The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-28 00:00:00

ADELPHL

The Christmas entertainments at this theatre opened
with Burnaby Ridge, being an Adelphi version of the
celebrated tale by Box. Full of genuine nature and good
dramatic positions, Barnabg, taken in individual points
of view, forms an excellent stage-piece : but only so far;
for while the imperturbable importance of Yeoman Var-
den, by Paul
.Bedford ; the aspiring propensities of
Simon Tappertit, the apprentice (Wright) ; and the
tenderer circumstances which surround the widow and
her aXlicted son, please greatly when regarded as single
form
incidents, . their. .effect is greatly diminished wh
combined. This fault rests not with the dramatiser, buten
with the original, for beautifully drawn
laesreils homogeneous
and cha-
racter per se,. yet, when massed together, so as to
a whole, the shades of difference are ofosbos_e.hrov,
observable
i n eachli
o
and identical a cast; and so much on
eciapllaoyodr idiot is shorn (.)f
other, that due prominence is specially
one. In the Adelphi version, the
.exquisite
Miss
c h a attributesi,3lhi,s
a,:ketin.ng: was her lying
the most fFli-
cmitaonnYs' toefu hiscli about
down before the fire, desiring to look, in at the
.briglq
dales, and visions, and "strange faces" that glittereu
within its compass. In the buries
John Reeve, had he been que of Norma, poor
living, would have been
glorious.; norwas i.
A r. Paul Bedford
behind._
him in
rich humour and mimickr P lastnight.lar
Nevertheless; he
hit off attitudes far better than his portly dimen-
sions,. rotund as three Friar raritivics toneso r;
the great tun of
Heidelberg, represented in treble' magnitude the lady,
prototype. whom it intended to figure (Jilt. The eonfign-
rationot his coronal consisting of alternate turnips and
erect little carrots ,served for Miss liemble's crown of oak-
leaves ; but tile satire was deficient in fineness, and was
but ill-sharpened by
wit. Adalgisa, intended to mirror
forth Miss Rainforth, who generally, in her song and.
acting, reminds one of “ Melancholy, the starred kl!limp
Queen," was well struck off by Wright ; while Pollio, in
his smart Roman toga and spangled hem, was pourtrayed
by Mrs. Grattan,
in voice, gait, and
.gesture, even to
admiration. Last came the
Pantomnne, y'clept The
Little Oil woman and her Pig; or, Ha; kquin Pedlar
.
ut Youn r faces which ha .
and the Magic Pet.two . ;.,. , a becn
vor,na, brightened up miraculously as the first
sunny at -
discovered the Queen-moon and her attendant
scenesatellites engrossing the whole of the stage. Soon,
however, the planetary stillness was disturbed by
the appearance of the Prince of Darkness in
sable panoply. Rising, like himself, out of trap-
doors, two monstrous -myrmidons attended his bid-
ding in the super-human regions of night. Rose-
bud, a beautiful girl upon earth, is the subject of his
malevolent desires. But the Powers of Light, who re-
side in the vermeil realms of Aurora, are equally bent
upon gaining the same object. Satan and his demoniacs
employ, therefore, as their human agent, the pompous
and consequential Mayor of the district in which Rose-
bud dwells. The Powers of Light, on the other hand,

4,?.

EVENING SUN
•
• stch Orlando, a pedlar, in their celestial dominions, at 7, ti,is period of time, and him they chose as
gate. The love of Rosebud is only to bet gained by !
cutting off the enchanted petticoat of hei./erabbed ;
guardian, a little sour Dame Quickly, whicl, has its I=l,
border set round about with certain cabalistieii4es:---
Both representative heroes of these "
powei-al MLitt ,
be" are forthwith armed with a pair of silver
shears, and despatched like knight-errants
upon the
achievement. Our dame with the charmed petticoat,
while driving her pig to market, drops asleep by the
road-side. Orlando arrives on his quest. Siren voices
urge him to seize the happy moment. He cuts the pet-
ticoat, and is led by it to the cottage of Rosebud, while
the pompous Mayor shortly after arrives, only to prove
his disappointment. But here the trial of strength does
not end ; the magic duck that flies about the lake is to
be shot ; both competitors have this equal chance.
Orlando fires, captures the duck, wins his beautiful
Rosebud, and while one becomes the Colum-
bine, the other is metamorphosed into Harlequin.
Here the merriment begins. Miss Bullen, skiinmering
about in her silver sheen, was a graceful Columbine, and
showed much flexibility of limb ; Mr. Frampton, the
; ilver-wanded magician of the night, posses,;ed great
Elasticity of toe. Wieland's inimitable powers were in
full play, and appeared to excellent advantage in an in-
terminable variety of evolutions and tricks. Of the latter
description, the one between the clocks told excellently,
wherein a Dutch clock falls out at midnight with
a French clock ; the duel is performed by them
with a couple of clock pendulums, and finally
for a breach of the peace, an old watchman locks them
up for the offence. Another upon the " Parliament
strike" was equally happy; and a third, whereby " goods
imported" changed into " the Prince of Wales,' who
marched forth in his petit majesty and plumes, amused
the juveniles much. As regards the scenery, it is
brilliant to a degree. In the scene of the " Aurora"
it appeared with perfect enchantment ; for in addi-
tion to fair forms arrayed in diaphanous vestures,
and the sweet radiances that pour upon the scene from
the morning-star, the introduction of real water, in
which the shades and images of all the brilliant things
above and around are reflected, presented a scene of
actual fascination. A great deal of splendour and fancy
pervades the whole pantomime, and the display of pyro-
technics at the close created a piece of theatrical thagni-
cence, that was enhanced by all forms and colours of rose,
vermilion, and gold. The water-scer.es, indeed, were truly
admirable. Altogether it was much applauded, and, when
rehearsal makes the performance more correct, it will,
doubtless, be a general favourite. Among the audience
we observed Lord Ward and other faskionables of ton.

OLYMPIC. lit
Never since the most palmy days of the Olympic revels
was this beautiful little theatre so crowded with a fashion-
able and delighted audience as last night. Soon after
the doors were opened, great numbers were refused ad-
mittance, and in several eases the money was returned to
persons who could not find satisfactory accommodation
in the boxes or pit. Mr. Leman Rede's clever drama of
Sixteen- string Jack,was first presented,and was warmly ap-
plauded throughout. Biewitt's Royal ShimrockQuadrilles,
were next performed, and elicited well-deserved and raptu-
rous applause. But the great attraction of the night was
the Christmas novelty, the " peculiarly pithy, pleasant,
palateable, pleasing pantomime, Riddle-me, Riddle-me-
ree," which afforded an infinity of funny perplexity, and
concluded before we were able to solve the riddle, or
do the bidding of the play-bills—" Guess what it is."
The scenery and decorations were of a style worthy of
any metropolitan theatre, and the whole performance
gave the highest satisfaction. There can be no doubt
that it will maintain a large share of popularity, until
riddles cease to be amusing.

STRAND.
Mr. Jacobs, " the-Royal Ventriloquist and great Mo-
dern Magician," last night opened this theatre, for the
commencement of his third season in London. He cer-
tainly can have no reason to complain of his reception.
The house was well filled in every part, and the audience
would have been considered as about the most fashionable
that was then assembled in Ldndon, if they had not the
great vulgarity and injustice to hiss—aye, to hiss, when the
portrait of the Duke of Wellington was presented to
them in the course of Mr. Jacobs' very. skilfully ma-
naged dissolving portraits. It is very difficult to give a
critical analysis of the Conjuror's performance. It is already
well known that none of your natural senses are of the
least use to a person who once sets a foot within
the necromantic temple, and Mr. Jacobs does not pro-
fess, like the Mesmerists, to supply us with a sense
quite equivalent to the fire which he has the power of
stealing from us.
_ _

Although Mr. Jacobs seems to have an abundance of
resources within himself from which he can draw amuse-
ment for his visitors, he has very judiciously varied his
evening's entertainment, by the introduction of other
artists who are, in their respective departments, nearly as
clever as himself. M. Rousseau, the "Equilibrist," and
the three " Patagonian Wonders," furnish ample proof
of the Wizard's magnanimity. It was quite clear that
when he brought them forward he had no selfish ambi-
tion to be the only wonder of the night. He deserves
success, and will have it.

CONCERTS A LA MUSARD.
Notwithstanding the attractions of the Christmas
pantomimes, these Concerts were not neglected yester-
day evening. The audience that attended on the refined
and classical entertainments which their music afforded
on Monday night, was numerous and select, and Mr.
• Laurent gathered around him, to our great surprise, a
silent and delighted auditory, when it might have beon
otherwise expected that harlequinade and clownery
would have entirely secured than to those circles. This
is a pleasing proof of the fast hold which music is gain-
ing upon our countrymen. To!hew-pie on Monday night
«•ac the leader, mid with an orchestra composed of sixty
instrumental performers from the Opera House and Phil-
harmonic, played off in a most light and finished manner
the exquisite Overtures and Concerts set down in the
programme, and selected from Rossini, Haydn, and Mo-
zart. But the appearance of a new and juvenile pianist
formed the most novel attraction of the evening, in the
person of Mr. Henry Laurent, who is not more than
fourteen or fifteen years of age. his execution of Herz's
intricate variations in the " Pre aux Clercs," of which
llerold is the original composer, brought down great and
deserved applause, and the rapidity of his fingering •n
the instrument, gained under the instruction of. Mr. W.
Holmes, does signal credit both to master and pupil.

SADLER'S WELLS.
The amusements of the evening at this theatre com-
menced with Home's tragedy of Douglas, which was
followed by the farce of Lovers' Quarrels. These two
plays, however, were totally drowned in the hum of the
impatient audience, which seemed to consider the pan-
tomime as the only business of the evening. This Christ-
mas piece, which was entitled Cinderella and Harlequin,
or, the Little Fairy and, the Large Glass SUpper,:appeared to
give general pleasure to the good-humoured spectators.
The scenery of the piece, as is usual at this theatre, was
tastily painted. the views displaying, among other ob-
jects, the " Retreat of Friar Bacon," the " Hall of
Chivalry," the " Tower of London," the " New Houses
of Parliament," and the " Temple of Fame." Many of
the tricks were dexterous, and Mr. Jetterini acted as a
very clever Clown. It would be vain to attempt to
analyse the N onders of such a piece ; but a very crowded
audience manifested the delight which they communi-
cated by the most natural of indications, their mirth and
their laughter.

fatthtehisChjristmas folks on
SURREY. AV
Our veteran .dramatic friend, Davidge
'o'ycoaullsnosetastaoci
Ifloary itnhge done nothing,amusement
o
cthkieseya-eaorf,
this side of the w;.ter. Like a good caterer he produced
last night a banquet of which both the serious and the
gay might partake; enjoying alike
and the flow of soul." To be
"the feast of reasond
e plain: deterTidn.e
to please all, in addition to the pantomim-
-1 so
dlinn ties--
pensably necessary at Christmas a new I
resting drama, fietuded upon 2trial of alVI' Madame
the recent
ed
Lajfarge in France, wasproduced successful.
The piece is written by urGDanidllt,rovand
promises.
with a few beasonabie aq, • s and curtailments,
especially in the trial scene 't
rations
run on this side of
the water. The scenery, Iby o have
and Turner, is
excellent, and in admirable keeping with the whole
Piece. We would particularly notice the Landscape in
Picardy, the Cottage of Gregoire, the Saloon decorated
for the Marriage andthe Landscape near
Glan-
diers. T
4 is unnecessary to enter into the par-
ticulars of the piece, as the facts on which it is
founded have been so recently before our readers ;
it would be almost impossible,
cindeed, were it necessary,
from the noise and confusion that prevailed in the house,
which was crowded, as usual at this season of the year,
to the ceilinor the pantomime we cannot speak too
favourably ;g.it will,
however, suffice to say it was pro-
duced under the entire direction of Mr. R. Honner, sup-
ported by Mr. Ellett and assistants ; that the music is
by Jolly, the scenery by Turner and Gordon, and that
it bears the appropriate title, at this season of the year of
Barey
/ 'air: and the Ice Queen, or Jack Frost and King Tilato.
The scenery- is splendid, especially the Ice Queen's Palace,
-• Thaw s Dominions and Palace, the Realms of Fri..
Ring ,
gidona, the Clown's Political Gallery, and, though last
not least, Brunning's Panorama, commencing at the New
London Bridge, and ending at Bolougne. Many of the►
trick'; are entirely new, and excellent of their kind, and
were made the most of by M. liiiline, as Harlequin, M.
Rochcz, as Patch. Harlequin's lacquey, M. Lehman, as
Pantaloon, and by Signor Felix Carlo asFlip, the Contor-
tionist. The evolutions of these gentlemen are really
astonishing, and we trust that Davidge will find he has
o -
played a profitable card in securing their services. Miss
Buckingham
Sharpe was an admirable Columbine, and 1°
an active Clown.