The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

LYCEUM.

The public have so long been accustomed to associate
with the Lyceum all that is magnificent in spectacle,
brilliant in decoration, and tasteful and correct in cos-
tume, that they will be prepared to hear of the perfect
success, in these respects, of the new piece with which
the theatre last night opened for the season. The
Lyceum has, indeed, on this occasion, fully sustained the
reputation which it has acquired, and we may confidently
predict for the extravaganza just put upon the stage a
run of popularity quite equal to that which some years
ago attended the Golden Brands, the Island of Jewels,
and other pieces, the production of the same author. The
performances last night commenced with the "Bachelor
of Arts, a comic drama which was then repeated for
the 23d time, and this was followed by the great
attraction of the evening a "new original fairy
extravaganza," called Once upon a time there were two
Kings. The merit of the piece lies chiefly in its
scenic effects, the excellence of the costumes, which
belong to the close of the 17th century, and the music,
with which it is plentifully interlarded ; for the dialogue,
though smooth and occasionally pretty, is greatly want-
ing in that point and piquancy which are so highly
relished in this class of performances. Of allusions to
the leading topics of the day scarcely any were given,
and these were so lightly touched as hardly to be recog-
nised by the groat body of the audience. The story of
the piece, like that of most others which are enacted on
fairyland, it was not very easy to unravel from the per -
formances. Periwigulus the Proud, King of Human-
fief' (Mr. J. Bland), sends his son Brutus the Crooked
(Mr. Wright), who is Prince Royal and Generalissimo of
the Forces, upon a warlike expedition, and the latter re-
turns victorious, leading captive, among other prisoners,
the Princess Carpillona (Miss St. George), the eldest
daughter of King Placid the Easy, a dethroned monarch
(Mr. F. Mathews), and his Queen Dominania (Madame
Vestris), supposed by thorn to have been drowned
when a child, and who is unconscious of her rank.
Brutus the Crooked enters into a conspiracy, with the
dutiful object of depriving his father of the crown,
assuming the reins of government, and retaining for him-
self his beautiful prisoner, but is pacified by his father
consenting to forego all claim to the lady and to hold
only a nominal place in the government. Meanwhile
Carpillona, aided by the fairy Amazona (Miss Martin.
dale), makes her escape through a neighbouring forest,
pursued by the relentless Brutus, who is determined to
make her his bride, and, after a succession of stirring
incidents, finds herself in " the verdant valley," where
her father, Placid the Easy, ex-King of the Peaceful
Islands, and his wife and daughters, arc living i ncog.
and in rural simplicity. Here she becomes known to
her parents, and falls in love with Corin, a foundling
(Mr. F. Robinson), who has been adopted as his son by
the good-natured Placid. At last Corin and Carpillona
are carried off by Brutus the Crooked, and in the council-
chamber of his father (King Periwigulus) are condemned
to be cruelly burnt. Preparations are making to carry
out the horrid sentence, when, by a mark on his
shoulder, Corin, is found to be the eldest son of Priewigu-
his, who had been put out of the way by Brutus when
a child, who, even now, when he has discovered his
brother's identity, is resolute in his determination to
take his life. At this juncture the good fairy Amazona
interposes, and converts what was to have been an execu-
tion into a triumphant deliverance, which is effected by
the " prdtecting powers" under circumstances of great
pomp and rejoicing. In the development of this plot
there are several truly magnificent scenes and spectacles,
especially one designated " Sea Weed-hall, the Ocean
home of Aquamarina, a Sea Nymph,"and the de:neament
of the piece, which includes a scene of the most gorgeou6