The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-05 00:00:00

TIIE THEATRES.

DRURY LANE.

There was no novelty at this theatre last night, although
it was the opening night of the summer season. The per-
formances commenced with The Jewess ; and the only
change in the caste was in the part of Rachel, Mrs. Slo-
pan having been substituted in the personation of the he-
roine for Miss E. Tree. The alteration, however, in no-
wise detracted from the effect of the piece. The last act
of Gustavus the Third followed, by way of interlude, and
the entertainments of the evening concluded with the after-
piece of Chevy Chase. The house was well attended.

COVENT GARDEN.

The novelty of last night rejoices in the imposing title of
Zazezozizu, which will be remembered by our readers as the
name also of a production that has lately met with the
greatest success at Paris, and a similarly prosperous result
will, we doubt not, attend its transplantation to the boards
of Covent-Garden. Upon the rising of the curtain the
palace and gardens of the Pacha Zazezizozu are disco-
vered ; his " sublime and beautiful" Excellency (Mr. Til-
bury), attended by his faithful vizier and fly-catcher, Gros-
bee (Mr. Vale), and a host of slaves, is wrapt in the arms
of Morpheus ; but his slumbers are not peaceful. A hor-
rible dream disturbs him, which, upon waking, presses so
heavily upon his mind, that Cododad, the Astrologer Royal,
or king of the necromancers, is instantly sent for, to explain
the meaning of the portentous vision which had appeared
to the mighty Pacha of Busora, and of all the undiscovered
islands beyond the extremity of the world. Cododad ar-
rives—the dream is narrated. A large and tempting pasty
was, as the Pacha dreamt, placed before him, and was im-
mediately succeeded by the appearance of three cats, intent
upon its destruction, which were only prevented from carry-
ing their purpose into execution by the addition to the
party of a beautiful white mouse, upon whom they all in-
stantly pounced, and for whom a great strife arose among
them. A bell was then heard to strike three hundred and
sixty-five times, and the Pacha awoke. According to the
interpretation of the reader of the planets, the pasty was
the Pacha's kingdom—the three cats his three sons, Zizi
(Mrs. Almond),. Zozo (Miss Turpin), and Zuzu (Miss
Murray), who were desirous of obtaining his kingdom—the
little mouse, a beautiful Princess, whom the Paella was re-
commended to seek, in order to direct their exertions to an-
other channel—and the 365 tolls of the bell the number of
the remaining days of Zazezizozu's life. A difficulty, however,
here arises ; the Princes of the Undiscovered Islands have
been, by their father's desire, taught to regard all women
with horror, and there consequently appears no probabi-
lity of attracting them by the fascinations of female love-
liness. The Magician is delighted with the difficulties
in which they are placed, and his delight is expressed
by a loud and satirical laugh. The " humane" Pacha is
displeased, and as a matter of course the Magician be-
comes, in a few moments, shorter by a head. A very
brief period, however, elapses before the trunkless head
presents itself, and, amidst the astonishment of the whole
Court, directs the Pacha to throw it away, and promises
to befriend him. The direction is complied with, and
the promise fulfilled. A potent liquid is supplied by the
Necromancer, which inspires the Princes with feelings
of ardent love ; and a decree is issued for the collec-
tion of all the demoiselles of the empire, in order •to
afford the dewly-inspired devotees every opportunity of
making a speedy selection. The next scene represents
the grand public square of Busora, in which the maidens are
gathered together : the Princes arrive,but not one of the many
beauties assembled is sufficiently fortunate to attract the fa-
vourable notice either of Zizi, Zozo, or Zuzu. Here again the
difficulty is removed by the aid of the Magician, who now in-
troduces the Princess Zaza, " the light of the harem in the
comet from which she is descended" (Miss Pincott) the white
mouse of the dream. The only question then is to which
of the three must the princess be given. And it is finally
decreed that the three shall depart on separate voyages of
discovery, and that Zaza shall be the bride of the one that
shall bring back the greatest curiosity. One is directed to
go across the sea, another over the land, and the third
through the air ; and the first part or act accordingly
concludes with their departure, one in a balloon, another in
a steam-boat, and a third on a rail road. At the opening
of the second part we find Zizi only one mile distant from
Domino, the capital of the dominion of Dominoes. The
song, " Yes, to-morrow," from Era Diavolo, is here intro-
duced with new words, and was sung with much sweetness
by Mrs. Almond, though we have frequently heard her in
much better voice. Zizi has not remained long in this un7-
known territory before he is informed that any stranger who
may be willing to play a game at dominoes with Dominica
the Domineering, will, in case of success, receive a magic
telescope, by means of which any person may behold the
most remote regions ; but in case of failure, will be
turned into a domino. She accepts the challenge, and
the scene changes to the Imperial residence of the
Queen ; this is truly an admirable scene ; for no-

velty of effect, and accuracy and beauty of exe-
cution, we have scarcely erer seen it equalled. The
dresses, too, are of the most tasty and appropriate descrip-
tion. The whole was loudly applauded. It is here that
the game is played. Living dominoes, if we may so call
them, are arranged round their respective leaders., viz.,
Zizi on one side, and the Queen on the other, and a per-
fect game is played, in which Zizi is victorious. Thus the
magic telescope is obtained, the power of the Queen over-
thrown, and the Queen herself carried ad inferos, by Phos-
phornox, the red and black fire-fiend, &c. The third part
introduces us to the classical region of the Island of Chess,
where, in the Royal Exchequer, are assembled the Empe-
ror of all the Ebonies, with his Empress, his knights, bi-
shops, castles, and pawns on the one side ; and the Sultan
of all the Ivories, with a similar train, on the other, and
about to engage in a mortal conflict respecting the disputed
possession of a certain miraculous fish, which will convey
any person, seated on its back, into whatever quarter of the
globe he may please. The fight commences—some of the
pawns, and a knight on each side, have advanced, when
the Queens pray for a cessation of hostilities, which is
ultimately conceded, upon the understanding that the
disputes is to be referred to the first stranger that
touches upon the island. At this period Zozo arrives,
and being called upon to decide the dispute, adopts
the course best calculated to effect that object, by
getting on the back of the fish, and thus taking away all
grounds of dissension. To the whole of this scene the oh.
servations made upon that of the dominoes apply with equal
if not greater force ; the exhibition was perfect. Miss Tur-
pin gave in very good style Rodwell's " Starry night," and
Auber's " Diavolo Diavolo !" which have been introduced
into the piece with much taste. In the next scene, " The
Mountains of the Moon," two of the wandering brothers,
Zizi and Zozo,tneet, and relate their different adventures.
The duet, " My pretty page," here inserted, was excellently
sung, and received the honour of an encore. Having de-
termined to ride back together on the flying fish, they de-
part, and the third part is concluded. The Kingdom of the
Cards, which is the scene of the fourth part, and in which
Zuzu figures, is deserving of no less a share of approbatioe,
as a picture, than the two preceding scenes. The state of
affairs in that kingdom is most woeful, the Kings of Clubs,
Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds having been robbed of their
cares sposas, who are kept close prisoners in the Tower of
Cards by Heartoclubodiamondospado, the " wielder of the
unique shield" (a shield emblazoned with an ace of spades—
motto, "Duty, one shilling"). With this demon Zuzu, having
very opportunely arrived, engages, and is victorious. The
Queens are released, and, as a reward, the young Prince re-
ceives a bouquet of roses, capable of restoring the bloom of
health to the most faded and withered cheek. At this
moment Zizi and Zozo arrive, and having embraced one
another, the three brothers depart again for the territory of
their father, where, upon their return, they find the Pacha,
almost dead with fear, only two hours of the 365 days re-
maining, and the Princess. Zaza sinking gradually into the
grave, 'from an illness which the physicians professed them.
selves unable to cure. What the physicians, however, wore
unable to accomplish was immediately effected by the magic
rose ; and Zaza again becomes the subject of dispute be-
tween the three brothers, each supporting his own claim.
The magician's head appears, his laugh is heard, and he
subsequently directs that which would appear the most na-
tural course—the lady to make her own choice, which falls
upon Zuzu. The magician's head and body, so law sepa-
rated, become once more united, and the scene clianP's' to
the Palace of the Heart's First Love, where Venus, rising
in her silver shell from the Fountain of a Thousand Dia-
monds,repsieteidess the fulfilmentocTr the union
of th
of Zuzu
dream,zuandiaaa, the event
w i pm
which completes and averts the
fate of Zazezizozu. The scenery. is admirable, the dresses
are in the highest degree perfect; There is a liveliness and
naivete
running throughout, but particularly observable in
the first two parts, which is seldom to be met with in
pieces of this class, and which produced its full effect upon
the audience, by keeping them in a continued roar of
laughter. Some slight and judicious curtailment of the
latter part would, *however, be an improvement.

LYCEUM.
A new drama, entitled Lucille; ar, the Story of a Heart,
was produced.s-at this theatre last night. St. Cyr, subse-
quently De Vavasour, a blind young emigre in the most
stormy times of the first French revolution, finds himself in
Malines, saved from
death by a costive dragoon horse,
through the deVotieln o'g young country girl, Lucille ( Mrs.
Keeley), dauglitcr. of
an old farmer, Vernet (Mr. Williams).
He finds a home in their house—a friend in the old man,
and an ardent, a devoted admirer in the maiden, who had
risked her own life to save his. By the skill of a celebrated
oculist he is restored to sight. Just then the army of the
Sombre and the Meuse are marching through Brabant, on
their route to Toulon, to embark for Egypt. A combina-
tion of circumstances occur to divert for awhile the current
of his affection, and the tempting offer of a captaincy in the le-
gion so fires his ambition that he leaves his love and his friends
on slight persuasion, and embarks in search of glory. He finds