no opportunity was lost by
the gallery of seizing upon any jokoor allusion which told
against the Russians.
As a whole, the Cossacks may be said to be one of the
most successful pieces produced at Astley's ; and Mr. W.
Cooke is entitled to praise for the care ho has bestowed in
its getting up, and for the great liberality with which all
the arrangements are marked. The curtain dropped amid
a loud and hearty round of applause.
Tho performances terminated with the Scenes in the
Circle, into which much that is new has this week been
imported, and au extravaganza called The Horse will be
Sold.