The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1860.

OHRIST MINStRELS, Polygraphic Hall,
k-) King William-street, Strand.—Farewell Season in Lon-
don.—Every Evenim; at 8, and every Saturday 3lorninz at
3 0 clock. Tickets and places may be secured at the Hall
from 11 till 4, and at Mr. Austin's West-end Box-office, ,St.
James's Ball, Piccadilly.—Sole Proprietor and Manager,
Mr. J.W. ltArrton.

• A RGYLL ROOMS, Windmill-street, Picea-
-L-3-- dilly.—Open ever-Evening., with the celebrated ilaod
conducted by Mons. Lamotte (chef d'orehest ra to the Em-
perm Napoleon). A Ina“nilicent SMI )1:1N( ;- SALOON
added to this Establishment. Doors open at 8 o'clock. Ad-
mission. is.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ROOMS,
nmll HOLBO RN.
l'his Establishment, pre-eminently distiirmisbed for the
elecxance and matchless beauty of its decorations, combined
with the perfection of its management, is OPEN EVERY
EVENING for DA NC[NG. The celebrated hand, under the
direction of Mr. VC M. Packer, plays a nightly-varied selec-
tion of the msst approved classical and modern music.
Doors open :at half-past 8. Overture at 9. Closing at 12
punctually. Admission, ls.

THE EASTER AMUSEMENTS.

DRURY•LANL THEATRE

Tho advance of the spring seems to have the same
effect on artificial music that it has on the natural,
and the musicians, like the birds, break into full
concert at Easter tide. Not contented with two
first-rate Italian Operas, it seems we are to have
English Opera at Drury-lane, and last night Dr.
James Pech inaugurated a season with a powerful
band, a numerous choir, and a very fair English
company.

The opera selected was Wallace's melodious one of
" Maritana," aiid'the cast was as follows :—Dona
CceBar de Bum, Mr. Henry Hai; h"; Don Jose de
Santarem, Mr.- C. Durand ; Charles II , King of
Spain (his original character), Mr. Borrani ; Mar-
quis de Montefiori, Mr. Peel ; Lazarillo (her first
appearance at this theatre), Miss Emma Heywood;
Alearde, Mr; Salvie ; Captain of Guards, Mr.
Thompson ; Maritana (a Gitana), Miss Dyer; ;Map
chioness de Montefiori; Mrs. Barrowcliff.

It would be quite superfluous to enter into any
lengthened criticism of this well-worn opera, or of
its present cast, all of the singers being well-known
to the London public, except Miss Heywood, who
has a fine contralto voice, and seems to have been
well instructed; but we must hear her in a more
important part than Lazarillo before coming to any
final opinion of her capacities ; Mr. Haigh seems to
have improved in manner and tone, and he obtained
considerable applause. Miss Dyer is pleasing and
careful, but the arduousLPart of Maritana requires
very strong powers to do it full justice. Dr. Pech
led with great energy, and the band, which is full
and efficient, ably seconded his efforts.
A ballet closed the entertainment], in which Mr.
Flexmore exhibited his great talents as a buffo
dancer, and Mademoiselle Auriol displayed her
wonderful agility, aided by several clever danseuses.
The house was well filled in every part, and speci-
fied their satisfaction by continuous applatise.

and Taglioni a ballet, the " Sylphide," which
latter name the extravaganza retains. It is per-
fectly inoffensive (which in these days is not always
to be said of burlesques), is written with average
smartness, has two or three good parodies, and
affords opportunity for some capital ballet dancing.
Mr. Harris has the handsomest troop of coryphees
in London, and they are admirably trained by Mr.
Oscar Byrne.

by the substitution of glass lustres for the orchestra
side lights.

The opening piece with which last night Easter
tide was ushered in is an English version of an
equestrian drama, which at Francones, or at the
Cirque ImPerial; in Paris, is, we believe, just now
attracting considerable attention--" L'Histoire d'un
Drapeau." The English title is a literal translation
of the French, and is of itself almost a sufficient in-
dication of the nature, character, and incidents of
the drama, " The History of a Flag" is an Astleyan
account of the wars and victories of Napoleon the
Great during the Consulate, the Empire, and down
to the return from Elba, and as such affords ample
scope for the display of the pectiliar and varied re-
sources of this establishment. The action opens at
the time when Napoleon is hard pressed by the
Austrians, and when volunteers are wanted to
recruit the army in Italy. A certain locality in
Paris determines to raise a regiment from amongst
its inhabitants, and the maids, wives, and widows
make and present to them the tricoloured ensign
which is to be their rallying signal in the day of
battle. The vicissitudes of this regiment in the
campaigns in Italy, in Egypt, and in Russia, afford
ample opportunities for those mimic battle scenes
and semblance§ of warfare which have doneas much,
perhaps, in establishing the reputation at Astley's
as the actual conflicts so represented have done in
immortalising the names of Wellington, Napoleon,
and the other great generals engaged in them.
There is, as a matter of course, a talc of love; jea-
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and scona4rclisra in every pliaL.,z,, ou the
part of the orthodox Villain—without whose , pre-
sence no drams, whether of the equestrian; plebeian,
or any other order, could be complete. The scenery
is exceedingly good ; the dresses—especially the
military uniforms—are correct and appropriate ;
and the groupings and management of the various
actions in which the flag whose story they illus-
trate bears a part the charges of cavalry—the
attacks of infantry the evolutions of artil-
lery, in which some hundred or more of
men and a score or two of horses are the
actors—afford a notion of . the' toil and danger
of the battle-field sufficiently near to the real to
satisfy all who aro not deeply imbued with that
martial spirit which has lately been gaining such
strength amongst us. The piece was highly suc-
cessful ; and Mr. Holloway, Mr. George Belmore,
and others of the principal performers, were called
before the curtain to receive the reward generally
awarded to favourite performers at the fall of the
curtain when the audience are mare-than usually
satisfied with their exertions. Mr. William Batty,
too, the lessee, was compelled, in obedience to loud
and long-continued calls, to make his bow in front
of the curtain, in acknowledgment of the congratu-
lations of his patrons on his successful effort in
catering for their amusement.

The scenes in the circle were worthy of Astley's
palmiest days, the chief equestrians being Mdlles.
Berg, Monet, and Marie, and Herr Fernando, from
the continental cirques ; and amongst well-known
and established favourites, Mr. 11. Williams and
Jonathan Jack, Messrs. Charles Watson and
Thorne, as the clowns of the ring, promise to up-
hold the character of the house for that species of
humorous accompaniment to equestrian perform-
ances which time-honoured custom has made almost
a necessity.

PAVILION.

The lessee of this theatre has chosen opera for
his patrons, and the selection seemed last night to
be highly appreciated. Rossini's " Cinderella" was
given in the most effective manner, both with re-
spect to scenery, costume, and decorations. The
principal vocal parts were sustained by Mr. Par-
kinson, a neat but by no means powerful tenor,
Mr. Manvers, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, and Miss H.
Manley—the first-named lady representing the

heroine Cinderella, and the latter the sister,
Cloriada. The merits of Miss Isaacs as a vocalist
are well known and appreciated ; but the manner
in which Miss Manley sang the intricate music of
her part proved her to be a musician of great
ability, and an acquisition to the metropolitan
stage. The house was crammed almost to suffo-
cation.