The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

Mr. Wigan brought out, at a great expense, a panto-
me, d
iuncseet a d Butof
whose-
numerous dseuruutehsesessupauerdinitietenrdaarnycestoafudainugauwtherour
a wghuoase.
pushing it on, and bolstering it up between pieces of
tr
ha nu tsepeefuotra
utiheem hase ruiut
topf
ranything
t t rhaec ge,h t
andpr o,
more vitality, Mr. Wigan *has at once withdrawn
it. Until a new piece of more importance is ready, he
plays his own capital farce, The First Night, which was
produced with so much eclat at the Princess's, Mrs.
Reed (Miss P. Horton) taking the part of the debutante.
Its re-production last evening, met with a success that
could scarcely have been equalled, certainly not ex-
ceeded, during the height of the popularity it had pre-
viously enjoyed at the Princess's. The curtain fell
amidst enthusiastic applause, and Mr. Wigan and Miss
P. Horton were called on to receive the acknowledge-
ments of the audience, for the pleasure and amusement
which had been derived from their very excellent per-
formance.

CITY OP LONDON THEATRE.---Justly named the
House of Call for Pantomimes. Mr. Nelson Lee has
this season surpassed himself—he has, indeed, taken
care of number one ; it is one of the old school of panto-
mimes ; the opening, which is entitled The Ocean Queen ;
or, Harlequin and the Mystic Branch, being a very pretty
fairy legend, admirably carried out. The hero, young
Friendless, is protected by Coralbranch, a good fairy,
who starts him on a journey to rescue the fairy Queen,
who is enchanted beneath the deep, which can only be
accomplished by securing the mystic branch. After en-
countering innumerable difficulties, he succeeds, arriving
at the palace of Oriental Pearls—a scene of perfect
beauty. We never saw so great an effect produced on
a minor stage ; it reflects the greatest credit on the
management. Here the transformation takes place, and
when we say Mr. Veroni, from Drury-lane, is the Har-
lequin, Mrs. W. H. Harvey the Columbine, Mr. Mor-
relli the Pantaloon, Paul Herring the Clown, and Herr
Deani the Sprite, it is enough to satisfy the public that
justice is done to the working of the comic scenes,
which are full of wit and practical jokes of the
present day, and written in Mr. Nelson Lee's happy
style. We strongly advise all lovers of pantomime to
pay the City Theatre a visit. Mr. Stanfield, Mr. Chas.
Dickens, and Mr. Mark Leman have visited the theatre,
and, by the applause they bestowed throughout, ap-
peared much pleased with this really talented production.
GREAT METROPOLITAN EXHIBITION or POULTRY.—
The private view of the Great Metropolitan Poultry.
Society's second exhibition _took place yesterday even-
ing, at the bazaar, Baker-street. The whole of the spa-
cious building in which the Christmas exhibition of fat
cattle is held was occupied with pens, cages, baskets, Stc.,
in which the birds were arranged. Some of the cages
were of mahogany, and extremely tasteful in design, but
the great majority were the ordinary pen, covered in
front with a wire network. The total number of pens of
poultry, including fowls, ducks, geese, and turkeys, was
1,139 ; of pigeons, 425 ; and of rabbits, 50. The Brahma
Poutras, to which for a first time a class was given,
were in great force, and many first-rate specimens of
this noble bird were ' exhibited. His Royal Highness
Prince Albert was among the contributors, and his pen,
marked 581, was " highly commended" by the judges.
The first prize fur this magnificent bird was awarded to
Mr. H. Daviesf Spring-grove, Hounslow ; and the
HenryH
second to Mr. Gilbert, of Upper Phillimore place,
Kensington. These birds were, we understand, greatly
admired by her Majesty for their beautiful symmetry and
roundness of breast. They are considered by judges to
be superior to the celebrated Cochin fowls, from their
greater resemblance to the thorough-bred Dorking. In
the course of the evening the judges made their awards,
and reported that a great improvement was observable in
the different breeds of birds. The show of pigeons was pe-
culiarly good, the most noticeable being the Australian
bronze-winged carriers, and the collection of Mr. Samuel
Bult, of Hornsey-lane, Highgate. The breed of bantams
was considerably improved, and comprised the gold and
silver Sebright and other descriptions. The specimens
of white-feather-legged bantams in pen No. 100 were
especially noticed. The entries of Cochin Chinas were
very numerous and of high class, many of the birds be-
ing valued at prices ranging from 20 to 60 guineas. The
judges were of opinion that the exhibition of the latter
bird was, on the whole, finer than that held at Birming-
ham, and the specimens more valuable. The pens deemed
the finest were Nos. 350, 361, and 362. The first prize
among the partridge. Cochins was given to 345, and the
second prize to 344. 'Tlie number of birds collected may
be imagined when it is stated that there were 2,000 en-
tries, and in many cases there was scarcely room for the
pens.