The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-29 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

Under the new designation of "Punch's Play-
house," this little theatre opened lest evening, under
the management of Mr. W. R. Copeland, of Liver-
pool. Considerable improvements have been effected
in the interior of the house ; the gallery is replaced
by a new tier of boxes, new entrances made, and the
w hole of the theatre entirely re-embellished and deco-
rated, many effiigies of the hump-backed moralist
being prominent throughout. The opening piece was
a two-act farce by Mr. Courtney, entitled Living in
Gluss Houses, which amused the audience consider-
ably, the principal characters being sustained by Til-
bury, W. Attwood, Norton, J. Rogers, Romer, and
Mrs. C. Horsman ; the latter lady, who comes from
the Manchester Theatre, is the only really good im-
portation among the many new faces announced in
the bills. Sbe reminds us somewhat of Mrs. Orger
in former years, is very pleasing, clever, and good
looking, and a decided acquisition to the metropolitan
boards. The second piece, called The Exposition,
from the pen of Mr. Shirley Brooks, is a burlesque
sparkling with witticisms and jokes. The frosty
deities of Scandinavia, Odin, Thor, and the other per-
sonages of northern mythology descend on earth to
partake of the enjoyments diffused by the gathering
of all nations to the Great Exhibition. The chief
part in this capital sketch is that of " the Spirit of the
Age," which Miss Marshall, who met with a very
flattering reception, enacts a la Mrs. Keeley. The
authors of both these pieces were loudly demanded,
and bowed their acknowledgments amidst unanimous
acclamations. The preparations and drilling were
certainly
and the prompter's post no sine-
cure',
but
itnbceoumletPmotset'hilarity and delight were mani-
fested by
the spectators, whom we trust to behold
more numerous on future occasions. Mr. Punch's
house is decidedly worth a visit, and it is to be hoped
that a succession of smart novelties will render the
speculation a profitable one. Lively and telling
sketches,
which
assisted
proved
v e bdy a o
ballet
such asinthoautr of l
opinion. Bb
er omo kuseh
' sh, will answer
employment of v v
well,and
would
attract co mpany, ive un, the
Mder r. Bolton's management last
autumn, when Flexmore, Cormack, l
and Co., drew overflowing benches. alsier, Wright,
Mr. Copeland
i 9, however, a clever and experienced manager, and,
we dare say, quite as competent to feel the pulse of
the public as some who deem it a very clever piece of
criticism to throw cold water
which should, in their comupon efforts to please,
mencement at least, be
viewed with an indulgent and encouraging eye.

...
OLDSMITHS,
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIoN.The
---
eighteenth anniversary festival in aid of the funds of this
institution, was yesterday held at the Freemasons' Tiiverof
Great Queen-street ; Mr. James Garrard, prime warden .
the Goldsmiths' Company, in the chair. The cloth having
been removed, the chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts,
coupling "The Church" with " The Queen,'.
allusion to his
ference to Prince Albert, making a gracefulte
the commercial
Royal Highness's present efforts to przni_oucc
usu7and, in re.
"Success to the Insti-
tution" social prosperity of this country. b
was next drunk amid great
_applause, the Chairman
to celebrate, and de-
of the charity which they werefeence to the enlarged muster
congratulating his audience uponrntehte increasing prosperity
monstrating the same by anrde
the extended, subscription list
proof of this assertion,
of gentlemen around him, and
out,in
of the past year. He pdomroperty
of 300/. ; to the annual
au addition to the fundendP
urged, by way of appeal to the
subscriptions of 40/, ;
a the fact that in times past the pre-
prosperity, and
feelings of his hearers,
theirbounty had enjoyed
similar to those which they themselves now
I sent recipients of
draw a picture of the wants of
entertained. Mr. J. W T
ater
moving • 'minas, president,
einxdpuelrgieendneldiopnensd
returningert.till'inayanconsiderable applause, that two cheques for
thanks,
rie institution, exhorted the subscribers to
in a cause so fertile of ood to those
atifying to their benefactors He further
renewed
net:
nuneseewfi teedd,
relievede x
and so
h had b
, e ea, een forwarded to him by the thirty fiftY Pinwho,on the • •
',wen occasion of the annual ball, had
gent
analized themselves by their efforts to promote the in-
remarked, amid ,
stej'iests of the charity. Of these, one was a donation, the
other to go to the annual subscription fund. This showed
what private exertion might do for the promotion of This
work. Other toasts and a liberal subscription followed; after
which the company dispersed.
THREATENED INTRUSION OF EQUESTRIANS crs,Tiao.
KENSINGTON GARDENS.—Last night a meeting of the_rit 'the
bitants of Bayswater, Kensington, Nottinlg-hill, "
the Prince
vicinity of Kensington-gardens, was
Albert Tavern, ~\ otting-hill, to consider
thethe intended forma-
tion a petition to the Queen againstheld
cprepriety of pre-
Amongst
of a public ride in Kensington-gardens. the meeting were
thus 2 who signed the requisition calling
dearly all the respectable
Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, Mr. Barlow, the two churchwardens
of the parish of Kensington,
inhabitants of the district. anßoyle, barrister-at-law, pre-
iewed with surprise and alarm
pre-
sided. Mr. Bunion' pro
to the effect that the meeting N
. sioners of Woods and Forests to
posellid,rt.he first resolution, which was
the intention of the Commissioners
gt° for the recreation of all classes of
-
of a century been set apart
make a drive in Kensin n_ gardens, which had for upwards
her Majesty's subjects,wand particularly for ladies and chil-
dren.
carried. Mr. Williams proposed
dren. The resolutiontit()
er Majesty, praying her to give orders
to the Commissioners the effect that a petition should be
rs of Woods and Forests not to carry out
the intended infringement.fle The resolution was carried, and
a deputation having been
forthwiththe nex t
luti on,
appointed to present such petition,
presentedreso to
the I;neetiPg Inv
ka P2'