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

ADELPHI THEATRE.

The new piece at the Adelphi Theatre last night
was an extravaganza (composite and polytechnic)
entitled Frankenstein ; or, The Model Man. The
subject is derived from various sources; but Mrs.
Shelley's novel of the same name as the piece fur-
nishes the main incident. The scene opens at a Ger-
man Gasthaus, or Students' Inn, near the University
of Krackenjausen. A body of students are assembled.
drinking Rhein wein and Barerisches bier, and dis-
coursing of their loves and hates, as young men are
wont to do upon such occasions. It appears that a
certain Agatha (Miss Harriett Coveney), the daugh-
ter of an adjacent baron, Thundertentronck or Don-
nerandblitzen (Mr. C. J. Smith). has been destined
by her father as the wife of Frankenstein (Mr.
Wright), who is senior wrangler at the university,
and a great mechanician, like Tubal Cain, though
anything but a handsome youth. Otto of Rosenberg
(Miss Woolgar), " a very nice fellow," also a student
of the aforesaid seat of learning, is in love with her,
and resolves, will ye nil ye, to make her his
bride. In the meanwhile Frankenstein is employed
upon a model man—" The What is it" (Mr. Paul
Bedford), whose effigies he has finished after a fashion,
and for whom he wants only vitality. This is granted
him by Zamiel (Mr. 0. Smith), resuscitated for the
purpose from the opera of Der Freischutz ; and the
monster walks forth into the world a terror to his
maker and a horror to mankind. The Baron gives a
grand fete in honour of his daughter's approaching
marriage, whereat young Otto has promised to be,
albeit uninvited ; but it is settled that the fair Agatha
is to elope after they have " danced but one measure,
drank one cup of wine" together. The guests are
assembled; the Baron is in his glory, drunk with
delight and Liehfrauenmilch, and the masquers are
making a merry dance, when lo and behold " The
What is it" breaks down the door, enters the ball-
room, smashes the china and glass, frightens the
females, scares away the men, and sets fire to the
castle, which burns to the ground in the twinkling of
an eye ; not, however, before a brigade of sapeurs
pompiers, clothed in white muslin, short
petticoats, and pink satin bodies, enter at
the tail of a little engine for the purpose of extin-
guishing the blazes. They have been sent by the water
nymph Undine (Miss E. Harding), who has taken
the young lovers under her especial protection. The
freaks of the Model Man are very amusing. Subse-
quently Frankenstein, his maker, is brought before
the Herr Baron, in his magisterial capacity, to answer
for the misdeeds of the monster; and as he pleads his
innocence, the Baron's daughter and her newly-wed
spouse rush on also to beg his worship's blessing. It
seems that, after the fashion of Sir Huon of Bor-
deaux, in the epic of Oberon, the young spark has
tamed" The What is it ?" by the music of a tune
less fife, presented to him by Undine for the occa-
sion ; and as Paul Bedford, or rather the Model
Man, promises to behave unexceptionably in future,
he is bound to his good behaviour, and obtains a situ.
ation. The characters are classed under three heads

—viz., " those which belong to the story in the ori-
ginal legend ;" " those which do not exactly belong
to the story, but which, being creations of the
authors own, they maintain they have a right to do
what they like with ;" and " those with
which, honestly speaking, the authors have no busi
ness at all." The piece is rather smart than witty,
but it flags for want of action in some scenes. Indeed
not half as much is made of the monster as might be
made, if the authors only chose to exert themselves.
The scenery is excellent, especially the ball-room
scene and the" glittering termination"—a beautiful
water scene—described in the bills as " a picturesque
portion of the Rhine, unknown to modern guide
hooks." Much was dnoe by the actors to insure the
success of Frankenstein, in particular by the gemini
Wright and Paul Bedford. Miss Woolgar and MISS
Ellen Chaplin also contributed their share to the
gc,u rat rtsult; but, nevertheless, it excised no en
cve.n oo the holithy Puillence gallered
to,;etb-t- to wart:, •!-.tcl 111(14 be
considere i only as a partial hit, to say the be Kt 01 it.
A pretty child, whose name does not appear in the
programme, danced a pas suet with great aplomb, and
received more hearty applause than all the rest of the
performers. The authors are two brothers, gentlemen
named Brough, favourably known in the burlesque-
drematie wort j 's the enneoetors of snveral successful
pi-ces. The 'TKO° Copse 1.?4 7 -
bury's Spoons followed. The hotbe was crowded, aid
the audience, though merry among themselves, were
very orderly.