The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-02 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

f his theatre opened last night under the spirited manage-
ment of Madame Celeste. During the recess the house has
undergone a thorough cleansing and decoration, and the
effect of the interior is really charming. Madame Celeste's
company is numerous and efficient, and comprises Mrs.
Keeley, Miss Kate Saville, Miss M. Ternan, Miss Lydia
Thompson, Mr. George Vining, Mr. John Rouse, and Mr.
H. Watkins, the last-named being an American comedian.
The opening novelty was a new drama by Mr. Tom
Taylor, entitled, " The Brigand and his Banker," probably
founded upon M. Edmond About's romance " Le Roi de la
Montagne." The scene is laid in the neighbourhood ofAthens,
at a period four years distant from the present, and the person-
ages of the play are a brigand, who with his banditti in-
fests the classic fastnesses of Mount Parnes, and a band of
travellers of various nations, but for the most part Eng-
lish, who have the misfortune to fall into the hands of these
lawless scoundrels. In the perilous adventures and ludi-
crous distresses which befall the wayfarers, and in the heroic
efforts which the daughter of the brigand (a girl of refined
intellect and romantic enthusiasm) is continually making
to procure the liberation of her father's victims, consist
whatever the story possesses of ingenuity and entertain-
ment. Madame Celeste sustains the character of Photini
with all the earnestness and intelligence for which she is
so celebrated, but it is a part beneath her ability. Mrs.
Keeley's acting, as Miss Porcupine, the strong-minded Eng-
lish lady on her tfavel, was perfect, and the author is under
deep obligations to her for the pains she takes to keep the audi-
ence in good temper through the length of time the two
acts occupied in representation. Mr. Watkins made a most
successful debut, and in a very short time firmly established
himself in the good graces of his audience. There was a
dash and freshness about his acting that was quite invigo-
rating. Mr. George Vining was eminently successful, and
his " make up" was highly artistic. Rouse, as John Joseph,
the London flunkey, was rich and amusing, and certainly
made the most of a very ungrateful part; and Mr.VillieN:rass,
as the German botanist, acted with his usual good taste
and judgment. At the termination of the first act we
have a very spirited dance, "the Romaika," which
performed ,by Madame Celeste and the corps de ballet with
such effect that had it not been for the time the other
por-
tion of the play occupied it would have been rapturously
encored, as it richly deserved. With a great deal of con-
densation the drama may " go," as it is professionally
termed ; but as represented last night it was much too long.
The scenery, by Mr. Calcott, was magnificent, and the
"getting up" of the piece reflected the greatest credi
the taste and liberality of the fair lessee.

TO TIIE CONTINENT AND BACK IN Two HOURS.
—Under th'is title Mr. Hamilton last night presented to the
public, at the Egyptian-hall, a diorama which, commencing
in the Thames and passing on to Hamburg, stretches over
the Rhine, the Danube, with their varied scenery and ob-
jects of interest, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vienna, Berlin,
Constantinople, Brussels, Paris, and Rouen. Thence it
traverses Italy, Switzerland, and the Alps; no notable city
or any remarkable feature of each country being omitted in
a pictorial series which, if at times somewhat abrupt in its
transitions, is not without its salient points of attraction.
The paintings are perhaps unequal, some of them being new
and well executed, while others show marks of age and ser-
vice, and their execution is by no means first-rate. Never
theless as a whole the exhibition is not unpleasing, and as
The
it is somewhat extensive in its range has no doubt involved
trouble in its preparation, and not a little expense.
room was well filled on this the first evening of the per-
formance,