The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-27 00:00:00

COVENT_ GARDEN.

The performances commenced with the well-known musi-
cal drama of Bob Roy ; but, notwithstanding the cast em-
braced the whole strength of the company, including Mr.
Vandenhoff, Mr. W. Farren, Mrs. W. West, and Miss
Turpin, the play passed off in dumb show. The entertain-
ments were concluded by a performance entitled Harlequin
and Georgey Barnwell ; or, the London 'Prentice. With
the recollection strong upon our minds of the lone- vista of
fantastical splendours which have glittered before us in
times gone by, Georgey Barnwell has led us to the
conclusion, that either the wands of the pantomimic
magicians of the present age have lost their power, or
that we have ceased to possess the faculty of appre-
ciating the scenes of enchantment which they create as
they deserve ; but however this may be, true it is that this
pantomime did not impress us with the belief that its merits
were at all equal to those of our favourites " of the days that
are over," or that it was half so bright and joy-inspiring as
the far-famed Mother Goose, Harlequin Gulliver, with its
good-humoured giants and dainty Lilliputians, or a host of
others which we could name. While we make this declara-
tion, we are bound to admit that our relish for such amuse-
ments may have been diminished by the devastating hand of
time, and therefore as the audience evidently enjoyed, as
their laughter and applause amply testified, the fun and fro-
lic of this piece, we are reluctantly compelled to confess that
an incapability to appreciate its excellence may have resulted
from some dimness in our own judgment, rather than any
want of desert in the piece itself. With respect to the plot,
little mare may be said of Harlequin and Georgey Barn-
thafir/that it closely follows that of the well-known
tragedy on which it is founded, with the exception of
the introduction of those spirits of good and evil which
are so essential to the purposes of a pantomime. The
different characters are under the influence of the Spirits of
Idleness and of Industry, and, as in the original, the unfor-
tunate 'prentice is induced to commit the crimes of robbery and
murder at the instigation of Mrs. Millwood, a frail fair one,
and a votary of idleness. Georgey Barnwell, however, is
under the protection of the Spirit of Industry, and, instead of
expiating his offence oa the scaffold, his uncle is restored to
life, and he is transformed into a merry Harlequin, while
the other parties are converted into Columbine, Clown,
and Pantaloon. The Mirthful and Motley scene then
commences. The veteran Ellar was the Harlequin of
the night, and Mademoiselle Theresa Schmidt was as
lively and effective a Columbine as we have recently seen.
Air. C. J. Smith made a highly favourable debut as Clown,
and Mr. Clarke was admirable as Pantaloon. The scenery
,Was gorgeous and effective, and the tricks and contrivances
tor the most part were exceedingly
happy and well executed ;
but it struck us that much more might have been made of the
suggestions which some of the scenes, especially that re-
Presenting Mr. Barry's design of the new Houses of Par-
liament, wore calculated to furnish. The abode of the
Spirits of Idleness and the house of the Spirits of Indus-
try, were beautifully painted scenes, as were the dioramic
Walk from Southwalk to Camberwell, and the view of the
Tower of London. The " Rice mess" was a palpable hit
and the measurement of the superficial inches of the lead-
-Ing London papers, drew forth great laughter, as did the
fall of an illustrious personage from Mr. Green's omnibus
balloon, leaving his great coat and umbrella behind him.
There were besides those we have mentioned a great variety
"other amusing feats ; and after Madame Louis Irvine had