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

LONDON,

HOLIDAY AMUSEMENTS.

THE THEATRES.
lIAYMARKET.
Ve Gamester was played last night, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean sustaining the principal parts, with all
the effect which their performance has given to the
revival of this gloomy play. After the tragedy came
the clever, though somewhat commonplace, farce of
Your Life's in Danger ; and after that again, the
novelty of the evening, a burlesque by the Messrs.
Brough, the two gentlemen who recently made their
debiit as dramatic authors with the Enchanted Isle, a
piece of the class in question, now being played at
the Adelphi. On the present occasion the Messrs.
Brough have chosen as a medium for a great deal of
lively satire, and some really racy fun, the Arabian
Nights story of the Prince Camaralzaman and the
Princess Badoura. Caincralzaman and Badoura is a
really brilliant burlesque, writ•en with great and fresh
comic powers, full of closely and cleverly put
points, abounding in lots of puns—some of them
capital from their very wretchedness—and con-
taining many happy lines of vigorous and telling
satire. The parodies, with which the piece is studded,
are, in almost every instance, effective ; some
of them being constructed with a legree of verbal,in-
genuity which is not commonly met with. The plot
of the burlesque we do not intend to meddle with.
The stories of pieces of the kind hardly bear telling.
The burlesque was excellently • acted. Mr. Keeley
as the Djin, had a very cleverly-conceived character
—a sort of pothouse-loving aerial gent, which he
played with great verve and gusto. His first scene
was one of the best pieces of burlesque acting w e
ever witnessed. Mr. Bland had one of his favourite
despotic parts, in which his tyranny was tremendous.
He was well played up to by Mr. Caulfield ; and Mr.
Mitchenson, as an eccentric sprite, performed some
feats of springing up through trap-doors, which re-
minded us of poor Wieland. Mrs. Keeley made a
delicious Peri, giving her jokes with all the point and
stinging piquancy which she knows so well how to
lend them. Her burlesque " shadow dance " was a
capital bit of pantomime. Miss P. Horton was, as
usual, the Prince, spoke her share of the dialogue
with grace and spirit, and warbled her songs delight-
fully. The Princess was played by Miss Reynolds.
The burlesque was gorgeously put upon the stage,
where it will no doubt continue for some time.

last night hung fire in nearly every instance, except
two in the opening scene Ns, hie h were splendid. Stilt's
Clown was very good, and his stage play was much
applauded ; he introduced his f c (apparently about
four years old) in one of the tricks as a chip of the
old block, and perfumed tieverai clever though very
painful feats of ecruilibrium; and although rewarded
with touch applause it was acc,:mpankd generally
by a shudder. Fenton made an excellent cud agile
Harlequin, and Miss Horne re a very gr.2.ceful Colum-
bine. The Sprite (Mr. R. Stilt), and Pantaloon (Mr.
J. Johnson) were equally good. The scenery (by
F. Fenton and Brunning) was magnificent. The
pantomime was quite successful.

ASTLEY S.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1848.

gave what he styles his " royal entertainment, illus-
trative of the fallacy of magic, necromancy, witch-
craft, and demmaol•ar_y." Many of his feats are
truly surprising. The most extraordinary trick in
his "royal programme of scientific wonders," is that
of the magic skatch-book, of which M. Houdin, at
the St.. James's Theatre, has nearly a counterpart.
As it were from a portfolio, which is closed up so
tightly as to lead you to suppose there is nothing in
it, bonnets, birdcages, birds, and other things ore
produced, to the antonishment of the audience. Pro-
fessor Anderson got on excel:ent terms with his au-
dience by inviting them to drink the co:npliments of
the season from a bottle which at one and the same
time supplied half-a-dozen,different sorts of liquors.
Brandy, gin, and whiskey (for such spirits were they
attested to be), were handed about from this inex-
haustible bottle in the most dangerous profusion.
Indeed, the Professor had once or twice to warn the
more sanguine of his audience in the pit of the in-
conveniences attending excessive indulgence.

This theatre opened for the as al,on with ti.tire
novelties. The first piece, in which, if Mr. Batty
has not, in the exact sense of the phi use,—
' Stooped to truth and moral zed his sane,"
he has provided for 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 (f the
agreeable pages of Mr. Millman. The tragical inci-
dents attending the capture of Jet ut:alem by the
Romans, the divisions amongst its defenders, and the
sanguinary feudi of the partizans of Eleazar and
John of Giseliala, which made the Teople 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, balistm, and catapults, are
brought into play; some single and double combats,
besides an occasional melee, keep up the proper degree
of excitement, and Barnabss (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, vi ith 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.
DIORAAII4. •

The very beautiful Woture df " Mount Etna" still
continues to be the attraction at the Diorama. It is
seen under three aspects, that of :uprise, 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 Corm 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.

COLOSSEUM.
One of the most attractive and instructive of the
various exhibitions with which the metropolis abounds
at this moment is the Colosseum. The grand pano-
rama of " Paris by Night," conveys to the mind an
idea of that beautiful city, which description, however
elaborate, fails to furnish. Added to this—the chief
attraction—are a well selected museum of sculpture,
also conservatories, Swiss cottage and mountain tor-
rent, and classic ruins. The museum of sculpture is
brilliantly illuminated during the day, and forms a
pleasant promenade for the visitors.

CYCLORAMA.
This exhibition, which has been for a long time
past in preparation, was thrown open yesterday in a
large building in Albany-street, at the back of and
adjoining the Colosseum. It is a moving panorama,
like the last-mentioned, representing the city of Lis-
bon as it was in 1755, and ending with the earthquake
in that year. The public attended in large. numbers.
A new grand Apcllonicon performs appropriate music
during the exhibition.

COSMORAMA.
This dioramic and panoramic exhibition, as the bill
styles it, attracted a good throng of visitors yesterday,
in spite of the unfavourable state of the weather. It
comprises a rich variety of views of picturesque
scenery and magnificent buildings, which are well
worthy of a visit, and never fail to be admired. From
the following list it will be seen that there is abundant
fare for tastes the most diverse :—The City of Berne
—the Interiar of St. Peter's, at Rome, with sunshine
and shade—the Palace and Park of Versailles—the
Pyramids—the Monastery of the Grand Chartreuse,
near Grenoble—Mount Blanc, from Chamouny—and
Mount St. Bernard.

MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENTS.
The exhibitions of a minor character which just
now invite the patronage of the public may be dis-
posed of in a few words. The little children who
are known by the designation of the "Minstrel
Fairies" are to be found at the rooms formerly occu
pied by Miss Linwood, in Leicester-square, where, in
conjunction with the "Tremont Serenaders," they
hold daily levees, exhibiting certain acts of early
musical capability well calculated to touch maternal
sympathies. In the vicinity of the same building
"The Mysterious Lady," who deals in second sight,
has pitched her winter tent; and in a neighbouring
room may be found Mr. Burbank's large picture of
" Daniel in the Lion's Den," a colossal production,
measuring some twenty feet by twelve—probably the
largest specimen of water-colour drawing ever known.
To those who are curious in the Electric Telegraph,
and desire to learn its nature, as well as the mechan-
ism by which its communications are carried on, the
lessee of the office at the Great Western station at
Paddington opens his doors to inquirers, and we do
not know that young people can be more rationally
entertained than in witnessing the operations of this
wonderful agent, and in becoming apprised of the
natural phenomena upon which it is based. Amuse-
ments of a totally different complexion arc offered at
the Salle de Valentino, in Leicester squat; e, and the
Adelaide Gallery, in the Lowther-arcade, where,
under the denomination of Casinos, music and dancing
may be had at a cheap rate, under the exhilarating
batons of M. Musard and M. Laurent.

Yesterday intelligence was received at Lloyd's of
the of Stettin, Itond- •
t,scohurittte North Samd. On
fieisciohtaml
master,
of the btroig F
Dub(llitn•
the vessel striking, the master and crew, eight in. number,
got in the long boat, which pro% nted the sea, as they
went before it across the sand, from breaking in to their
boat. This novel expedient pruseri% d tin it lives, as the
boat would otlh rwise have been swamped, said they
must all have perished; they were thus ahle to cross the
sand, and were picked up and landed in lianisi ,ate.
Erratum in The Sass of yesterday, the '26th De-
cember—ln the 3d page, 4th column, and 17th ,line from
the bottom, for forest read turret.