The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-06 00:00:00

EASTER AMUSEMENTS.

THE THEATRES, &e.
DRURY LANE.

Old Drury, last night, appeared in a new character,
instead, as of old, appearing as the patroness of
Tragedy, Comedy, or Farce, she extended her favours
in the production of a grand, new, and original
Oriental spectacle, in which the principal performers
were the elephants, camels, and horses, of Mr.
Hughes's mammoth establishment, which had been
expressly engaged by the spirited lessee for the special
amusement of the Easter holiday folk. The entertain-
ments of the evening commenced with Wallace's grand
opera of illaritana, with the usual cast of characters.
It is unnecessary for us to say more, than we have
already done, in favour of the excellent opera. The
piece of the evening and the charm of the night was
the new operatic spectacle called The Desert, or the
bnaun's Daughter, which certainly, taken as a whole
is one of the most magnificent spectacles we ever wit-
nessed in any theatre, and reflects great credit on
every party concerned in the getting up of it. The
music of the piece is principally composed by Felicien
David, and adapted to English words by Tully: ; the
scenery, which is of the most magnificent description,
is painted by Grieve and Telbin ; and the whole is
produced under the entire direction of Mr. W. West.
It would be almost impossible to give any plot of
the piece. It shows Arabian and Persian manners
in their wild and cultivated forms, and is full of
interest to the lovers of the " Arabian Nights Enter-
tainments," and the gorgeous customs o: the East.
The scenery connected with the piece must be seen to
be appreciated ; but there are some parts of it to
which we cannot help calling the especial attention
of our readers. Such, for instance, as the Exterior
of the Temple of Mecca, with which the piece opened
—the Desert, as seen from the Shebekha Well—the
Simoom—the Desert by Starlight, and the Rising of
the Sun—and the Arch of Triumph. The tableaux at
the end of each act were never surpassed for scenic
effect. Our readers may judge for themselves of the
truth or falsehood of our assertion, when we state
that on each of those occasions eight or ten camels,
nearly 50 horses, two elephants, and between 100
and 150 individuals were on the stage. In • our
anxiety deservedly to praise the scenery and getting
up of the piece, we must not forget our old friend
Harley's comic acting, as the Grand Chamberlain of
the Princess, the heroine of the piece, nor the excel-
lent singing of Miss Messent and Miss Rebecca
Isaacs, and Mr, Rafter. The piece was eminently suc-
cessful, and at its conclusion, Mr. Bunn was loudly
called for, but did not appear.

DAYMARKE7.
Planche has surpassed himself in the New Planet.
It is likely to form a centre of attraction for many
succeeding nights, although it sets all the laws of
gravity at defiance. In truth, we have never seen
an audience better disposed to receive, in a cheerful
happy temper, the bill of fare set before them, and
they should have been hypercritical indeed, if not
well satisfied with the dainty dish provided. The
mere fact that Buckstone was to come out in a new
character, and to appear (for the first time on any
stage) as Harlequin, would alone have received a
bumper. The scenery, the dresses, the pantomimic
changes, would alone have secured the safety of the
new piece ; but it did not require such aids, for ge-
nuine wit sparkled in every line, and it contained some
of the happiest hits on the prevailing topics of the
day. The first scene presented the Star Chamber
of the new planet (Miss Horton), an undoubted
heavenly body, absurdly called Neptune, by those
who have not the honour of her acquaintance. She
is manifestly one of the fairer portion of creation,
and therefore ought to be classed among the female
divinities. She is holding her levee, and expects
visits from all the planets, including Mother Earth, a
lady of an uncertain age. After a couple of airs,
admirably given by Miss Horton, with her attendant
stars, the arrivals commence ; and Mercury, the
briskest and most active first made his appearance.
He is succeeded by Jupiter and Juno, and shortly
afterwards Mars and Venus (in conjunction, of
course), and Saturn, as Time. A quarrel speedily
ensues between Venus and Juno, in consequence of
some insinuations thrown out by the latter, which is
carried on in a very spirited manner to the air of the
" Post Horn Galop." Ceres Pallas and Vesta, and
Old Uranus, with his six moons, then enter, and
finally Mother Earth (Mrs. Clifford), completes the
party. A very animated dialogue is carried on, in
which it is agreed that the other planets shall spend a
night with the Earth, who invites them to pay her a
visit. They are puzzled, however, in what manner
to travel, and it is asked,
" By what conveyance shall we make our transit,
Oh, by the atmospheric we must chance it."
Mercury then is transformed to Harlequin, and
much amusement was excited at the gestures and
action of Buckstone in his new capacity. Some,
however, do not go, as Juno determines not to allow
Jupiter to revisit the scene of his former exploits.
Finally, the new planet, Mars, the blustering soldier
(well done by Mr. James Bland), Venus (Miss Julia
Bennett), who certainly looked the character per-
fectly; Minerva, Ceres, against whom there is now
no duty—an allusion to the late triumph of free trade
doctrines—that was received with universal ac-
clamation. Harlequin is, of course, the Cicerone
of the party. The Celestial Chlimber vanishes
at a stroke of his magical wand, and the planets are
transported to a really beautiful scene—London, by
moonlight, as seen. in the Colosseum. We are then
brought to the Polytechnic Institution, and pre-
sented with a series of experiments with the Electric
Telegraph and Gun Cotton. Harlequin, however,
promises to show something more destructive still,
and one touch of his wand, produces a scheme to
raise 20,000,0001. He hands Mars a prospectus, and
assures him that
" One touch of such a paper has been known
To blow a man from London to Boulogne."
They are then drawn through a variety of scenes—
the Egyptian Hall presents the mysterious lady—the
Lantum and Ethiopian Serenaders—Le Docteur Noir
—The Bondman—Norma, &c. &c. The most beau-
tiful scene of the whole, however, was the Haunt
of the Wilis, where the various Giselles of the dif-
ferent theatres made their appearance, and also the
spirits of her Majesty's Theatre, and the rival at
Covent Garden. A serious accident was near occur-
ing— the dress of one of the Wilis took fire, but was
fortunately extinguished without delay. At the con-
clusion the piece was loudly and unanimously ap-
plauded, and Buckstone announced that the New
Planet would shine every night until further notice,
amidst hearty cheering. -