The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-26 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

Last night, Miss Cushman made her second appear-
ance at this theatre, in the character of Mrs. Haller, in
Kotzibue's Stranger, which affords plenty of scope for
the display of those rare histrionic qualities which make
this lady one of the most natural and effective actresses
on the stage. The conception of the character was ex-
cellent ; for one of the chief qualities of Miss Cushman
is her complete comprehension of her author. The
pathetic scenes which abound in the piece were extre-
mely well rendered ; and though her outbursts of feeling
were powerfully grand, they were always marked by
delicacy and truth. Altogether, it was a performance
highly artistic ; and it created considerable effect on a
crowded audience. The strength of the company was
thrown into the cast ; and it played smoothly and
agreeably. Mr. G. Vaudenhoff, Mr. Howe, Mr.
Chippendale. Mr. Compton, Mrs. Buckingham, and
Miss Chaplin undertook the principal characters, which,
it is needless to say, lost nothing in their hands.

SURREY THEATRE.—On Monday night this theatre
was filled in every part by a highly respectable audience,
to witness the first appearance of a young lady who has
already exhibited at other of the metropolitan theatres
the possession of talents which qualify her for attaining
a high rank in her profession. On this occasion Miss
Sarah Thorne, the young lady alluded to, appeared in
the character of Zamora, in Tobin's comedy of the
Honeymoon, and her reception as such must have been
highly gratifying to her feelings. She sustained this
part with an ability which won the applause of the
audience, and fully justified the favourable opinions en-
tertained of her by her friends and admirers. The part
of the Duke Aranza was performed by :Mr. Creswick
with his usual ability, and was loudly applauded, and
Miss Eliza Clayton, as Juliana ; Mr. Shepherd, as Rol-
lando ; Mr. H. Widdicomb, as Jaques; and Mr. Lyons, as
Count Montalban, received the well-merited plaudits of
a crowded house. Upon the whole, the comedy was
performed in a manner highly creditable to the resources
of the Surrey establishment.
STRAND THEATRE.—What next will the lessee of this
little theatre attempt ? On Monday he produced the
opera of Der Fretschutz, one of the most difficult of pieces,
as far as stage resources are concerned, very creditably.
It is much to be regretted that such exceeding liberty has
been taken with the score of Weber ; the music of this
opera is far too beautiful for even a single bar to be
omitted. However, that portion of the music which
has been left is very nicely given, and we cannot help
thinking that, with the aid of Miss R. Isaacs, Miss F.
Reeves, and Mr. H. Manley, the whole of the opera
might have been very well executed. The celebrated
huntsman's chorus was very excellently sung, and fully
deserved the applause which it received. The Virginity
Mummy, a farce of the Jim Crow school, followed, in
which Mr. G. Hodson sustained the principal part.
Hibernian characters are evidently this gentleman's forte
and we think this hint will not be lost sight of. The
pantomime still continues highly attractive. The house
was very fully attended.
ST. MARTIN'S HALL.—Last night Haydn's oratorio
" The Creation" was repeated at this fine hall, under
the direction of Mr. John Hullah. The principal
vocalists were Miss Birch, Mr. Frank Bodda, and Mr.
T. E. Williams, and the choruses were executed by the
members of Mr. Hullah's first upper singing school.
Mr. Hullah has achieved a perfect wonder in training
so large a body of amateurs to the pitch of real excel-
lence displayed last night by their rendering of the ex-
quisite and pro tanto difficult music of this oratorio.
The audience was tolerably numerous.