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

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

The genius of pantomime has certainly taken up
her abode at the Olympic. Could the celebrated John
Rich re-visit the scenes of his labours and triumphs,
he would, doubtless, at this plum-pudding period,
make a friendly call upon his brethren in Wych-street.
In fact, no one can do better, if he desires to witness
a pantomime of the good old English standard, whose
effect is heightened by the inventions and improve-
ments of modern pantomimic science, and not destroyed
by the unnecessary innovations of pretending reformers,
than visit the company of the veteran Farren. The
occupants of the gallery, after all, though their up-
roarious conduct and free criticism, would have led to
the supposition that they were the most tremendous
of reformers and innovators, are as much wedded to
old customs and usages as Sir Harry Inglis or Col.
Sibthorpe themselves. To them the pathetic song of
" the old woman and ber hot codlings" has a peculiar
charm, and the thieving propensities of the Clown,
and the roguish connivance of the Pantaloon, an endur-
ing interest and attraction. The success last
night was not equivocal, but as great as any ambi-
tious author could desire. To say this, however, is
almost superfluous, when it is known that
the prolific brain of Nelson Lee—the very im-
personation of pantotnirne himself—supplied the
budget cf fun, wit, and jollity for the
delectation and amusement of the audience.
His former efforts were a guarantee that he would not
fail on the present occasion. For a period now nearly
reaching over a quarter of a century he has endea.
voured, and that successfully, to excite the risible
faculties of little and great children during their
Chrismas holidays. He would seem to be a dweller
in fairy land, who drops down among us just before
boxing-day, to make us acquainted with the nymphs
and other beings in the other region, in whose society
he takes such especial pleasure. This year history
forms the ground-work of the pantomime, and Nelson
Lee's fancy, which, of course, has a considerable
range, supplies the superstructure. He instructs at,
well as amuses. The period chosen is the beginning
of the twelfth century; the subject William Rufus,
the red-haired and red-whiskered monarch; and the
scenes Harrow-on-the• Hill, Westminster, and the
New Forest. Hume and Sniollet have not been
followed to the letter, nor is Doomsday Book sup-
posed to give a correct account of the situation or
relative distances of the spots selected—but that is
not hing. In the first scene we are trans-
ported to the magical Halls of Fiction, on the
island of Great Romance. Certain sprites, overpowered
by cloud and difficulty are pouring over heavy story
books to find a subject to please their mistress—
Great Romance, a story-teller of imaginative disposi-
tion—on her return from earth. This pompous lady,
who is well supported by Miss Rawlings, suddenly
appears from the regions below, and, after a brief con-
sultation with her servants, resolves
" To call on fact to aid her in her diction,
Then form a pantomime of fact founded on fiction."
By a magic whirlwind the spectator travels to the
enchanted Grove of Datrydowndillys, where there is a
questionable union of fact and fiction. Here Miss
IVyndbain Snowdrop leads the mazy dance, followed
by a stream of animated beauty. This fancy ball
a la Jullien, is kept up with great spirit by the corps
de ballet, who are attired in the most light and beau-
. _

titully coloured of fairy dresses, and look charm-
ingly. Miss Wyndham is not only a graceful and
agile dancer, but a good actress and vocalist, and
possesses the additional qualifications of a good leg
and ancle and a pretty face. The arrival of Queen
Fancy (Miss J. Adams) in an enchanted car of
animated butterflies, leads to the consummation
of Great Romance's idea, and the pantomime is forth~
with named Red Rufus; or, Harlequin Fact, Fiction,
and Fancy. The plot is simple and intelligible :—Sir
Walter Tyrrell, the renowned archer, is to be united
to the Faire Alice Bullseye, the daughter of a bow
and arrow merchant, of Harrow-on-the-Hill. King
Rufus has a passion for her, and desires to satisfy it
by the destruction of Tyrrell's hopes. Accordingly,
after the curfew had tolled the knell of parting day,
and warned people to put out their fires and candles
and go to bed, he comes, in company with his friend
Beauclerk, to Harrow, and carries off the fair maiden
to Westminster. Rufus subsequently has a dream, in
which he is told

' Rufus. Rufus, Red,

To-morrow will your life be sped."
But disregarding the warning, he gees on the mor-
row to hunt n the New Forest, we suppose by rail-
way, for he journeys thither very quick, and then
loses himself amidst the labyrinths of that rich
plantation. Tyrrell has followed his foot-
steps with a determination to be revenged,
and when in a lonely part of the forest attacks him,
sword in hand. A fierce combat ensues, and, after
much fighting, which elicited loud and hearty laughter
from the audience, they give in, from exhaustion,
neither having succeeded in inflicting a fatal blow.
Tyrrell takes advantage of the pause to send an
arrow into the eye of the hunting monarch, from
which he eventally dies. Then comes the transfor-
mation of characters. Mr. A. F. Forest is Harle-
quin, Miss Lees Columbine, Mr. G. Tanner Panta-
loon, and Mr. Edwin F. Ed wards Clown. They all
sustained their parts in a way which redounded much
to their credit. Mr. Edwin Edwards deserves espeeial
notice; he is inferior to no Clown in modern times,
and promises to become one of the first favourites in
London, where he appeared last night for the first
time. --As a tumbler he is certainly unsurpassed ; one
of his great hits was walking backwards and forwards
upon a hall up an inclined plane, and then descending
in a similar way. He exhibits two small
dogs, which are the most skilfully-trained
specimens of the canine race we ever saw ; they
at leapfrog, ascend and descend ladders,
and perform play
other acts which none could believe un-
less he saw them. The scenery was splendid through-
Out, and the dresses said much for the taste and ex-
ecution of Mr. G. Allen and Mrs. Rawlings. Mr.
Sbalders, who is the scene painter of the establish-
ment, enacted the part of Rufus with his usual broad
comicality. The allusions to the events and topics of
the day were few and far between, but all were good.
Among the best hits was one with reference to the
patent exhibition bedstead, which not only wakes the
sleeper at a particular hour, but throws bim upon the
floor. The clown was the victim in this case. The
first piece, the Road to Ruin, was listened to with
some impatience and interruption, though the caste
was excellent and the acting very good. The only
,drawback last night was the announcement that Mr.
Diddear, who was to have been Sulky, was too in.
disposed to appear, end that Mr. Cooke would read the
part--an apology which was received in the best pos-
sible humour.

PRINCESSES' THEATRE.
To announce the production of a new piece at this
theatre without having at the same time to record its
legitimate and complete triumph would cause no little
astonishment to ourselves or to our readers. Such is
the admirable spirit of its management, liberal in
outlay, exact in discipline, and clear-sighted in taste,
that nothing unworthy of approbation is brought
upon the boards ; whilst the efficiency of the troupe,
individually and in the aggregate, guarantees the
success of the representation as far as depends upon
the performers. We looked forward, consequently,
with perfect security to reaping considerable enjoy-
ment from asisting at the representation of the pan-
tomime ushered into public existence last evening;
but we are compelled in justice to confess that, as
regards comic richness and variety, the agreeable an-
ticipation was exceeded by the reality. In the
department of dialogue it is much smarter than the
Christmas piece of last year, and, in the strictly
pantomimic, the achievements of the Grimaldi
and Eller of the day, with their associates,
are exhaustive of the vocabulary of praise.
A nautical adventurer, celebrated in familiar song, is
the hero of the piece which has been launched upon
the tide of popular favour under the title of Barle-
tt( Big & ; or the Flyirg Dutehtnan aal the
King of Itaritongo, and in which the fortunes of
Mr. William Taylor are set forth in the manner fol-

SATURDAY

lowing. The opening scene discloses the submarine
caverns of the Nereides, where the deep sea nymphs
and tritons are beheld in gleaming, garb The fairies
Coralia (Miss Vivra) and eii,ila (Miss Desbo-
rough) discuss the goods they have in store for their
favoured hero, but their anticipations are frustrated
by the unexpected appearance of Britannia enthroned
on one of her wooden walls, a scenic effect which was
greatly applauded. The Ocean Queen dismisses a
press-gang to seize the fated Billy, who in the
succeeding scene is discovered in busy preparation at
the sartorial board for his approaching marriage.
The wedding suit donned by his representative (Mr.
F. Cooke) is one of the most ludicrous fashion, and
the aspect of his lady-love (Mr. Wynn), as a full-
blown Bloomer, equally provocative of mirth. This
clever pair of actors contributed a large quota to
tho jollities of the induction. The press-gang
seize their victim, who makes a deadly resistance
with a monstrous pair of shears, and transfer him to the
" gallant Thunderhamb," the quarter-dock of which
is next beheld crowded with tars in masks of laugh-
able hideou,ness. They are speedily boarded by the
Flying Dutchman (Mr. Leber) and his ghastly crew,
sod after a tremendous engagt meat Billy Taylor
jumps overboard, and is cast on the shores of It ari-
tongo. The moonlit scene of the marine residence of
the sable King of t his region is exquisitely beautiful.
Here he is on the point of espousing the Princess of the
royal nigger-house, basely preferring ambitious pros-
pects to his early love, when his faithful betrothed,
who has followed him in disguise of a sailor, " under
the name of Richard Carr," avenges herself by shoot-
ing him through the head. As Richard Carr, Wynn
manifested a highly appropriate development of fun-
damental symmetry. Britannia again comes on the
scene, and restoring the defunct delinquent to exist-
ence, transforms the leading personages. Billy Tay-
lor becomes Harlequin (Mr. Cormack), his true-love
i changed to Columbine (Miss Carlotta Leclercq),
the King of Raritoego to Clown (Mr. Flexmore),
and the valorous Admiral of the Thunderborub,
whose top-boots denoted his commandership of the
Horse Marines, to Pantaloon (Mr. Paulo). Rich
and rare were the consequent freaks and boundless
the approval of the spectators. The " hits"
flew fast and thick, and scene followed
scene till an inimitable climax was arrived
at in " The Bird's-eye View of London by Moon-
light," in which the serenading of Clown and myriads
of cats upon the house-tops baffles all description. It
was literally " a screamer," and the Brothers Sala and
Mr.:Ellis here worthily brought their excellent store of
mirth to a crowning pitch of glory. " The Home of
Britannia in the Floral Realms of Light" brought
down the curtain amidst unanimous testimonies of
adhesion. The success was unqualified, and de-
servedly so, for the pantomime both possesses intrinsic
merit, and is superbly put upon the stage. Cormack,
who received a very warm welcome, fully sustained
his reputation as the prince of harlequins. The
brilliant activity and finish of his dancing excited
great applause. Miss Leclerq, to a spirited and re-
fined agility, adds a piquant joyousness that renders
her, impersonation of Columbine singularly happy
and fascinating. La Belle Carlotta, who is thinner
than she was last season, wore, last night, a most
tasteful yet simple attire, which became her exceed-
ingly, and helped to make her look the character to
perfection. If Palser be the Empress, then Le Clercq
is the Queen of Columbines. Flexmore, the "great
Run " of the affair, was hailed with a universal feu
de joie of affectionate greeting, and rattled through
his nefarious career amid continous explosions of mirth.
His customary imitation of the Stars of the Ballet
were most effective, and the assumption of suitable
costumes which he has now introduced lent them a
novel and peculiar zest. He lied an immensity to do
and did it immensely well. Paulo, well known as a
satisfactory representative of the hoary caitiff Panta-
loon, did his decoirs well ; and last and least in sta-
ture, but not in merit, we must make mention of
Miss Kate Terry, who was a most regal little Bri-
tannia in the introduction, and in the last scene but
one danced a Mazourka wonderfully well. This very
clever little creature yielded the most marked plea-
sure to the juvenile portion of the audience in parti-
cular. In this pantomime the scenery, dresses, and
appointments are in first class style, the tricks capi-
tal, and the piece from beginning to end "all alive."
If any "cutting down" be deemed essential, we re-
commend that it be done with a very sparing hand,
and that there be no omiion or transposition of
scenes. There was nothing in the slightest degree
to be excepted to on the score of tedious-
ness, and it should be borne in mind that every
pantomine shrinks of itself some twenty or thirty
minutes after the first night or two. In short, the
management have produced en entertainment blame-
less in the composition, the getting up, and the per-
formance, and whoever wishes to enjoy a thoroughly
good legitimate pantomime will find no reason to re-
pent an evening's visit to harlequin Billy Taylor.
'The house was crowded from top to bottom long be-
fore the conclusion of the first piece, the Merchant cf
Venice, of which some of the less important portions
passed off in dumb show, owing to occasional ebulli-
tions of inconvenient hilarity on the part of the gods.
There must have been at least a thousand persons in
the pit, and the denseness of the Olympian region was
something awful to contemplate. At the fall of the
curtain a call was raised for Flexmore, who came
forward and claimed indulgence for the imperfections
necessarily attendant on a first night's representation.
The performances were over shortly after twelve.