The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-27 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S.

This theatre opened for the season with entire
novelties. The first 'piece, in which, if Mr. Batty
has not, in the exact sense of the phrase,—
" Stooped to truth and moralized his scene,"
he has provided fur the holiday visitors a piece of
serious history, is the Wars of the Jews; or the Fall
of Jerusalem, a version of Josephus, or rather of the
agreeable pages of Mr. Millman. The tragical inci-
dents attending the capture of Jerusalem by the
Romans, the divisions amongst its defenders, and the
sanguinary feuds of the partizans of Eleezar and
John of Gischala, which made the people pray for
the arrival of the Pagans, and the terrible scenes
which preceded the fall of the sacred city, offer many
passages of a dramatic character. A few of them
are worked into a short story, of which the
quarrels between the Zealots and the partizans of
Gischala form the groundwork. The chief inci-
dents are the attack and capture of the fortress
of Gamala by the Romans, the massacre of the Pil-
grims by the Zealots, and the destruction of the
" doomed city." The dramatis persona includes per-
sonages of historical dignity; both Vespasian and
Titus appear at the head of the tenth legion, and, be-
sides the two chiefs of parties, Ananias, the high-
priest—very respectably represented by Mr. Frede-
ricks—and Josephus, the historian, are conspicuous
characters. There is plenty of warlike bustle in the
piece ; the scorpions, balistre, and catapults, are ,
brought into play; some single and double combats,
besides an occasional melee, keep up the proper degree
of excitement, and Barnabas (Mr. Attwood), one of
the wandering tribe, a kind of Jewish Falstaff, diver-
sifies the scene by a few humorous passages. More,
we think, might have been made of the materials, but
the audience were satisfied and gratified, and this is,
perhaps, the best test of the merits of such a piece.
After the usual " Scenes of the Arena," the impa-
tience of the house for the customary Christmas
treat was relieved by the rising of the curtain for the ex-
hibition of " a new grand equestrian comic pantomime,
enitled Bold Robin Hood, or the Pretty White Horse
and the Enchanted Princess of Sherwood Forest." This
piece was likewise of an historical cast, blended with
the legendary and the ideal. The Fairy Morning
(Miss A. Lonsdale), is awakened by the Fairy Night
(Miss Mason), and by the aid of Sunbeam, Queen of
the Fairies (Miss Rosa Henry), with her attendants,
Mirth, Joy, Sport, &c., and Gnatfly, Buzz, Hum, and
Sting—four very sprightly sprites; represented by the
celebrated Arabs—the whole party travel by an at-
mospheric railway from planet to planet, and reach-
ing at length that part of the earth called England,
they send the sprites in search of the pretty white
horse at Horseshoe Castle. We are here introduced
to Sherwood Forest,
,where bold Robin Hood (Mr.
Crowther), and Friar Tuck, Little John, and all his
" merrie men," not forgetting Maid Marian, are re-
presented as carrying on their " simple plan" of
" taking when they had the power." The whole of
this scene is broadly comic. Robin, however, deserts
his foresters, in order that he may, with the
help of Friar Tuck, release a certain lady,
the Enchanted Princess (Mrs. Beacham) who is kept
in durance by the brazen-eyed Wizard of Horseshoe
Castle, who, in despair of obtaining her hand,
transforms her into a white horse. This representa-
tive of the Princess is a beautiful creature, one of Mr.
Batty's magnificent stud. The fairy Sunbeam,
however, dissolves the charm, and transforms the
Princess into Columbine and Robin into Harlequin.
The Wizard, in revenge, lets loose a Clown and Pan-
taloon upon them, who persecute the lively pair in
the usual manner, until all is adjusted, and rewards
and punishments are properly distributed by the good-
natured fairy in her very splendid palace, or Grand
Hall of Revolving Light. The period of probation is
marked by the customary incidents,—transformations,
cuffs, rows, buffets, and scrimmages ; but none of the
tricks were new, and many were marred by the re-
fractoriness of the machinery, which a few nights' use
will remedy. The house Was filled in every part, and
young and old seemed to enjoy the fun.

EXHIBITIONS, &c.
DIORAMA.

The very beautiful picture of " Mount Etna" still
continues to be the attraction at the Diorama. It is
seen under three aspects, that of sunrise, sunset,
and a night eruption. The spot in which the spec-
tator is supposed to be stationed is one of the southern
declivities of Mount Taurus, below which stretches a
glorious panorama of sea and shore, and which com-
mands a fine though distant view of Etna, showing
the general shape and immense bulk of the mountain.
The fore-ground is occupied with the picturesque
ruins of the classic theatre at Taormina. Skirting
the shore is seen the little town of the same name.
From thence the eye wanders along the graceful
winding of the coast, until, upon the further side of
the champagne district of Mascali, it is arrested by
the snowy form of Etna.
This glorious landscape is shown under the atmo-
spheric effects of sunrise and sunset; and the very
cleverly managed representation of a night eruption
is effective in the highest decree.