The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

THE DRAMA AT WINDSOR.

Yesterday evening the first of a series of dramatic
entertainments, commanded by Royalty, took place on
the temporary stage, fitted-up in the Reubens Room
at Windsor Castle.

The scheme of these dramatic represent,tions has
been for some time known to the world, and so far as
it was a matter of public comment, we have not hesi-
t..ted in avowing our sympathy with those considera-
tions of art which may ho fairly presumed to have
had some share in prompting these entertainments, as
well as our satisfaction with those preliminary
arrangements which have, from time to time, and
through different channels, become known to the
public. Court patronage cannot do everything for
the drama, but Court patronage can assuredly do
much. In whatever form it may come—whether
Royalty proceed frequently to the theatres, or the
theatres are, by such a scheme as the present, brought,
es it were, to Royalty—the effect cannot be other than
salutary with respect both to art and artists; while,
by the arrangements observed in the present instance,
the compliment involved in appearing on the Windsor
stage is at once delicate and significant.
Mr. Charles Kean, to whom—as our readers are
aware—is intrusted the management of the temporary
theatre at Windsor, has been indefatigable in his exer-
tions to produce as perfect a tout ensemble as could
be attained ; and the result was, in all respects,
worthy of the unremitting exertions, aided by the
great experience and approved dramatic taste, of this
gentleman. Indeed, without attaching any undue
importance to the Windsor Castle theatricals—with-
out seeking to heighten or idealize the thoughts to
which they naturally give birth, it will be felt that
there wcs something particularly becoming and grace-
ful in the spectacle of the Monarch of these realms,
surrounded by her household, listening in her own
feudatory palace to a masterpiece of the national
drama, in all respects set forth and interpreted by
national artists.

Statements have from time to time appeared as to

the progress of the fittings-up of the temporary stage
at Windsor. Although, of course, merely a theatre
in miniature, it is a singularly neat and compact one,
and perfectly adapted for dramatic representations, if
not for scenic display. The stage occupies, perhaps,
about half of the Reubens' Room. To give space tor

it, one or two of the large pictures ofythe Flemish
master have been temporarily removed from the walls.
The stage rues about three feet from the rich car-
peting. On either side, above the neatly-painted
proscenium doors, are traced medallion representations
of the Tragic and the Comic Muse ; while, stretching
across in front, beneath the footlights, is emblazoned
the distich,

" All the world's a stage."

The straitened dimensions of the theatre allow room
for only two entrances on either side ; and as
it would be impossible in such a narrow space as
that necessarily allotted to the " wings " to work the
usual apparatus of " flats," the scenes are arranged
so as to fall from rollers fixed above the stage. A
darkened effect upon the scene is produced by the
raising of a siik screen before the footlights, and the
simultaneous obscuring of the lamps at the " wing"
by means of a similar contrivance. The arrangements
in the audience portion of the theatre are very simple.
The space which might be described as forming the
pit in an ordinary play-house, is left unoccupied. In
front of the centre of the stage, upon a dais ap-
proached by three steps, and encompassed on either
side by a gorgeous screen of purple velvet, fringed
with gold, are placed, in a double row, the chairs oc-
cupied by the Royal Family. From these again,
three rows of benehss extend diagonally from the line
of the stage; thus filling up the opposite corners of the
room. On the left, looking from the stage, is the door
leading from the private apartments of the Castle to
the theatre. On the opposite side, a corresponding
portal is fitted up as a species of box for a few of the
higher domestics of the Castle.
The stage, as has been stated, rises directly from
the floor of the apartment. There is not, therefore,
in the usual sense of the word, any orchestra. Her
Majesty's private band was, however, stationed in the
vaulted chamber on the left of the theatre (always
looking from the stage) while on the opposite side,
running at right angles from the audience portion of
the house, if we may so describe it, the state ante-
chamber did duty as a green room, and two of the
neighbouring apartments, neatly fitted up for their
temporary purpose, and hung round with chef-d wuvres
of Guido, furnished dressing rooms not much resem-
bling the style of apartments ordinarily used in thea-
trical life fur the purpose in question.
So much for the general preliminary arrangements
The play represented last night was The Merchant
of Venice. This is one of the Shaksperian dramas in
which the refined taste of modern days, differing so
much from the code of minor morals in force during
the Elizabethan era—is occasionally offended by
a broadness of allusion, and a free and unre-
strained play of repartee, which, especially in the last
act, is allowed to run riot through the dialogue. To
mould these portions of the drama to more modern
taste—to smooth away these little asperities, without
injuring the structure of the
,fabric—is a task not
easy of satisfactory accomplishment. In the present
instance, however, the manager has wisely preferred
to he on the safe side. Phrases and allusions, which
may be legimately permitted in the general range of
a mixed audience, could not well be tolerated in the
presence of a household circle—of a party, the prin-
cipal members of which are so closely and dearly
connected. Mr. Charles Kean has felt all this, and
arranged matters accordingly.
The cast of the .Merchant of Venice, so far at least
as the principal parts go, has been already published.
Many of our readers may, however, thank us for
giving verbatim—as an interesting memorial—the
play-bill printed, on this remarkable occasion, for the
use of the Court. It is as follows :

ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT.
BY COMMAND.
Her Majesty's Servants will perform, at Windsor Odle, on
Thursday, December 28,
Shakspere's Play of
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.
Duke of Venice ... ... Mr. Diddear
Antonio (the Merchant of Venice) ... Mr. Rogers
Bassanio (his Friend) ... .•• ... Mr. A. Wigan
Salanio Mr. Boyce
S alarino Friends toAutonio andßassanio Mr. Conway
Gratiano Mr. Webster
Lorenzo (in love with Jessica) ... ... Mr Leigh Murray
Shylock (a Jew) ... ... Mr. Charles Kean
Tubal (a Jew, his Friend) ... Mr. Howe
Launcelot Gobbo (a Clown, Servant to}
M
Shylock)
Mr. Keeley
Old Gobbo (Father to Launcelot) ... Mr. Addison
Leonardo (Servant to Bassanio) ... Dlr. Field
Balthazar Servanta.to ... Mr. Clarke
Stephano Portia 5 ... Mr. Coe
Portia (a rich Heiress) ... Mrs Charles Kean
Nerissa (her Waiting Maid) ... Mrs Keeley
Jessica (Daughter to Shylock) ... Mrs Compton
(late Miss Emmeline Montague).
... Mr. Charles Kean
... Mr. George Ellis _

Director ... ...
Assistant-Director

Prompter and Stage Manager ... Mr. Frederick Webster.
The Theatre arranged and the Scenery painted by Mr

Thomas Grieve.

From this cast, it will be seen that the play is re-
presented by artists chosen from three of the prin-
cipal theatres in London ; the Haymarket, the
Adelphi, and the Olympic; while the provincial
drama has its representative in Mr. Addison of the
Birmingham Theatre.
Eight o'clock was the hour specified for the com-
mencement of the performance. The punctuality of
her Majesty is well known, and by the appointed
time, the Queen and Prince Albert, surrounded by
the juvenile members of the family, had taken their
seats, the room was filled with the invited guests, and
the play began.
As might have been expected, the drama was care-
fully and most effectively performed. As each speci-
men of the beautiful scenery of Mr. Grieve was dis-
played, the applause was general, Prince Albert
leading and encouraging the signs of approbation.
The play commanded, during its progress, a most
attentive and discriminating auditory. Mr. Kean's
powerful acting, and Mrs. Charles Kean's exquisite
declamation, called down, particularly in the trial
scene, the heartiest marks of approbation. Thanks
to the ability of the artists, and the care with which
the play had been got up and diligently rehearsed,
the effect was, in every respect, excellent ; and the
curtain fell upon a brilliantly successful opening of
the Windsor theatricals.
The next performance will be an essentially comic
one, the pieces selected being Used Up and Box and
Cox, embodying, as they do, the principal talent of
the Lyceum.

(From the Post.)
The first of a series of plays was given last night
at Windsor Castle. Her Majesty and the Prince
Consort were seated on the dais, and the Prince of
Wales, attired in his naval dress, with two of the
Royal Princesses, were seated on the steps. The
Royal Children retired at the end of the second act.
The Merchant of Venice gave entire satisfaction, and
Mr. Charles Kean received a message, through Col.
Phipps, to say that her Majesty and the:Prince were
quite charmed with the performance, and never before
had witnessed a play so perfectly acted in all its parts
on the English stage. There were about sixty per-
sons seated. The scenery, painted by Mr. Grieve,
was greatly admired. The Queen's private band
played between the acts, in an adjoining apartmen`
with open doors, the following pieces :
Overture, " Les Aveugles de To:edo "
Sinfonia
l)ie Orientalen Valzer

Mehul,

Lalitzky

Gruss au Paris Polkas

Labitzky

Carlsbader Sprudel Galoppe
(Troll') the Court Circular )_

Shallspere's play, The Merchant of Venice, was
performed by command in the Castle this evening.
The stage for the performance was erected in the
Rubens room. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, and
the Duchess of Kent, and the ladies and gentlemen of
the royal suite in waiting, sat on a raised platform in
the centre of the apartment. The other guests ho-
noured with invitations to the entertainment were

seated on either side on seats of crimson satin damask
and gold.
her Majesty's private band attended in an ante-
room.

The company consisted of her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, Lord John Russell, the Marquis of
Breadalbane, the Earl and Countess Grey, the Earl of
Liverpool, Viscount Canning, Lady Fanny Howard,
I3aroness de Speth, the Countess of Mansfield and the
(2) Ladies Murray, Lord and Lady Ruthven,
Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Miss Pole Carew, the
Right lion. Henry and Mrs. Labouchere, the Right
Hon. Sir William Fremantle, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs.
G. E. Anson, Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Charles
and Mrs. Phipps, Miss Bathurst, Sir George and Lady
Cooper, Miss Couper, Lady Isabella Wemyss, Colonel
and Mrs. Malcolm, the Dean of Windsor and Lady
Charlotte Neville Grenville, the (2) Hisses Neville
Grenville, the Rev. Frederic Anson, the Provost of
Eton and the Hon. Mrs. Hodgson, the Rev. Dr. Haw-
trey, Dr. Meyer, Mr. Glover, the Field-Officer in
Waiting of the 2,1 Life Guards (Colonel M`Douall),
the Field-Officer in Waiting of the Coldstream
Guards (Colonel Paget).