The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-11 00:00:00

THEATRICALS.

GYMNASE.—A piece under the formidable denoniina•
tion of "Les Vainqueurs de Lodi" is the latest novelty
here, suggesting, in this overpowering weather, the hot
work at the terrible bridge rendered memorable by the
gallantry of Napoleon. This was, indeed, enough to
keep the crowd at a respectful distance, and the es.ger-
ness was in fact not inconveniently pressing -on the' first
representation. To the relief, however, of those assent.
bled, the piece turned out to be a subject taken from
one of the prettiest of modern romances, " La Chartre-
use de Parme," in which a young French officer is saved
from the deadly vengeance of his Italian hosts by the
generosity and tact of the niece of the family in which
he is billeted, who have arranged an ambuscade against
the hated invaders of their country. Nicely written and
prettily acted, this trifle goes off gaily, and the name of
M. La Rounat was given out as the author with general
marks of favour.

•••••••••
VARIETES, —A. series of tableaux vivants, burlesque
and caricature, are presented here, with the aid of a
plot of the very flimsiest description, in which a John.
Bull of the old sohool, who admires everything, is the
butt of the author's fun, such as it is. The title of
this affair is " La Mud° Comique", the idea of which
is much better than the execution, for with a little
taste the groupings might be made really attraive.
It WA°, howevor, allowod to pass without opposition.
HIPPODROME.—Our old friend "Le fire de Franc-
Boisy of the chanson, which, to say the truth, hail be-
come a good deal of a:bore, is here introduced in a n ovel
form, being dramatised into an amusing equestrian, bur-
lesque, the extravagance and comicality of which were
much relished. The riding and the various exercises
among which those of half a dozen Africans are very re-
markable, were also much applauded. These 'would
have given more satisfaction had the legendary buffoon-
eries of " Le Sire" been somewhat curtailed, the general
fault of these entertainments being their extreme length.

The public will be glad to learn that the health of
Milo. Rachel gives some hops of her re-appearance be.
fore them during the ensuing winter.
Mlle. Judith has, upon reconsideration, withdrawn
her resignation from the Theatre Francais. The Little
difference with M. Got is not yet quite arranged,. but
this comedian is too valuable, and we hope too reason-
able in his demands, to be lost to the Francais.
M. Puget, from the Op6ra-Comique, bas appeared at
the ~/lea.domie in "Lucia" as Ecigardo. He was im-
mensely applauded, but the part has seldom been so
iudifierentiy sung in Paris, and at this theatre, we have
before had occasion to remark it has often been sung'
very badly. Donizetti's beautiful opera is indeed hero
scarcly rcoognkable.
Calzolari, Mine. 'Goal°, and a few other of the
Italian artistes passed through Paris this week from
London, en route f9r Moscow.

The directors of the Adelphi are again in Paris, at-
tracted, it is said, by the glowing accounts given of the
nautical effects at the Porte St. Martin in " Le Fils de
la Nuit." It appears, however, that the grand scene of
the manoeuvring of the ship, &c., has been long since
done in London on a mere complete and extensive scale.
It is inexplicable to us that some of the London mana-
gers do not come over to Paris—with their staff of
seenepainters and machiaists—to show how they do
these things. In Paris we want very much a lesson in
the art of scene-shitting. The time taken at all the
theatres hero to set a complicated scene would not be
credited in London. A " comic pantomime"—not such
imitations as we have had in Paris, but a fee simile of
a fir st•rate Christmas pantomime—would draw all Paris
for months, and make the fortune of the entrepreneur.
A German paper acquaints us that Mlles. Clara and
Therese Ponta, both countesses by birth, have made their
debut in Munich in "Romeo et Giulietia" with vast
success, and another contemporary gives a long list of
counts and countesses, and other titled noblesse, who'
figura on the stage of the Italian Opera in London. We
roust observe that all such Compliments are in the worst
possible taste. When the vicissitudes of life oblige in-
dividuals of whatever station to appear before the pub-
lic, they should owe their solo distinction to their talents.
All the rest, as Pope says—"is leather and prnnello."
THEATRICALS IN CHINA.—We read in t e Clan 3
Mail :—" The theatrical company lately in Hong Kong
have removed to Canton, where their perfc rmance I are
watched by the local governmetit with mere than ordi-
nary vigilance. The destruction of Fatshan, in 1854, is
believed to have originated on the inflammatory ad- -
dresses of some of the players, and in consequence only
fifteen companies are now licensed for the drama in the
provinces of liwangsi and Kwangtune---Aut half the
number licensed when the government had less to ap-
prehend."