The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-27 00:00:00

THE PANTOMIMES.

DRURY-LANE.

This national temple of the drama opens on Mon-
day evening, as ohr readers are well aware, for the
representation of Sbakspeare's plays. The theatre has
undergone a thorough renovating, and will present an
entirely new appearance, the alterations being tinder
the direction of Mr. Beazley, and executed by that
well-known artist and decorator, Mr. Crase. A slight
description of the improvements in the interior may not
be quite unacceptable. The ceiling has been repainted
in the inner circle after the Elizabethan style ; or, as
it is sometimes called, the Vatican order. The alle-
gorical figures surrounding the circle remain as usual,
but the circle has a brilliant blue ground ; the second
circle a blue ground also. In the dress circle, the
haksperian subjects, by Lamboulett, have been re-
moved, and in their stead a scroll ornament, painted
in relief upon a buff ground, surrounded by a handsome
gold ornarneat. Tice Ike of the proscenium surround-
ing the stage is picked in with a deep blue, better
known in the artistical world as the Victoria blue.
The private boxes, formerly on a level with the pit,have,
with the exception of the one belonging to Miss An-
gela Burdett Courts, and one opposite, been entirely
removed, and the space added to the pit, making an addi-
tional number of seats for one hundred persons. The
pit seats are covered with handsome red cloth, witiv
backs stuffed end covered with crimson, each person
sitting in a separate stall ; in the centre is an opening
enabling the spectator to quit and return to his seat
without inconvenience. The saloon has been entirely
repainted and decorated, and a splendid Brussels car-
pet, laid down for the first time. The corridor and
coffee-room, on the Vinegar-yard side, have been parted
off by an elegant and substantial screen, painted a
marble colour. to which there is access by a new en-
trance from Vinegar-yard, and a staircase, made ex-
pressly for the occasion, leading to the upper boxes.
This is exclusively appropriated for the reception of
that class of visitors hitherto permitted to promenade in
the principal saloon, but who, from the present arrange-
ments, are entirely excluded. The figures of Kean and
Garrick, in the Rotunda, have been cleaned, and re-
moved back into the niches originally appropriated for
them ; the Rotunda has also' been painted in imitation•
of porphyry and white marble. This part of the thea-
tre is known. to all judges of architectural beauty, as
being in design and execution the most perfect specimen
of taste in any public building. The whole of the
boxes have been numbered, and on the. back of each
box the number of seats contained therein is given. The
new curtain, containing one thousand yards of crimson
velvet, with gold fringe, lace, &c., will open in the
centre ; on one side ate the Royal Arms, splen-
didly modelled and gilt, and on the other
those of the Prince of Wales, carried out on
each side with musical trophies, surrounded with gold
wreaths. It will be seen by our report that no expense
has been spared by the lessee and proprietors to render
the theatre worthy the patronage of all the true lovers
of the drama, which, with the high purpose of the pre-
sent management, we trust will not fail to be accorded.
It may be as well to observe, that the whole of the
scenery for The Merchant of Venice has been painted
by Messrs. Marshall and Tomkins, and that of the pan-
tomime by Mr. Danson. Mr. Stanfield is now actively
engaged at the Theatre Royal English Opera in paint-
ing a new pictorial effect for one of the earliest revivals
at Drury-lane Theatre, the crowded state of the paint-
room there, in the preparation for the opening, not af-
fording room for him as usual.

The new comic pantomime by Mr. H. Younge is
unusually splendid. The first scene presents us with
the hall of Good Cheer. The deity Good Cheer,
seated on an enormous plum pudding, calls for the
assistance of Music, when a number of animated
violins enter with the conductor of the Musard con-
certs, who commence playing some popular airs. Mer-
riment and his crew then enter, and the former
states that he wishes the aid of Good Cheer on a
love affair. Duke Humphrey the Good has sent his
ward, Lady Joan, to live at the castle of Sir Lazarus
Skelton. in order to compel her to wed his son, Spider-
legs, and by that means make her fortune. Mischief is then
summoned to their councils, when the scene changes to the
bowers of Mischief. Sir Lionel Breakspeare is intro-
duced to the Lady Joan by Mischief, and informed by
him that the only way to obtain her hand is to engage
Jack Cade and his band to carry her off, to which he
assents. The semis is then changed to a view of Lon-
don, with the Tower in the background. Jack enters
with his mob, who pull down an ale-house, and kill the
King's guard. They are met by Sir Lionel Break-
speare, who engages Jack to carry the lady off. The
castle of Sir Lazarus Skelton is then seen, with a view
of Starvation Hall ; a chorus of starved domestics are
heard crying for food. Sir Lazarus enters in great
alarm to inform them that Duke Humphrey bas paid
them a visit, and will take lunch, which, as he is such a
glutton, will ruin them. The Duke then enters, pre-
ceded by his fat servants. They are set down to a
meal of red herrings and water. The Duke, highly in-
dignant at this, quits the hall. Jack and his band then
enter and attempt to carry off the lady. but are re-
pulsed. The hall of Duke Humphrey is then seen,
and the whole of the cortege pass in to dinner. Jack
and his band next inter with Sir Lionel Break-
speare, and, through a secret passage, make their
way to the dining ball below ; tlle Duke and
his suite are then discovered at dinner ; a shout is
heard, Jack and his party make their appearance, and
take the duke and lady prisoners. Sir Lionel claims
the lady, but is opposed by Jack, in whose favour the
lady declares herself. The duke refuses bis consent,
when the scene changes to the Temple of Good Cheer,
who forthwith changes the characters, and the bade-
quinade commences. In the comic part of the panto-
mime are several hits at the passing events of the day
—the two Houses of Parliament, the railroads, Prince
Albert's stock, the sale of " the royal property," intro-
ducing the shade of the immortal Simpson. The pan-
tomime concludes with a representation of the launch
of the Trafalgar. The costumes are by Mr. Smythers,
and are said to exceed in splendour and correctness all
that has hitherto been seen at this theatre.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
Madame Vestris has taken the field with. what
we understand to be a most original pantomime,
though the title is not new, entitled " Guy, Earl
of Warwick ; or, Harlequin and the Dun Cow." We
present an outline of the story, the title of which is so
familiar to our youthful recollections. The first scene
presents a view of the hermit's cell. The hermit (Mr.
Granby) is discovered at his book. It will be observed
that the pictorial effects in this pantomime are of new
principle, consisting of dioramic views, which are in
continual motion, and carry on the story with the per-
formers during the whole of the opening. A view of
Warwick Castle, with the town in the distance, is tem.
Guy, Earl of Warwick (Mr. Payne), and Sir Tristram
(T. Ridgway), enter, fatigued with a pilgrimage ; they
are not recognised by the domestics. Phillis, Guy's
betrothed, and Fiounce-bella, Sir Tristram's mistress,
are then introduced, and, after much explanation, an
eclaircissement takes place, and the great Guy discovers
himself, the tenantry enter in great numbers, and he is
borne with his squire in triumph to the castle. The
diorama then presents the great hall in the castle ; the
warder is seen asleep ; a huge bell is heard to ring,
when the warder in anger tears out the tongue of the
bell. A number of dwarfs then enter, and preparations
for the grand banquet in hononr of Guy's return is about
to commence. Guy himself enters, and, finding the
servants absent, he is compelled to turn cook in his own
castle. The villagers now enter in a fright, headed by
the Earl of Jonas, whose daughter has been carried off
by the Monster Cow, and taken to the castle of the
Giant Colbrand. Guy heroically undertakes to vanquish
him, the giant, and the Dun Cow. The villagers take
their leave of Guy and Tristram, and here a long diora-
mic effect is produced, which continues to the arrival of
the knight and his esquire at the magic castle of the Giant
Colbrand. An encounter takes place with the giant, who
yields to the victorious sword of Guy. The Dun Cow
then plunges from its brazen cage, and with nostrils
streaming fire, and tearing up the earth in rage, fu-
riously attacks Guy. He, nothing daunted, lays about
with his mighty sword, and the monster reels beneath
his lusty blows. Sir Tristram now assumes courage,
and flies to the rescue of his master, and seizing the
Dun Cow by the tail, it elongates by magic, and carries
Sir Tristram round the castle. After a furious onslaught
both enchanter and cow bite the dust. The diorama
now arrives at a splendid fairy palace, where the bar-
lequinado commences. Phcebe (afterwards Colum-
bine), Miss Fairbrother, with Harlequin, Mr. J. Ridg-
way, and Pantaloon (Ireland), now commeace their
mirth-exciting tricks. During the pantomime some
smart bits on the local events of the day take place.
During the comic scenes we have the Cannon Brewery
changed to Prince Albert's Gate, a chemist's and a
poulterer's to a magic toy-shop, concluding with the
launch of the Trafalgar. It will be seen that this is a
departure from the usual scenic custom observed in the
opening of pantomimes hitherto, though there is no rea-
son to imagine it should not prove an alteration for the
better. A vast number of persons have, we know, been
employed in its preparation, and the acknowledged ta-
lent of every artist, before and behind the curtain, gives
promise that it will be as successful as that species of
performance has hitherto been.

On Friday the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, with the Nisgistrates belonging to Bow-
street Police-court, inspected the new Court, which is
now completed. The conveniences in all departments
for the transaction of business are excellent, and parti-
cularly commodious. The exterior is very neat, and the
whole of the building, which is now being thoroughly
aired, met with considerable approbation. The Magiste-
rial business will be transacted at the new Court for the
first time on Saturday, the Ist of January.
GREENWICH RAILWAY. —T he Directors of the
London and Greenwich Railway have determined, on
and after this day (Saturday)
week, to discontinue the
use of second class carriages, and to reduce the fares by
the first class carriages. Henceforth the trains will con-
sist only of "closed carriages, at 9d. per passenger ;"
and "open ditto, without seat, at Ed." These charges
are still very mush higher then those of the Blackwall
Railway, which is of the same length,—Railway Times.