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

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1853,

CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS

DRURY LANE.

The lessee of Drury Lane is the greatest of all mo
dern " Smiths." Last night he achieved another ma-
nagerial triumph in the production of a right good
pantomime "and no mistake," entitled King Humming
Top and the Land of Toys—a glorious pantomime from
the pen of E. L. Blanchard, a veteran in good " acts,"
though (in years) one of the youngest of our dramatic
favourites, renowned among all laughter-lovers as the
author of the Artful Dodge, and dear to the hearts of a
whole generation of children as the author of Harlequin
.11udibras. On the rising of the curtain we are introduced to
the Realms of Novelty, situated above the sun, because,

as it is stated, there is nothing new under it. The

attendants and ministers cf the Empress Novelty-7
"Fashion Design, Capital, and her follower, Success—
are?* awaiting the return of their mistress, who has been
presiding at the Dublin Exhibition, and who returns in
her triumphal Emerald Car ; and Miss Featherstone
illustrates the novelties of the past year in a series of
brilliant parodies. What may then be termed the Mas-
que of this tripartite exhibition commences, and we are
introduced to Prince Chameleon, who, blas6d by excess
of every sensual delight, is seen in his prismatic palace,
the victim of ennui. Wearied of his existence, he is
about to cast himself into the stream that flows through
his delicious gardens, when he is stayed by the Spirit of
Happiness (Miss F. Williams), who transports him to the
realms of King Humming Top and to the Land of Toys,
thus renewing his boyhood, and, with it, all the
freshness of soul he so languishes for. In this territory
of Toys, and in this region of Youthful Delights, he
meets King Humming Top and his army of Tops, the
Princess Skipping Rope and her attendant bevy of Kites
and they receive all the representatives of the various
Toy nations. Processions and revels ensue here, which
do great credit to the artistio ingenuity of the property
superintendent, who has shown great fancy and fertility
of invention in the adaptation and masking the innu-
merable symbols of toyish and boyish life. It need
scarcely be said, this scene absorbed the wonder and the
admiration of all the juveniles in the house. An alarm
of toy trumpets interrupts the revelry, and the Queen of
Beauty invades the youthful territory, Cricket, rowing,
archery, &c., are arrayed against her, but in vain—the
imperious Queen triumphs. The Prince penetrates her
labyrinthe bower, and finds Happiness by the possession
of true love. This concludes the first part of this ela-
borate piece. The transformation now takes place, and
leaving the real of fancy, we light upon earth. King
Humming Top becomes Clown, and the familiar " How
d'ye do," and " Here we are," of our old jocose friend,
Tom Matthews, greets our ear. Mr. Halford, dropping
the petticoats of Dame Nutcracker, hobbles out as dear
old silly Pantaloon, and the Prince (heretofore elegantly
performed by Louise Blanche) is turned into the rest-
less Harlequin. True Love, becomes the gentle and
faithful Columbine.

M. Milano is an excellent Harlequin, dexterous, agile,
and animated--full of indefatigable spirit and activity,
and an admirable dancer to boot. Madlle. Annie
Cushnie looks extremely handsome and lady-like as
Columbine, and enacts the part with effective graceful-
ness and accomplished expression in the "poetry of mo-
tion." These artistes are a valuable acquisition to the
Smith establishment, and on this, their first appearance
here, completely secured the cordial affections of the
audience. The same may be said of Madlle. Terese
Cushnie, one of the most skilful and pleasing danseuses
of the present day, and who, by her brilliancy and faci-
lity of execution, drew down great applause. Madlle.
Louise Blanche was splendid in appearance, and excel-
lent both in her acting and dancing. Wonderful were
the evolutions di-played in the comic part. A band of
grotesques, the Ethair family, pile themselves up to the
ceiling, and toss themselves about, as if made of India-
rubber. A monstrous real giant is subjected to the
gibes of the wondering Clown and Pantaloon. A swarm
of young. Clowns and Harlequins appear, and Master
Beckett almost rivals as a miniature Clown the great
prototype before him. The adventures of the illus-
trious quadruple or rather quintuple party, for Miss
Charles appears as Harlequina, involve allusions to the
events of the past year—Sydenham Palace, Penny Re-
ceipt Stamps, Turkey and Russia, and other domestic and
foreign transactions, are hit at with the usual panto-
mime satire. One of the best of these is the putting the
Pantaloon into an envelope ; and the scene where the
respective residences of Mr. Harlequin, Mr. Clown, and
Mr. Pantaloon are shown in juxta-position, is very
humorous. It is, however, impossible to particularise
all the incidents, frolic and fun, and we opine will be
useless, for certainly no one who takes any interest in
such matters but will see this production overflowing
with attraction for children, great and small. If girl-
hood and boyhood are still made of the same stuff, and
the schoolmaster has not too much invaded the season
of holiday, we predict for this pantomine a very long and
jolly career. Whatever its fate, the unremitting energy
of all concerned, and the liberality and costliness shown
by the lessee in getting it up must deserve applause.
The verdict, however, rests with our little friends, and
their imprimatur was given with a roaring laughter
which was indisputable ; and this being followed by that
of their parents and guardians, Old Drury can boast of
a success and a pantomime that resuscitates the glories
of the day, or rather the night, of Mother Goose.
In conclusion let us not forget Tom Matthews, whose
clown was as jovial, and bustling as ever, and provoked
shouts of laughter from all parts of the house.