The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-27 00:00:00

CHRISTINIAS HOLIDAYS.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
The Theatre Roy al, Drury- lane—time-honoured
`°ld Drury"—is once more devoted to the represen-
tation of the drama, and, as it is now under the manage-
' lentof Mr. Bunn, the only director of Drury who has,
iz
e.rialsoy years past, exhibited tact and judgment suffi-
i•!lent in his caterings for the amusement of the public
to enable him to keep the theatre open through the
'entire of a season, we hope and believe that the
Theatre Royal, Drury- lane, will, for many years to
luorae, continue under his spirited maneg-ment to be
that
to its legitimate purposes; certain we are,
°st whilst he continues in the direction we shall have
the bast pieces, whether lyrical or dramatic, placed on
,ee stage and performed in the best manner.
,hose who saw the interior of the theatre only one
s suort fortnight since, when Jullien gave his last con-
. eert, would not recognise in the pre,ent exquisitely
decoratedhad
salle the dingy " dust hole" which they
It' quieted. In ten days the whole interior of the
theatre has been not merely cleaned and redecorated,
bat absolutely and entirely renewed. The ceiling is
tow decorated in the Louis XVI. style, classically
arranged,, in alcoves alternating with shields, and
itehlY decorated with allegorical figures and represen-
eons.of fruits and flowers. Toe aunellingsp of the va-
i tills circles of boxes have been entirely redecorated,
p.,..31 blue, white, and gold, and the effect is light and
—"eful, and at the same time brilliant in the
extreme. The prosenium has likewise been
,te-decorated in white and gold, and the royal box is
:Perfect gem of tasteful and costly decorations. The
'tle of these decorations reflects infinite credit on the
sate of Mr. B. Herwitz, who was their designer. Tu
"ereilewb the whole, there is a magnificent new centre
iviandelier, which has been designed and erected by
etare• Pellatt. Within ten minutes after the doors
were
opened the pit and gallery were crowded to
oyere
fe slowing and before the commencement of the per.
• l:glances every seat in the dress circle was occupied,
w
hilst the first and second circles of boxes were very
ell
,Wh filled—indeed, to procure a seat anywhere in the
e.,„(41,8ei except at the very back of the second and third
'ries Was after the performance had begun a matter
to exceeding difficulty. At seven o'clock the curtain
.the and discovered the whole company assembled on
; the band struck up, and the National
nthera was sung. At its conclusion Mr. Bunn ad-
Inoed to the footlights, and was welcomed with re-
t
t-elved and hearty plaudits. He addressed the audi-
ettoe as follows :-
01"Ledies and Gentlemen,—To use the language of one
*Par greatest favourites, Grimaldi, en this very spot,
Lead °ll this very anniversary, Ilere we are again ;'
Ineret`,You could but be aware of the obstacles which
'be" been thrown in our way, you woul i very much
ik_bder how we got here.—(Laughter.) But ten days
'die Passed since the parish in which this theatre stands
the; not contain another such filthy dust-hole as this
e0t48,.° in which we are assembled. I trust to your
rghts"7BY to say what it looks like now.—(Cheers.) The
444,14 change which you contemplate has been
tee "ed bY hands, but I am sure you will concur with
it beta thinking that hands could not have done
had
there not been hearts in them. Sims years ago
eet:tl the honour in this theatre of explaining the
txpeen why I restricted the performances to ballet and
ette'*.r It arose from this, that those who wanted other
.the„,t4bensents were sure of procuring them at another
ead"?e over the way. This argument no longer exists,
therefore have the honour to announce that ii
is
teeilatention to give you every description of entertain.
go i' that research and industry can, devise.—(Cheers.)
opitPY misrepresentations have been circulated as to
reltiiigival, actual, and future intentions, that I have
my bly to be duo to the public and myself to state
eendlisctentiona really are. I cannot bettor illustrate the
!kaeed Ta upon which my success depends than by an
is pr the which I have related on a former occasion, and
to sit cues of another audience. Formerly there used
cabled the
the orchestra of this theatre a foreigner, who
akbieeo the bassoon. In his youth be was an admi-
qieePerformer, his notes being exceedingly melli-
tee 5, Yet audible through the whom house; but when
his
those liberties with him which he takes with
-Erlitris notes could with difficulty be heard beyond the
*N"' in the pit. The gruff old gentlemen, who for
Pars of the
accustomed to take up their position in that
Ittle the house, at least grew impatient, and roared,
w
-tocdt louder ;' the little boys in more remote regions
the DOT the cry, and shouted Blow louder,' till at last
kite- -r musician turned round in anger, and, facing his
knee
very exclaimed, 'Ladies and gentlemen, it's all
Nee Well for these people to shout Blow louder,' but
:14 47 the vind to come from ?'—(Laughter.) And now,
laytelfaTed gentlemen, to point the moral and apply it to
'l°4l se: 4esaY, do me the honour to find the wind, and I
canto -p., the rest.—(Loud cheers.) I will do what I
t° me, theseerreT your patrona and, should it be granted
is sot a heart amongst' you that will be more
The 7.. r grateful than mine."
AluterriagedY of Fazio then commenced, Mr. J. R.
the
e'en Performing the ungrateful part of Fazio
Sian
ureat effect, and Miss Glyn exerting herself to
Ilieaceacist to fulfil the requirements of the part of
Itkliena ; at the conclusion she was called on by the
Lite e-e-ei who had repeatedly applauded her during
of the performance, and on her appearance
!tab. so exhausted that she nearly fainted on the
the d. At the conclusion of the play, the band, under
ki4ceeirteeetvin of Signor Schirra, performed the [nag-
seem • laire to William Tell, and then came the
1_4440 tl;evv comic Christmas pantomime, entitled
triet ilegarth, or The Two London' Prentices.
be gathered from the title the " Idle and In-
Zaa us •°3•Pprentices" of Hogarth have furnished the
"sews
exereenh.tvhich this pantomime is founded,. but with
"etwee e`l°ll of the idea there is nothing in common
rest II the work of the playwright and that of. the.
„ Pictor.
f moralist ;we have not even a single
tte_hetiir°oltallogartla's immortal series. But if we
rtult !s rth we have Mr. W.H. Payne, the Lord
ofver oWel caicee
, 'whose appearance at Christmas is
• ajoi, "ma by delighted thousands, and who was
alms greeted with the hearty and heartfelt wel-
d which •
fey is never • accorded save to
.an
of ourit
that r.
W. 11.
Certes the industrious apprentice
kis of the
Payne is infinitely more amusing than
t hide se dull gentleman who is Hogarth's hero-
-on.. -ally • •
Ji is indefatigable, and he has at least " a
e%hib• Prentice ited Power" of serving customers, as was
h;:nastehooggyr,ocer's shop, where, to quote the
td7thriPlietP-- he made the nearest approach
iet,tiailteticteedcoubtrenieoscitiumes ever witnessed. In this scene he
Truandaise with Chapin°, who
the part of the master's daughter, and
clotees theo' we seen any imitation more grotesquely
dance`
Payne's imitation of Perrot
in
epp7..ortat is worthy to rank with his
sa etitice imitation of Macready. The Idle
leg the wasmes well represented by Mr. H. Payne,,
bellttatiVes of `-',„°vehey made most fascinating repre-
eh Y la the introduction
and Knowledge. The ace-
thttege of
t, introduction is very beautiful. The
cl%e°l Ind" haunt of Idleness and Ignorance to
caged; anatistrY and Knowledge was capitally ma-
eiee,tl count. tile latter representing richly culti-
evgleh rY through which run fertilizing streams,
•ee an, crossed by magnificent bridges, whilst
itk
t•
he din a 3 train is -
se ista . seen traversing a railroad
see lice, is a beautiful specimen of landscape
ts •
OfPalnting: The departure of an excursion
t etl
h.. Midis., uy children in this scene amused
hive tree.re vastly.
• ornaation takes
The last scene, in which
exceed' place—the Fairy Bee•
exceedingly beautiful, and in this is introh-
ttlivilsciee auektiho_rt but very graceful divertissement, which
did h applauded. The transformation takes place,
ave
shall a Mr. J. Marshall as Harlequin, Mr. H.
esevaei Clown, Mr. Barnes as Pantaloon, Mr.
i'Jtoteer harrite, and Miss Falser as Columbine. A
lquinade company has seldom been col-
Zoletbtvitliethieof the walls of any theatre. Of the
the' speak in Miss Falser it is impossible
ale sPrightl terms. of too high praise ; to
the essential
agility and arch naiveté which
Muss 4 ,ho';o
adds
characteristics of every good Colurn-
tdil end a gracefulness which is most fascina-
th tted. le.n her predecessors have too seldom ex-
ivt,t we h.. She is the best and most graceful Columbine
ertilardi ,a_ve seen for the last twenty years. Mr. J.
K.o4,2tte.lmost active and neat Harlequin, and Mr.
. T4n II is an admirable Clown, full of bustle and
(4 the vi the
ofcourse of the harlequinade he performed
thick
a grotesque and most amusing burlesque
`tho_teh
wayerformance of " The Carnival de Venise,"
he oppeea, a most rapturously applauded, and
he;',ll.ta, of"1?,oe introduction of which raised the
Z.,the we. the audience to "vociferous applauding
egittorn• uloh vras kept up to the conclusion of the
teem-4111 e.
quell me' e then gave an equally close and
of
traZeklf,e vs l'lsee
Ere ludicrous imitation of Bottesini, and another
awas encored again and again. There
new polka introduced, which was
th4l3er. The hy Mr. J. Marshall and Miss
t
tkea reat Ezh'b' •
ue last scene represents the opening of
de the stion on the Ist of May, 1850, and for
i,Yeribes programme does not exaggerate, when it
i teen_Elit as one of the most elaborate and exten-
._ Not e, ever introduced on the English stage, and
Zeat.
`me
added also, one of the most magniti-
the4 with eof the tricks were excellent, and all
the &rat .41110 i greater neatness than is usual on
COght of a pantomime. The applause at
IN "'inclusion
no , Was enthusiastic, and the pantomime
-"a °lust have a long run, iithere is an unsparing
tp, %ads of
deeto_ the scissors; it is too long, and the in-
)1114 134-Y see
the e curtailed nes are heavy. The introduction
stihgoo nailed at least one half, and then, when
)ee" bed1,, things„... are thus brought close together, it
"gthee_eulest amusing production, and will have a
"ee run.

RAYMARKET THEATRE.
ktn(ltlier burlesque from the prolific pens of the
Pie:2;._ I3rOugh has been produced as the Christmas..B
Astr" '7 4r. Webster, for the amusement of_
fairy
tikie°4B. 'We had almost imagined that everyfilll
ttict,tver written had come through the hatesho"ever.f
(loutil:n writers; of burlecquPs. No' FO, I,een
!elz4 I.l%nailLon's story-of the Ma) kb Aex bas
katva uPon by the two clever authors in the present
v.e)
4/14 miultifactured into, perbsial Qne of the

TJIE

best pieces of the kind they have ever written. The
dialogue is lively, spirited, and full of wit and point. •
The hits at the fillies of the day are numerous, and
the puns, all laughter moving, are of every variety of
excellence. There is a rattling fire kept up which
perpetually tickles the risible faculties of
the audience. 'f he plot of the piece is as
follows :—Hardbake the Great, King of Candy,
(Mr. James Bland), has a daughter, the Princess
Badistit (Mrs. L. S. Buckingham), who has got such
a " killing" pair of eyes that no one can see her face
and live. " What's to be done for the people" that
they may not be utterly annihilated by her piercing
glances is satisfactorily answered by Count Vaide,
Lord Chancellor (Mr. Henry Bedford), who an-
nounces a coming man, who will undertake to do
something. That person is Pooh-pooh, and by
donning a pair of green spectacles, he is enabled to
look the radiant leo.), in the face—nay, mere than that,
tak- s her portrait. This done to his satisfeciiou, he
starts in search of his broth,r, Prince Pi,oenix, and in
a forest, after having fought and vanquished lions,
tigers, griffins, and dragons without number, he meets
May flower (Miss CollinO, who is in the power of the
witch Dentata (Buckstooe). With thst ready gal-
lantry and knowledge of tie supernatural which all
burlesque heroes seem to learn intuitively, he con-
trives to rescue her from the power of the
aforesaid witch, end elopes in the most approved
style on the " man Jingle," and that feat 11-ieg
accomplished, the curtain falls on the first act. In
the second Buckstone turns Bloomer lecturer (!), and
the Princess Radiant takes the command of a troop of
amazons. Mayflower again falls into the witch's
power, but, by one of those coups invariably intro-
duced to w ind up an extravaganza, happily she is, by
the intervention of the fairy Serena, transformed into
the Princess Brilliant„and, of course, is " given away
to the valiant Pooh-pooh. Prince Phcenix, too, who
has been hovering about the stage in the shape of a
mysterious parrot, is also made to fill his proper
position in society, end espouses the Princess Radiant,
and all is wound up in a " blaze of triumph," with no
end of red and green fires. The burden of the piece
rests on Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Miss Collins, and Mr.
Buckstone.- The Pooh-pooh of Mrs. Fitzwilliam was
an extremely clever performance; and the arch im-
personation of Mayflower, by that talented and
rising young artiste Miss Collins, was most
delightful. Buckstone's " Dentate" is also most
felicitous and irresistibly comic. The audi-
ence were certainly greatly amused with his
grotesque figure as the witch, but when, in the se-
cond act, he came on in full Bloomer costume, their
mirth knew no bounds, peal after peal of explosive
laughter bursting from all parts of the house. Even
if the piece were not so gorgeously mounted as it is,
Mr. Buckstone would be sufficient to insure for the
Princess Radiant a run. It was completely success-
ful, and was announced for repetition every evening.
There were vociferous calls at the conclusion for the
authors, who came forward and bowed their gratitude.
The burlesque was preceded by the Beggar's Opera,
and followed by the Two Bonnycastles. The house
was crowded.

ADELPHI 'THEATRE.
The new Christmas burlesque at this theatre,
Little Red Riding Rood, is founded upon the familiar
nursery story of that name. Ihe wolf of the tale is
transformed into Wolfram, Baron of Builiburg, "a
robber of the Rhine and the rhino," of course repre-
sented by Mr. Paul Bedford. Miss Kathleen
Fitzwiliam is Trudchen, or Little Red Riding
Hood, the daughter of, Grimbold (Mr. G. Honey)
the Baron's seneschal, a good specimen of a genuine
melodramatic villian of the blackest dye. Red Rid-
ing Hood is provided with a lover, Otto Von Rosen
(Miss Woolgar), the rightful heir of Burliburg, who
by a coup d itat turns out the old Baron and takes
his place. Be sides these characters, we have Miss E.
Harding as Kind-heart, the good fairy of the piece,
snd Mr. 0. Smith as Aldebaran, another alias of the
" Old Gentleman" who goes about doing mischief for
Kind-heart to remedy. It is needless to add that the
burlesque was as well acted as it was possible. All
London playgoers have repeatedly applauded Miss
Woolgar as the lover, Paul Bedford as the ty rant,
Miss E. Harding as the good and beau-
tiful fairy, and 0. Smith as the Old
Nick of Adelphi burlesques. The present one
contains several good parodies on popular airs, ex-
cellently sung by Paul Bedford, Miss Woolgar, and
Miss K. Fitzwrilltacn, who looked like the original
Red Riding Hood walked out of the story-book. Two
of the scenes, the Submarine Pavilion of the Rhine
Witch, and the last, the Blaza of Triumph and Rush
of Water, are ready gorgeous. The burlesque was
perfectly successful, and when somewhat curtailed,
will, no doubt, for a considerable time, in the words
of the play-bills, produce "an overflow to all parts of
the theatre." The performances commenced with
The Forest Rose, with Mr. Silsbee, and My Pre-
cious Betsy, with Mr. Wright, who fortunately
seems entirely to have recovered his voice, and, of
course, kept the audience in a roar of laughter the
whole time he was upon the stage.

LYCEUM THEATRE.
The holyday season had an auspicious commence-
ment at this agreeable theatre yesterday evening.
Never had a manager better cause to be pleased with
an audience, and it is but justice to say that the en-
thusiastic and rapturous bursts of applause so fre-
quently bestowed during the evening, and the more
substantial proofs of approbation afforded by a house
crowded to excess in every part, were fully merited
by the talented couple who now wield the managerial
sceptre at the Lyceum. Long before the com-
mencement of the performances every avail-
able corner in boxes, pit, and gallery were
completely occupied, save the seats secured
by the box-keeper's notices affixed thereto, and whic
nt
h
were looked upon with envy by the less provide
parties, who trusted to early arrivals as sufficient to
ensure favourable positions for the evening. The die-
s-
aointments were, however, submitted to b
compping good humour, for all appeared to think any
temporary inconvenience cheaply purchased by the
just and proper encouragement thereby afforded to
the popular caterers for the public amusement.
The entertainments commenced with Mr. Slingsby
Lawrence's new and eminently successful comedy,
The Game of Speculation, in which Mr. C. Mathews
as ffable Hawke, convulsed the audience by
his
A
admirable management of his various duns, suiting
himself to the disposition of each, alternately bullying
and cajoling, until he not merely appeased the ruth-
less creditor, and obtained further breathing time,
but also extracted an additional sum from his pocket,
and added largely to the debt which was about to be
enforced without the slightest further indulgence.
His treatment of the old miser Earthworm (Mr. F.
Matthew's) was peculiarly amusing, getting 5001.
from him just after 3/. bad been paid as an instalment
to save his family from starvation. There is something
inspiring in the prospect of a densely crowded house,
which had the usual effect, not only on Mr. C.
Mathews, but on all the subordinates. Certain it is,
that he surpassed himself, and presented one of the
most finished pictures that has ever been presented to
a London audience. Notwithstanding the anxiety to
behold the new labour, which it was truly anticipated
would prove a new triumph of the veteran Plenche,
the first piece was listened to with an attention, and
as heartily applauded, as if it had constituted the
chief attraction of the evening. At length, after a
pleasing overture, the curtain once more drew
up for The Prince of Happy Land; or, the
Fawn in the Forest. The laureate of fairy
land, once more drew on the inexhaustible stores,
supplied by the Countess Daulnoy. La Biche au
Bois was the tale selected on the present occasion,
and Plancho has followed the original closely, but
without servility. The first scene is a grotto and
fountain, at which Nigretta, Princess of Ethiopia,
comes to seek the assistance of her fairy godmother,
Carabossa, in consequence of being jilted by Prince
Felix. The phantom of her rival, the Princess Desi-
derata, is raised by the fairy, who promises speedy
vengeance on the Prince and Princess, the
former by being compelled to marry the
sable complainant. The next scene is one
of those gorgeous pictures for which the Lyceum
has rendered itself remarkable. The fair Desiderata
(Miss Lanza) is discovered sleeping in the Point-lace
Chamber in the Tower of Tapers. On waking she
communicates a dream to her attendant, Floretta
(Madame Vestris—who was received with an enthu-
siastic welcome on here ppearance), in which she
sees, and falls violently in love with, Prince Felix, ac-
cording to the approved precedent in such cases made
and provided. This vision induces her to reject with
disdain the addresses of ten potentates, just commu-
nicated by her father, the Grand Duke of Vert-and-
venison (Mr. Frank Mathews). An ambassador
then arrives from Happy Land, bringing with him
a speaking picture of bis master, which is at once re-
cognized as the original of the vision, and the offer is
at once joyfully accepted. A difficulty however
arises. The Prince is dying for love, and nothing
but the immediate celebration of the nuptials can
preserve his life. On the other hand, the Princess
will fall into the power of the Fairy if she beholds
daylight within the first twenty years of her life, of
which seven days are as yet to come. This impedi-
ment is removed by the Ambassador undertaking to
have her conveyed in a close litter, impervious to the
light. There,ie then a prospect of floppy Land, in which
the Prince hears with delight of his good fortune,
and sets cut to meet " his better half half way,
Then comes the " Black Gang Chine,'''' in which the
project of the malicious fairy is to be carried into
execution. The serenaders of the Princess of
Ethiopia are engaged to attract the attention of the
guards of Desiderata, which they succeed in doing
so effectually, that they were loudly encored. The
ssharnouekelorampvl,i,magehaitnwacsornapseliceodnd
complied,
Niioghp:ti, and
adonuitehy
reey
• •• 1.01, ,ea fur to ,tar (i • 11
the curtain, and let day-light in upon the unfortunate
Desiderata, who is forthwith turned o
in t " the White

_t_ON
_DON,

Fawn." " The Peerless Pool," with the grand
gathering of fairies v,ith fruit and flowers,
is another of those brilliant pictures in which the
frequenters of the 'Lyceum delight. The fairy
ballet was admirably performed, and Miss Rosina
Wright was greeted in a manner becoming an
established favourite. In the second act the
faithful Floretta is brought by fairies to the
retreat of the White Fawn. Pressing a ring
which she had received from her mistress,
she sees the fairy Pine Apple, who offers her assist-
once to the ruistress of the ring. Through her aid
Floretta not only obtains an interview with the
Fawn, but it is also granted that the Princess
shill resume her original form every night at
sunset, and retain it until sunrise. Felix, who
has lo,t his way in the forest, receives from
a how and arrow from the ledien Chief Tan-tee-vee
nod gees in pursuit of the Fawn whom he aims at.
The Fawn is brought in wounded, and is known to be
the Princess. At nightfall Desiderata herself appears,
with the cruel shaft piercing her ear and hand. The
fairy Carnbosia and Nigretta then appear, and
threaten the complete destruction of the unfortunate
Princess, which brings on a contest of generosity be-
tween the lovers. Floretta, however, again invokes
the fairy Pine Apple, who restores happiness, coil-
quering the malignant Carabossa and her sable
protege. Tee piece, concludes with a scene
of extraordinary splendour surpassing even
the concluding tableaux of King Charming, or,
the Queen of the Frogs. The curtain felt amid
torrents of rapturous applause, during which Madame
Vestris and Miss Julia St. George, who performed
the Prince most admirably, were called for and led
before the curtain in turn ; a compliment which
many were disposed to pay to Miss Lanza, who made
a decided hit on her first appearance, and who will
prove a valuable acquisition to the company, as well
as a vocalist as an actress.