The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-21 00:00:00

MERCATOR.

THEATRE ROYAL, NEW ADELPEL

The burlesque extravaganza here is from the pen of Mr.
Henry J. Byron, and is entitled, " Blue Beard, from a
New Point of Hue." The subject is one which will be a
lasting one to the burlesque writers, as the story is popular,
admits of any amount of glitter and show, and, above
all, peculiarly dramatic. The novelty in the treatment of
the Aclelphi version consists in making Blue Beard not
merely a tyrant, but a kind of Othello, with much that is
good in him, but with a jealous ear too ready to listen to
the suspicions poured into it by Sister Anne (Miss Kate
Kelly), an envious young lady, bearing a strong hatred
to her sister Fatima (Miss Woolgar), who has supplanted
her in the affections of Selim (Miss Emily Thorne), a dash-
ing young officer of Spahis. Abomelique (Mr. J. L. Toole)
succeeds (by picturing to Fatima the wretched existence
her family must lead should she refuse to relieve her insol-
vent parent by wedding him) in carrying her home as his
bride. Fatima, in the third scene, which is supposed to
take place six weeks after the first, exhibits affection for
Abomelique, who has treated her with kindness and atten-
tion, and although she has raised some little uneasiness in
his mind by exhibiting the trifling caprices peculiar to par-
venues, appears to have settled down to her lot with cheer-
fulness. But Sister Anne, who suspects Selim to have a
hankering still for his lost love, and burns to remove her
sister altogether, plots her downfall and destruction with
the fiendish malignity peculiar to melodramatic monsters
in feniale form. the inflames the jealousy of the already
slightly irritated Abomelique, who (as in the old story)
goes a journey, leaving the keys with Fatima, strictly
enjoining her not to enter a certain Blue Chamber. The
obedient Fatima, who has no intention of crossing her
husband's will, is however induced by the artful Anne
(who suggests the possibility of the Blue Chamber
being a seraglio) to enter the fatal apartment. The sequel
may soon be told. She enters the room, drops the key, and
is discovered in her disobedience by her husband, who re-
turns, unexpectedly, rather inebriated, and particularly
sulky. Fatima, who has been informed by Shacabac (Mr.
Paul Bedford), a sort of Turkish Jeames, and Beda (Miss
Laidlaw), of the fate of the 19 previous spouses of
Abomelique, attempts to escape from the turret, but is pre-
vented by the watchful and considerate sister. Abome-
lique, on discovering his wife's disobedience, is
about to despatch her, when Selim and a select
party of Spahis rush in at the right moment and
arrest the fatal blow. Reflection, combined with the fact of
his being run through by Selina, turns Abomelique from
his purpose, and he forgives his wife, who has refused to
have anything to say to her former lover, and also Anne,
to whom Selim has refused to have anything to say. All
the desired effect is obtained in this scene without disclos-
ing to the audience the disagreeable spectacle of the Blue
Chamber with the headless wives, always rather a revolting
picture at the end of a comic drama. The overture and in-
cidental music composed and arranged by Mr. Chas. Hall.
The scenery, painted by Mr. P. Phillips and Mr. Thomp-
son, is peculiarly brilliant axd appropriate. The procession,
dances, and groupings arranged by Mr. W. Smith, and the
entire mounting of the piece characterised by Mr. Webster's
invariable taste and liberality.