The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-27 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

The patrons of care killing pantomime were edified
to their heart's content last night at the Thespian
shrine in Oxford street. The deities aloft and juve-
niles throughout the lower benches assisted at the
preliminary performance of Don Giovanni (the opera
of operas !) with cornelendable gravity and exem-
plary attention. Expectation was evidently, although
(considering a boxing-night) decorously on tiptoe,
and great was the reward of the dense and anxious
congregation, for King Jamie; or, harlequin and the
Magic Fiddle, was launched upon the tide of
public opinion with eminent success. It is in fact
an undeniable screamer. Honour to the author for
this latest emanation of his fertile wit, worthy of the
brain which generated Bluff King Hal. Honour to
Flexmore, not alone for his felicitous and wondrous
gambollings as clown, but for the admirable manner
in which, un ler his superintending auspices, the
multifarious details of this jovial representation were
principally developed. After a long delay, which
began to draw upon the patience of the gods, the
rising curtain gave to view the opening scene, "The
Hall of Evil Spirits" tenanted by Mighty Alcohol
and his hideous and unworthy Family, who
dwell in monstrous }„ puncheons. This grisly
potentate dispatches 'Guido Fawkes, who is
in aspect, unmistakably, k' a great Guy,"
upon his mischievous and memorable career; and we
are next introduced to the Royal Double-bedded
Dormitory where King Jamie, his beautiful spouse
occupying a separate couch, evinces much parental
affection in feeding the squalling Prince of Wales
with pap, ere he proceeds to equip himself for the
merry chase. Honey, the emperor of pantomime
kings, deserves a prize ox for the way in which he
" made up " the worthy monarch ; it was
sa capital
caricature of the personal appearance of the British
Solomon. Then comes a forest scene, a glade in
Epping, whilome of Easter Monday fame, in which
the tired and hungry King sits down beneath an
umbrageous oak to enjoy a comfortable collation of
sheep's head after the fatigues of the hunt, which
has been chiefly devoted to the slaughter of farm-
yard game, a sucking-pig and gigantic turkeycock
being thie prominent trophies. His pleasures are,
however, speedily interrupted by the unwelcome
appearance or Seymour and his ladyloye, who only
escape the ire of his Majesty by the effects of a
magic fiddle which Seymour has received from a
supernatural friend, and with which he flings all,
king and courtiers, into such saltatory
paroxysms as to render them incapable of
capturing the enamoured fugitives. The ex-
treme beauty of the scenery here displayed—
especially the appearance of the Naiad Queen (Miss
Julia 131eaden), who shone amidst her water fairies
the lovely Empress of the Naiad band, from the
Magic
_FOuntein—was most warmly applauded.
The exhausted King contrives to lose his way, his
train, and purse, and strays to a lone house in Lam-
beth, where he encounters Guy Fawkes, gloriously
ranted by Wynn, and is very near beirisk " dorfe for "
by the conspirators, when the Magic Fiddle. comes
this time to his aid, and dances his enemies into fits,
whilst Royalty makes an undignified escape. The
following scene provoked much mirth ; the grand
procession of King Jamie on his way to open Parlia-
ment, in which the masks were supremely grotesque.
Our old friend Jullien was seen' marshalling the state
band with his brandished baton, and was forthwith
handsomely recognised, but when Lord John Russell
appeared in attendance on the King, the likeness to the
physiognomy of the Premier was so extrordinary that a
simultaneous shriek of delight burst from the spec-
tators in pit, gallery, and boxes. Guy is shortly
afterwards pounced upon in the vaults, and the scene
changes to the Bath of Beauty, or the Naiad's Home,
an exquisite triumph of the painter's skill. The
usual transformations now take place, and the real
pantomime commences, full of all manner of fun.
Flexmore was most heartily hailed on his appearance,
and acquitted himself with his wonted superiority.
His dancing as a Casino " gent " was especially
delightful. He was well supported by
.Bologna as
Harlequin, and Paulo as Pantaloon. Miss Fawcett
was a spirited and graceful Columbine, and may boast
the enviable possession of the prettiest foot and ankle
on the stage. Some of the best incidents of the
piece occur in Smithfield-market, both "as it is
and "as it ought to be," and amongst them Flexmore, s
imitations of favourite dansenses, that of Rosati being
pre-eminent. He gave a hornpipe too as he alone can
give it. Among other good hits is " everybody's
game," played by Pantaloon and Clown. In part of
the game the Russian bear takes Kossuth, and is in turn
taken by Turkey ; this was at once caught at by the
audience, and loudly appreciated. The attendant
sprites were exceedingly well personated by Leber and
Wright, who performed some most agile somersaults.
There is a considerable degree of pantomimic talent
evidently po:sessed by Wright which cannot fail to
render him after a very little further stage ex-
perience, an accomplished and favourite artist.
After a flight to the Pyramidical Railway
Station in the land of Ham, and a short
sederunt of the Ladies' Judge and Jury Society, the
palace of the Fairy Queen unfolds its portals, and
even Alcohol determining to take the pledge, all ends
in virtue, bliss, and "halls of dazzling light." The
pantomime went off smoothly and effectively ; the
scenery, which was superb, costumes (not forgetting
the masks), machinery, transformations, and dances,
reflecting great credit on all parties concerned. The
house was crowded in every part, and the curtain
descended amidst salvos of well-merited applause.