The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-13 00:00:00

that the acting of Mrs. Keeley was good, and much
applauded. She was well supported by Mr. Corrie,
and Mr. Attwood represented the wicked, designing,
and cast-off servant admirably. The piece was an-
nounced for repetition with general approbation. The
entertainments for the night concluded with an Easter
extravaganza, called The Mission of Mercury, in imi-
tation of " Poor Neptune," in which a number of fa-
vourite songs and choruses were given with tolerable
success. The performers, however, were not quite per-
fect in their parts, but allowance must be made, on ac-
count of the circumstances under which the theatre
has opened.

SADLER'S WELLS.
Under the management of Mr. R. Honner, the
lessee, this theatre keeps up its long-in:lintel:led and
welt-merited character. We perceive, with pleasure,
that although the greater number of the performers
are fresh on the London boards, they exhibit in their
performance such evidence of talent as gives us a hope
that they will be an acquisition to our metropolitan
theatrical talent, and when they are properly instructed
in their professiee, will reflect credit on themselves,
and yield a plentiful harvest to Mr. Honner.
We would, however, recommend to Mr. Honner to re-
strain those t bullitions of tragical display to which pro-
vincial performers are so prone, especially on their first
appearance before a London audience. The bill-of fare
last night consisted of four courses, viz., The Tomb
of Luneda ; Our Mary Ann ; Jock°, the Brazilian
Ape; and the pantomime of Harlequin Tom ; and
the performers, although sometimes " civerstee-
ping the modesty of nature," and occasionally
deficient in energy, did, on the whole, fair
justice to the authors of the several pieces. The act-
ing of Mrs. Maddocks was characterised by grace and
dignity, and, with a little more command over her in-
tonations, she will be one of the best actresses we have
on the boards. Mrs. Honner performed the parts as-
signed to her with that force and energy which distin-
guish her performance ; and the audience (a numerous
one) appeared highly delighted, ar.d applauded the se-
veral performers with great enthusiasm.

ASTLEY'S.
This favourite place of amusement opened its doors
last night to popular admiration, surprise, and laughter.
The good-humour of the public was in complete har-
mony with the excellent sport provided for them. In-
deed we do not remember an Easter Monday when the
far-famed productions of this establishment shone
brighter or more captivating than on the present
occasion, whether as regards the magnificence of
dress, scenery, or equestrian display. Every depart-
ment was perfect, and the whole combination was
in brilliant harmony, emulating in splendour and effect the
wondrous glories of bye-gone days at this chivalrous Am-
phitheatre. The great advantage which this house pos-
sesses over other places of amusement is, that the mind
can relax from the severity of tragedy, or the lighter
sentiments of comedy, and enjoy the broad humour of
farce with the marvellous achievements of mind over
the brute creation, brought out into forcible contrast
with the apparently super-human efforts of man vieiog
in agility, and contending for the mastery, beyond the
limits prescribed by nature. But it is from this
restless emulation, this panting after excellence—
the handmaid of immortality—that the earth has been
converted from a wilderness to a paradise—
" Man never is—but always to be blest."
The Conqueror's Steed; or, the Prophet of the
Caucasus, was the grand piece of the evening, and
amply realized the expectations of those who,
on being asked " Where will you go to-night ?"
responded with a smile of surprise—" To Astley's, to
be sure I—are you not going with us ?--I would go a
hundred miles by the rail to see those wonderful
horses ; they understand everything just like a Chris-
tian !" And sure enough they do. One is almost
tempted to envy their sagacity as much as their doci-
lity. But for the play—one does not go to Astley's
for " the play"so much as for the horses and their
kindred riders—the doubt being which is the
cleverer !—and that doubt must not be referred
to the Clown, clever though he undoubtedly be,
for, like all men wise in their own conceit, he in.
variably decrees the palm to himself. On the present
occasion, however, the sentiments uttered by the
hero of the piece—the Prophet of the Cau-
casus—were such as would do honour to the
best heroic tragedy—sentiments which Wallace
and Tell so nobly asserted on their native hills. Indeed
we thought that the feelings of the audience seemed to
participate in them more warmly from the reflection that
the brave Circassians were now fighting the battle of
freedom on their snow-clad hills against the merciless
Russians. It is unnecessary to enter into the plot of
the piece, as on these occasions everything is made
subservient to the more effective display of equestrian
excellence, amid romantic scenes, wherein the ingenuity
of man is brought into bold relief with the sagacity and
agility of the horse ! The piece ends with the triumph
of freedom, amid a gorgeous display of rock, and
battlement and tower in flame, dazzling in varie-
gated beauty—all reflecting the glories of the storming
scene over rider and horse—prince and peasant,
despot and slave, commingled under one canopy—
the canopy of recovered freedom—echoing to the
shouts of the victorious Circassians. We have nether
time nor space for more particulars, and we regret it
the less because, to enjoy the scene tho-
roughly, people must go to Astley's and see
its wonders with their own eyes. There is a very
little black poney there, who can jump like a but-
terfly, and almost talk like a monkey, who de-
lighted every body, and even astonished his Mas-
ter, because he obeyed the Clown in preference!
to the no small delight of the Clown himself, who first
lost half-a-crown, and then recovered his " own " and
double, no doubt, by collusion with the black gentle-
man, to the great amusement of the boys and their
laughing companions.—" Astley's is the go !"