The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S THEATRE.

This theatre, always hitherto attractive, has lost
nothing of its prestige under the lesseeship of Mr.
W. H. C. Nation and the management of Mr. T.
L. Greenwood, in whose hands the entertainments
catered for " Boxing Night " of 1867 gave to a
crowded and fashionably attended house the greatest
satisfaction. After the favourite farce of "Racket
Court," in which Mr. V. Villiers, as Mr. Cranky-
man, and Mr. 11. Williams, as Dozyman, kept the
house in laughter, notwithstanding the impa-
tience for the pantomime, " Harlequin Little Jack
Horner, Goody Two Shoes, Oranges and Lemons,
and Three Men ia a Tub" was produced, and elicited
throughout the warmest applause from all parts of
the house. The admirable and abiding nursery tale
of " Little Jack llorner,7 known to all adults—
" children of a larger growth"—and most amusing
to them, is now produced in a manner that is cal-
culated to prove greatly attractive to children of
tender age, numbers of whom, just home for their
holidays, were, with their parents, to be seen in the
various parts of the theatre. The scenery and trans-
formati©n scene, designed and painted by Mr. J.
Hicks, reflected great credit on the artistic genius
of that talented artist. In one of those scenes,
" The Enchanted Workship of Jack-of-All-Trades,"
Miss Nellie Nisbett as Jack, with his Merry Men,
Masters Tag, Rag, and Bobtail, and " All the
World and his Wife," excited much laughter. The
Abode of the Senses, a series of tableaux represent-
ing " Sight" (Miss Prettydear), " Hearing" (Miss
S weetsound), " Taste" (Miss Sugarcandy), "Smell-
ing" (Miss Loverose), and " Touch" or " Feeling"
(Miss Taperfinger), was a most attractive succession
of tableaux ; the various representatives of " The
Five Senses" having been ushered in in classic
cars drawn by cream-coloured and other attractive
ponies ; and added to the charm of the equestrian
procession were one hundred ladies of the corps de
ballet, pleasing companions of the Senses, by
whom an elegantly-appointed and admirably-exe-
cuted ballet was executed, elicited from all parts of
the house enthusiastic applause. Among the various
scenic productions the exterior of the dwelling of
Little Goody Two Shoes, on St. Valentine's Day ;
Nobody's House ; the Retreat of Mother Red Cap,
on Hedgehog Heath; the Travellers' Rest, on the
road to Fairy Land ; and the Enchanted Bramble
Bush, elicited much applause ; but the grand crown-
ing scene—" The Transformation"—already al-
luded to, the Blooming of the Wildbriar, as it has
been poetically designated in the bill, invented and
painted by Mr. Julien Hicks, evoked the most rap-
turous applause. Dazzling beyond description, and
abounding in beautiful and varied attractions, a
more charming composition could not well be con-
ceived. Mr. Hicks was called for from all parts of
the house, and was greeted on his appearance with
cheering and encouraging plaudits. In this scene
Mr. Harry Collier acquitted himself as an admirable
Harlequin, Miss Carrie Collier (Goody Two Shoes)
was transformed into Columbine, a part in which
she won distinction and received applause; Mr. Car-
roll played Pantaloon with a due appreciation of
the amusing character ; and Seymour and Signor
Bevani proved themselves agile and humorous
Clowns. The harlequinade was admirably con-
trived, and full of fun, frolic, and humour. Though
last, not least, and specially deserving of notice, the
house, filled in all parts, was pleased throughout
the entertainments ; and Mr. Nation's attractive
pantomime is likely. to have a long and a successful
run.