The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-27 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

Dituawr-Lait.—The Merchant of Venice last
night introduced Mr. Pal KST again in the part of
Skylock. Having been encouraged by the success
of his first performance, he exerted his talents with
more force and solf.possession. His performance
last night abundantly confirmed our favourable
report of his debut, and altogether was. so credit-
able to his talents and judgment, that, if he were.
to adopt the Stage as a profession, he would be
well entitled to public protection. A fter the
Tragedy, a new Pantomime was brought for-
ward, under the title of Harlequin, or Jack of
all Trades. We shall not formally discuss the
merits of this composition, which may be consi-
dered as an annual treat for the Holiday folks,
and which is very well calculated to afford them
the expected amusement. The following is given
as a sketch of the Fable : • •
" The workmen of the redoubted Jack strike for higher
wages ; his banker fails ; he seeks to repair his broken fortunes
by a matrimonial alliance courts the royal widow orthe de-
funct King di-Chubs ; succeeds in his suit. The Kings of Hearts,
Diamonds and Spades, who had oppressed her widowed Ma-
jesty of Clubs, are transformed into Harlequin, Pantaloon, and
CloWn; and instantly comMencean'unceasing career of running,
leaping, and tumbling,. through a most various, succession of
scenery. Some of the scenes are excellent in their kind. A ro-
mantic view from Club Castle is an exquisite night scene, full of
tranquil beauty ; the panoramic, view of a part of the English
coast—the sea, an insulated light-house, a man of war in full
sail, a night-storm, a wreck-and sun-rise, are excellent speci-
mens of scene-painting, executed with great taste and truth.
The boudoir of the Queen of Clubs is one blaze of gilded bril.
hang, and the perspective -of,Waterloo7place, a very elegant
M pictorial architecture. r. Harlequin, flourished
his magir—wand -with much agitty. Ahss Barnet dancedlair
Columbine with abundant spirit and no little gracefulness,
Mr. T. Bln.,ehard's Pantaloon, and Mr. Southby's Clown,
were positive models of practical drollery and personal contor-
tion. They kept the easy audience in roars of laughter through
the piece, by sundry jumps, slaps, tumbles. tricks, blunders,
and other innumerable qualities of this holiday drama. The
powers of machinery were but rarely used—yet the few trans-
mutations of scenery which occur, exhibited considerable me_
cbanical ingenuity, and were performed with surprising rapi.!
dity of movement. in the course of the Pantomime numerous
feats on the slack rope, dancing on stilt throwing; up and catch
log balls, &c., were introduced, which appeared to give genera
satisfaction." 1
The whole of the complicated movements, the
changes of scenery, the ;,cenery itself, which was
varied and splendid, anti the several grotesque
characters went off with more facility and exact-
ness than is usual with a first representation of
this species of entertainment, and though there
was some opposition the general voice was in its
favour.

COVF.NT ( A nbEN.-,--The tragedy of Isabella
was represented at this theatre last night. Mr.
WARDE, for the first time on these boards, took
the part of Biron, a part that affords no great.
.cope fur talents of the higher order. It is
sufficient to say that he acquitted himself
to the satisfaction of the audience. Miss
I,Acy was the melancholy heroine of the
piece, and would have rendered it more touching
and impressive if the general buz that prevailed
in the house, arising from the expectation of the
new Pantomime, had permitted her merits to be
duly noticed : at length the Pautomine was brought
forward ender the name of 1, hirlequin and The
Magic Rose, or The Beautg and the Beast. This
Theatre has been generally successful in its
pantomimic exhibitions, and its reputation will
not be deteriorated by the piece of last night.
We shall subjoin an outline of the Plot
:
" Azor, Prince of Persia, having rejected the hand of Uga-
lens, Princess of Persia Interior (old, and possessed of magic
power), she, in revenge, transformed him into the likeness of
the Northern Bear, which form she vowed Ito should retain un-
til a virgin fair should consent to Unite lier fate with his. The
entranoe to his chamber in the IX-chanted Palace is -guarded
by the Magic Rose Tree. The merchant, Scandeino, is driven
by the violence of a storm to seek shelter beneath the fatal roof,
and remembering the promise he made to his daughter,
Beauty, to bring her a rose, the only flower her garden
did not possess, plucks a branch from the Magic Tree.
The Beast rushing from it, is in the act of destroying
the merchant, who implores for life, in mercy to his
only daughter, Beauty. The Beast spares him, on a promise
that he brings her to his Palace, and dispatches the mer-
chant in a magic car to expedite his return ; meanwhile Beauty,
in the orange Grove, at her father's villa, is informed in a vision
of her destiny by the Genii of the Rose, and is conducted by
him to the palace of Azor. Filial affection triumphs over ex-
ternal deformity, and she is about to resign herself to the trans-
formed Azor, when the malignant Ugalena appears, and again
crosses Azor's joys. The interposition of the Genii of the Rose
thwarts her designs, and (though unable to give the Prince his
real form) changes him into the motley hero, Harlequins and
Beauty to Columbine ; the other characters are also transform-
ed into Clown, Pantaloon, and Lover, and all are sent upon
their annual voyages and travels."
The harlequin was a Mr. Er.r.ta, and he is
an active representative of the molly hero.—
Gni:llll,Di' jun. was as usual a good Clown, and
a Mr. E. PARSLOE almost rivalled MAzurtrEtt in
the pliability of his limbs and his extraordinary
contortions. There was a full proportion of the
usual transformations, tricks, buffetings, &c. &c.
and some splendid scenery, in which the talents
of G RIEVE and his son were conspicuously exerted.
The Pantomime throughout was well received.
An ELPIII TTIEATRE.-The active Managers of
this theatre, as might be expected, have not suf-
fered this festive season to pass without giving
the annual treat of a new pantomime to their
holiday visitors. The name of the pantomime
represented last night is The Three Golden Lamps
or Harlequin and the Wizard Dwarf. Considering
the short time that the new Managers have pos-
sessed this Theatre, and the many novelties
which they have produced, the Pantomime of last
night is entitled to public favour. Omissions and
additions may be expected to take place in its
progress, and it will probably add to the attrac-
ionof this popular Theatre.

ITALIAN OPERA.-0:1 Friday, the first re-
hearsal of the Italian Opera, to be produced at the opening
of that theatre next Saturday, took place, with a few instru-
ments, or what is called a quarter band. Yesterday a rehear.,
sal with a full band took place. Mr. Bochsa, the new director
of the orchestra, has discharged Mr. llarpur, the prin-
cipal trumpet; Mr. Marriotte, the principal trombone,
and Mr. Jenkinson, the performer on the double drums.—
Mr. flarpur has, however, been re-engaged. Mr. Lindley,
jun., one of the second violoncellos, was also discharged; but
his father declined accepting an engagement at the theatre un-
less his son was reinstated; the consequence was, Mr. Lindley,
jun. has been re-engaged. Some of " the violin performers have
been also discharged. These alterations have been made, it is
' said, in order to make room for some pupils of the Royal
Academy of Music.—(Morning Paper.)

MASQUERADE.—This species of entertainment
we are glad to find making ground in this coun-
try, it being a field for *Comic talent, to exhibit
those Christmas Gambols, which the nervous
system frequently operates upon. In the general
mass of society there is a heaviness, which the
mask removes, and gives additional spirit to the
group. WRIGHT will not be VYKQNG on the oc-
casion,