The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-29 00:00:00

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

On Wednesday evening M. Gompertz gave his Speer
trescope Entertainment in St. James's Hall. Pepper
Ghost is an ordinary spectre compared to those raised by
this magician. As ho announced, Goethe's Faust Is
selected, as the spectators are familiar with the story, and
it best admits of bringing his wonderful illusions into
play. Marguerite's appearance as represented at Drury-lane,
beautiful as it was, was nothing to the spectral Marguerite
introduced by Gompertz ; and the scene of her death 1.05
a beautiful tableau, so perfect in its delusion, that it cello
out from nothing and again faded into nothing, leaving the
mind of the beholder convinced, that the actual
figures were as he saw them on the stage. That the
actual figures are occasionally on the stags there can he
little doubt, though they seem to assume Win
from vacancy and vanish as they come, for
ghosts
cannot throw shadows, nor can they jump, making
noise on the boards. By what means could the actual,
substantial, stout, speaking, and acting being beaseized by
a ghost, and vanish before our eyes, to reappear a singing azi,c,t,
dancing spectre, and again fade away ? "Is he a real man',
exclaimed a child behind us. "I believe he is, my dear.
"Then, where is he gone ?" a question more easily asked
than answered. The "Revolt of the Ghosts" had
marvellous effect, considering the substantial reality °L
the figures as they stood and sang on the stage, then ran
up the walls and along the ceiling, tumbling headlong
down, passing through each other, not like shadows nn
a wall, but rosy-cheeked, talking, healthy characters, se
perfect in illusion that there was no difference whatever to
the eye between the ghost on the stage and the individual
the ghost represented. We hope Mr. Gompertz will recon-
sider his determination, and extend the entertainment, $e
as to afford the citizens of London an opportunity of
seeing this marvellous exhibition.

LIVERPOOL THEATRES.
The Prince of Wales's Theatre and the Royal Am
theatre re-opened on Monday night, under the joint ma-
nagement of Mr. Alexander Henderson and Mr. U.
Byron ; and if the programme submitted at both houses be
taken as an indication of the intention of the new Ma"
nagement, the local playgoers will have every reason t°
congratulate themselves on the friendly union of the some-
times rival magnates of the Liverpool theatrical world.
The former theatre has, during the recess, undergone con"
siderable alterations and improvements. The drel
circle has been enlarged, the flooring of the stalls elevated,
and the seating in the pit and gallery circles so arranged that
a perfect view of the stage is now obtained from every
part of the house. These alterations, coupled with
an increased brilliancy in the lighting, and a c°ln-
plete renovation of the georgeous decorations, render
this theatre now second to none in the kingdom'
The piece selected for the inauguration of the summer sea"
son was "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and never per-
haps was this, the most beautiful of Shakspere's croations,
produced with a greater degree of completeness and sPle°:
dour. With Mr. Phelps in his celebrated character (.
Bottom, Miss Julia St. George as Puck, all the other par"'
sustained with more than average merit, beautiful scenery
by Grieve, presenting a series of exquisite pictures, and the
musical selections rendered with rare ability by a
trained and efficient orchestra, this " second grand Shak-
speriau revival" at the Prince of Wales Theatre will b°
long remembered by all who have the good fortune of
witnessing its representation.
At the Amphitheatre Mr. J. L. Toole, always an especial
favourite in Liverpool, has made the acquaintance of 01°
habitues of that house, and has been welcomed by his nes:
friends (for the great comedian possesses the happy knack
of making friends of all with whom he comes in contact)
with an enthusiasm which leaves him no cause to regret
having for a time forsaken the scene of his former triumphs;
The fact of his appearance in three of his most celebrate°,
characters sufficiently explains the nightly crowding °I

the theatre.
The excellence of the entertainments at both houses 1105
set at rest whatever feeling .of uncertainty might 1105
existed as to the results of the amalgamation, and the
prospective announcements are of such a character as at
once to give assurance of the determination of the manage-
ment that the reputation severally earned will bo jointl9
uphold.