The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-27 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

The Christmas production at this house, entitled "The
Sleeping Beauty ; or, Harlequin and the Spiteful Fair,"
which is the joint authorship of C. H. Ross and Gilbert
a'Becket," names as yet little known in conection with
dramatic litorature of this class, but, considering the
success which was achieved last night, it is to be hopod
that a pantomime from their pens will be looked upon as
a regular occurrence from year to year. The fairy
legend of the " Sleeping Beauty " has in the present in-
stance been treated somewhat in a new form, but has
nevertheless been handled in an exceptionally clever
manner. The story is too familiar to most of our readers
to need much description, but perhaps an outline, of its
present aspect may not be out of place. The opening
scene represents the Great Hall, where preparations are
being made for the christening of the infant daughter
of Ming Dunderhead the Hundredth and his Queen. An
omission has been made in the list of notables to be pre-
sent at the ceremony by the non-invitation of the Spiteful
fairy Maligna, but who notwithstanding appears upon the
scene, and vows vengeance for the neglect shown her, but
whose direful schemes the good fairy Hygenia vows to
counteract, to accomplish which she seeks the aid of Sir
I. 0. U. de Basinghall whom she requests to marry the
Sleeping Beauty in consideration of her setting him free
from all pecuniary embarrassments. To this propasal
he consents, whereupon taking a leaf out of Rip Van
Winkle's book. Sir I. 0. U. is sent to sleep for a con-
siderable number of years, at the end of which time the
machinations of the spiteful Maligna have ceased to be of
any effect. Hygenia triumphs over her rival and all ends to
the satisfaction of everybody. Perhaps no other subject for
a pantomime could havebeen so well chosen with regard to
scenic illustrations. The scenery throughout is simply
splendid. The great transformation scene, " The Valley
of a Thousand Streams," and " The House of the En-
chanted Bells," being beyond all praise ; whilst " The
Impenetrable Forest," and "The Chamber of the Sleep•
ing Beauty," must be regarded as triumphs of scenic alt.
The ballet was excellently supported by an efficient corps
de ballet of upwards of sixty of the lady artistes. First in
order must be noticed Miss Julia Matthews, whose im-
personations of Maligna was finished to a degree. Next
comes Miss Marie Lesley, who, as Hygenia, was all that
could be desired. The character of the Sleeping Beauty
was most ably rendered by Miss Nellie Smith, a
juvenile actress of great versatility. The part of Sir
J. 0. W. de Basinghall fell to Mr. W. H. Payne, and
could not have been entrusted to abler hands. King
Dunderhead was impersonated by Mr. C. J. Smith,
whose acting evinced a great amount of study. The
minor characters were all most excellently provided for,
and it is only fair to say that every artiste was perfectly
at home in his or her part. The harlequinade Was full
of rollicking, roistering fun, and some very excellent hits
were made, notably one concerning the new law courts,
which the clown stated he had been looking foi for three
years, which was wonderfully well received—possibly on
account of the presence of a prominent member of the
Cabinet among the audience. The pantomime of " The
Sleeping Beauty " must be recorded as a grand success,
even for Covent Garden, the home of so many past
triumphs.