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

THE SUN, LONDuN, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1867

what in danger of being obscured by the very ela-
borate machinery with which itis worked out. -
The first scene is Dismal Swamp. The plot is
laid ; Cock Robin is to be destroyed ; Miasma (Mr.
Thompson) will do it; he is the agent of Satana
(Miss Goodall) ; those renowned villains, Sparrow,
Cuckoo, and Raven are the instruments selected.
The scene changes to the abode of Fresh Air, a
splendid abode. An assemblage of all the little
" dicky birds" takes place, a gathering our juvenile
friends will never forget ; the marriage just about
to be celebrated by the wicked plotters. Court-
martial is held, the villains are condemned, and
saved only by the transformation into bears.

The next scene shows us the interment, then
follow the transformation into mortals, the home of
the beaux, who have become compound house-
holders—with a vote—then ensued rapidly Gaffer
and Farmer Gray's cottage, a fairy aquarium, an
enchanted wood, a mystic fountain—a series of
scenes very brilliant, and closing with a St.
James's Park after a snow storm. The
ballets introduced into these scenes would
require a long description to do them
justice. The corps are extremely numerous, and
the dresses very striking. In the transformation
scene no effort of colouring has been spared. Much
of their effect was lost in consequence of mecha-
nical " hitches," which are apt to occur on boxing-
night, but a few rehearsals will repair this defect.
It is equally impossible to speak of all the characters
who deserved a good word. Miss Caroline Parkes
as Cock Robin, Miss Goodall as Salimir, and
Miss Furtado as Jenny Wren, distinguished
themselves in such a way that we cannot omit re-
ference to them. The harlequinade produced bois-
terous laughter. There are fcur clowns, two harle-
quins, two columbines, two pantaloons, five sprites,
&c. Mr. Lauri, in this part of the performance,
merits a special mention. The piece lasted rather
too long—over four hours. It can be made a little
brisker with advantage. Attention, however, hardly
ever flagged. Mr. Smith has been in possession of
the Lyceum for only ten days, and considering that
fact, the way in which the piece has been presented
is marvellous. Though he had to ask the forbear-
ance of the public, a few rehearsals will make this
elaborate pantomime one of the most popular—or
we mistake.

with the most exquisite appreciation of the inch-
crous as well as the truest delineations of
those touches of nature which make all
men akin. Always humoursome, never vulgar,
Mr. Toole is now perhaps the only actor who alter-
nates between grave and gay, and is equally at
home in either. He gave great satisfaction last
night, and was called before the curtain at the
close of each act. The other characters were well
sustained—Mr. L. Brough as Bill Hawkins, Miss
Hodson enacting Jane, and Miss Markham grace-
fully undertaking the tender-hearted and well-
tried Emily. In the farce of the " Birthplace of
Podgers," Mr. Toole made his audience right merry,
and gained immense applause.
There can be no doubt that in " Doing for the
Best" Mr. Toole's role of a working man suddenly
elevated to wealth was admirably sustained. The
complete contrast between the humble artisan and
the heir to five thousand a year was perfect. Obvi-
ously there is a vein of sympathy and of genuine
humour, tinged with a minute appreciation of the
details of character in humble life, which combine
to make Mr. Toole's acting thoroughly unique. To
this doubtless he awes the fact that he is so gener-
ally popular, and one of the most successful actors
of his class upon the stage.

however, understood his business thoroughly, and
introduced so many of the current popular melo-
dies into the overture that he made the " gods"
willing participators in the proceedings of the even.
ing. They lustily and heartily sang the songs in
succession, the whole affair presenting a very ani-
mated scene.

The opening scene of the pantomime introduces
us to the Home of Pantomime, where old Father
Christmas, sent on a mission from Sadler's Wells,
is tracked by Tragedy, Comedy, and Farce, a
dramatic " Union" for the overthrow of Panto-
mime. Father Christmas selects from the nursery
stories offered that of " Red Riding Hood," and
he is about to depart when he is confronted by the
" Union ; but Pantomime calling in the aid of
Burlesque, they make a successful stand against
their opponents. The cast embraces Miss Alice
Dodd, as Prince Hopeful; Mr. Walter Searle, as
the IVolf ; Miss Grace Edgar, as Little Red Riding
Hood ; Mr. George Fisher, as Cross Patch ; Miss
Leigh, as Boy Blue ; Mr. Chester, as Old King
Cole; Master Levettez, as Baa Baa Black Sheep ;
and Miss Fitzgerald, as the Fairy Queen Progress.
Taking the text of the author, it may be fairly
said that it is superior to most of such productions.
Mr. Cheetham has evidently carefully thought out
a consistent plot, and introduces very happily many
sparkling passages apropos of current events.
The pantomimic group consists of Sylvester, from
the Theatre Royal, Manchester, and Opera Comique,
Paris, Clown ; Arthur Roby, as Harlequin ; W.
Lacy and Tom Robins, as Pantaloons ; Les Frois
Costello, as Sprites ; Miss Emily Wood, principal
dancer from the Theatres Royal, Dublin and Liver-
pool, as Columbine.
" Merry Islington" may go farther and fare worse
in search of a Christmas entertainment than that to
be found at home.

NEW ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.

This beautiful theatre, lately opened at High

Holborn, was last night visited by a large and
respectable audience to witness the equestrian per-
formances produced under the management of
Messrs. Thomas M'Collum and William Charman.
The programme for the entertainment was copious
and varied, and several eminent artists, American
and English, entered the arena in competition with
one another for equestrian renown. Among the
principal performers we may mention with admira-

tio❑ the names of Mr. James Robinson and his son
Clarence, whose daring exploits fill the mind with
astonishment approaching to terror ; Messrs. Dele-
vanti, Keith, the Brothers Bell, and Madlle.
Virginie Troost. Descending to the inferior ani-
mals, two comic mules are especially deserving of
notice for their aptitude in knowing thoroughly
what they are required to do and how they ought to
do it, and managed by two clowns (Messrs. Conrad
and
,North), who fully understand their mules and
are suitably appreciated in return. Mr. Robinson's
equestrian exploits were of the most surprising
kind. His difficulty seemed to be not to keep on
the horse but how to fall off him. He was con-

.nually placing himself iu the most difficult posi.

tions to preserve anything like a connexion between
him and the quadruped, but it was of no conse-
quence on what part of the animal he placed him-
self, or how he did so, there seemed to be a sort
of magnetism between the horse and the rider that
established an unbroken connexion between them.
The entertainments of the evening gave universal
satisfaction.