The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-28 00:00:00

AD ELPHI.

The clever directress of this favourite theatre has, at
the present festive season, indulged her friends and ad-
mirers with a new three act drama, entitled Colomba ; or,
the Corsican Sister. The state of society in the island 1
of Corsica—the national irritability of its people—the
partiality for feuds and litigation which prevails—vices 1
transmitted as so many sacred heir-looms from father to
son—have furnished Prosper Merimoe, Inspector-Gene-
ral of the Historical Monuments of France, with the ma-
terials for a story of thrilling interest ; and the present
drama, which is adapted from it, contains, in prodigal
profusion, the varied incident, the pathos, wit, and
humour, which distinguishes the original. The story,
as given at the Adelphi, is one not easily described
within our brief limits. The incidents result from a long
standing feud between the Bobbies and the Barricinis ;
and the principal of the one family having been
slain by the members of the rival house, his
daughter Colomba (Madame Celeste) burns to revenge
his death upon the Barricini. With this sole object in
view, she impatiently expects the return of her brother
Antonio, an officer in the French army, and great,
therefore, is her disappointment when she finds that the
influence of Lydia Neville (Mrs. Yates), daughter of an
eccentric English Colonel, whom he has met, and .with
whom, as a matter of course, he falls in love, has half
turned him from his purpose. What the persuasions of
Colomba could not do, the treachery of the Barricini
themselves effected, and having, in the first and second
acts, seen their attempts on the life of Antonio (Mr.
Howe) defeated, through the vigilance of Colomba, the
third act closes with the disgrace and punishment of the
guilty Barricini, and we are left to infer that Antonio
and Miss Neville married, and reared a family, that
they lived long, and died happily. There is an under
current of comedy running throughout the piece The
broad farce of Mr. Wright, as Barnaby Puffball, the
Colonel's man, the exquisite archness of Miss Woolgar,
as Chilina, a peasant girl, contrasting admirably with the
grave comicality of 0. Smith and Paul Bedford, who per-
sonate two social bandits. Mr. Selby, as Mons. Dude-
vant, the French Prefect, afforded great amusement by
his forcible delineation of the fastidiously polite gentil-
homme of a certain age, condemned to live among bar-
barians, and at a distance from the gilded salons of Paris,
and the endearments of his own loved France. Madame
Celeste, as Colomba, was all fire and passion. When
the curtain fell Madame was loudly called for, and on
her appearance, and while announcing the piece for re-
petition, she was loudly and enthusiastically cheered. A
similar honour was conferred on Miss Woolgar, Mr.
Wright, and Mr. Howe. The scenery was admirably
painted, and the costumes well got up. This was fol-
lowed by the gymnastic exhibition of Air. John Lees
and his three pupils, theiMasters Hanlon's ; and when
we say, that in grace of posture, and ease of effort, they
equalled, if they did not exceed, Professor Risley and
his son, we convey the highest praise that it is possible
for us to do. The evening's entertainments were wound
up by the spectacle of the Phantom Dancers. The
theatre was well crowded in every part, and the audi•
ence seemed highly delighted with the intellectual feast
which had been provided for them.

OLYMPIC.
King Alfred the Great; or, Harlequin History and the
Enchanted Raven, is the title of the Pantomime which
Mr. George Bolton produced on Saturday for the amuse-
ment of his patrons. The Olympic was, at one time,
celebrated for its pantomime, and Mr. George Bolton
has this year, well sustained the honour of his house.
The basis upon which it is founded, is, as the hill
informs us, an " Ancient Saxon Chronicle,"
which thus runs :—" About this time, ye good Kynge
Alfred beinge sorely pressed, didde fynde hymself com-
pelled to ;Inge exceedinge small, and ye cruelle Danes
havynge mayde themselves atte home in the Kynge, hys
land, he putte on ye garb of a gleeman, or street myn-
stralle of those dayes, in ye whyche guise he would
stryke merrilye uppe anent ye doores of publycke taverns,
and send hys cappe for the coynes. Whylst ye poor
Kynge was thus so dreadfullie harde uppe he tooke
shelter at ye house of a Dame, who was makynge some
cakes, and when she sette hym to mind thate they didde
not burn, ye poor Kynge, thinkynge of hys sad plyghte,
didde forgetto to turn them, and so got soundlie rated
for h 3 s neglect, which was a daintie conceit he didde
laugh atte with good cheer. Then came to hym onne
who sayde that ye Danes were feastynge merrilie, and
makynge a night of itte at Stonehenge, whereupon he
attacked them with heartie goode wille, crybbedde their
magic Standard of ye Raven and kyllynge ye savage
Guthrum, ye Danish leader, didde gette hys own again
to ye wonderro and admiration of elle. Whence cometh
ye saying of Kynge Alfred and hys cakes, thatte He
who doeth onne goode turne deserveth another."—An •
dent Saxon Chronicle
After a most effective overture by Mr. Thirlwall the
curtain was raised and displayed a magnificent scene,
representing the " British heroes in the realms
of history," which drew down rounds of ap-
plause from the crowded audience. History, whe
is here making up her accounts for 1846, is joined
by Fable and Travestie on a tour in search of a
pantomime, and at last fix upon the subject of Alfred.
The scene then changes to Castle Uffington, in the