The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-07 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The opening of this theatre, last night, was accom-
panied by a couple of novelties, one a five act romantic
drama, and the other a choreographic and musical enter-
tainment for the introduction of the corps de ballet,
which, as we stated yesterday, is to be the chief strength
of the company this season. Of the drama, St. Marc,
there is not much to say—its plot is rather complicated,
but it treats mainly of the unsuccessful efforts of
a libertine to obtain possession of the virtuous
wife of one of his followers, which are at length sum-
marily put a stop to by his assassination at the hands of
a religious fanatic, whom he has injured in some way
not clearly made out. The interest is well sustained
throughout, and the dialogue in many parts forcible and
elevated. It was well acted, Miss Vining and Mr. Daven-
port taking the principal parts—the husband and wife.
The ballet, The Spirit of the Valley, was very successful.
The corps is one of the best we have seen for some time, and
executed the various complicated manceuvres of the piece
with wonderful precision. Mdlle. Plunkett has several very
clever pas in the piece ; one of them—" El Zapateado "
—Spanish, we suppose, by the name—she danced with a
vigour and expressive grace which was loudly ap-
plauded. M. St. Leon, besides his dancing, played
several airs on the violin with great taste. We
should mention that one of the parts which
he fills in the piece was that of an old
village fiddler, which gave considerable scope for the
display of his pantomimic powers. Miss Julia Harland
also appeared in the piece, and greatly contributed to its
success by the manner in which she sung several pretty
songs intrusted to her. The house was tolerably well
attended.

CITY OF LONDON THEATRE.—On Saturday evening
a dramatic version from that master-mind of domestic
truths and powerful conception, Dickens's "Bleak
House," was produced here with good effect, both in
development of the characters and scenic display. All
the artistes exerted themselves to the utmost, and
were deservedly successful, more particularly the
poor crossing-sweeper, Joe, personated by Mr. Searle.
Mr. Travers, Mr. Saville, and the wretched and neglected
Howdon, by Mr. Frampton Johnston, showed their
artistic conception in the characters entrusted to
them ; and though last, not least deserving, the
wily lawyer Tulkingborn, personated by Worrell
(although not quite old enough, according to our con-
ception of the author's intention), was admirably im-
pressive, and truthfully crafty and lawyer-like. Mrs.
Campbell and Miss Eliza Clayton were very good. The
bause was crowded, and the drama decidedly successful.
EXTENSION OF THE SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.—Yes-
terday a communication was received at Lloyd's from
the Danish Consulate, announcing that the submarine
ebsetric telegraph cable had been successfully laid down
across the Great and Little Belts. This line of telegraph
in connection with the Dutch line of telegraph and the
submarine cable, extending from Orfordness to Holland,
opens up the electric communication between London
auAl Copenhagen.
OnEssA.—From Odessa the mercantile letters reach
to the 27th of May. For some days after the return of
Prince Menschikoff there had been general consterna-
tion and an entire suspension of business, but the feeling
of alarm was now partially subsiding, and some trans-
actions had taken place in wheat at about 235. per
quarter, free on board, the price a fortnight or three
weeks previously having been 265. to 275. Freights
were enormously high, and 80s. per ton had been given
for tallow—the conclusion being, that in the present
state of uncertainty of no disengaged ships are likely to
visit the Black Sea, and, hence, that this important
Russian port must for a long time pay a penalty for
the Emperor's proceedings.
The price of ships continues to amount rapidly up-
wards. Vessels of a class which only a few months ago
would have been a drug in the market, are now eagerly
p sought after ; every description of tonnage is at present
i 4 great demand.—Newcastle Journal.