The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-27 00:00:00

PAVILION.

The manager of this theatre, having determined to vie
with his more fashionable opponents of the west end, pre-
sented attractions of no ordinary character to the less
classic audience which was furnished by Whitechapel
and Mile-end. The history of Jane Shore, which in its
original dramatic form was called upon to furnish for the
amusement at Covent-garden, was made to do duty here
also in the shape of a melo-drama, the tale being altered
only in a very slight degree. The character of the un-
fortunate mistress of Edward the Fourth was filled ex-
ceedingly well by Mrs. W. West, whose name is already
well known to the public, while the remaining personages
were well represented by the various other performers.
The piece was evidently exceedingly carefully got up, and
allowing for the mishaps of a first representation, went off
with great success. The melodrama was followed by a new
negro farce, written expressly for Mr. Rice, called Jumbo
Jun:, in which the original of all Jim Crows appeared, and
repeated his oft-told tales of " Jim Crow," and " Sich
a getting up Stairs," much to the delight of the East-
enders. The farce, it would be needless to say, appears
to have been composed only as a vehicle for intro-
ducing Mr. Rice's peculiar representation of the negro
character, and any critique on its merits or demerits would
be almost uncharitable. Finally, the good people of St.
Thomas's were treated with the new comic pantomime
called The Rose of Stepney; or, Harlequin and Old Father
Thames, produced under the management and superintend-
ence of Mr. Jefferini, who sustained the part of Clown, in
which he had distinguished himself at Covent-garden some
seasons ago. The introductory plot was of the same cha-
racter as all other introductory plots of the same description.
Mary Snowdrop (the Rose of Stepney), being beloved by
Robin Fairlove,a sailor, who, on his return from sea, however,
finds her about to be married to Master Simon Gosling, at the
desire of her father. Old Father Thames and Carolina, a
deity from the " deep, deep sea," interfere to prevent the
match, and the usual transformation is the result. Miss
Bullin being the Columbine. Mr. Jefferini the Clown,
Mr. Toegman the Pantaloon, and Mr. Smithers the Har-
lequin. The usual fun then commences, and the accus-
tomed tumbling and mischief follow through a variety
of very amusing scenes, until at last the lovers are caught
in Puddle-dock, and the pantomime terminates in the ac-
customed happy way in the magnificent grotto in the palace
of Old Father Thames. The pantomime affords an op-
portunity for tlic introduction of a variety of very pretty
scenery, and the last scene is one which reflects great cre-
dit on the painter and the manager. A good idea was also
introduced in the representation of the grand submarine
palace of Father Thames, by the Thames Tunnel. The
" comic business," as itis technically termed, does not lack
fun, and the spirit was kept up in good style throughout.
The three pieces were well received by a well-filled house
—the " superior" members of the audience, however, as is
customary on boxing night, not omitting to express their
impatience for the pantomime.