The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-19 00:00:00

ADELPHI.

Last night a new burlesque, entitled " The Babes in the
Wood," from the pen of Mr. H. J. Byron, was produced
here with very great success. The actual tradition of the
old nursery tale is preserved, but the cruel uncle is trans-
formed into a second Macbeth, urged on to crime by the
promptings of his wife, who suffers the usual sleep-welidng
horrors, while the male babe, Tommy, appeals to the
humanities of his torturer in the perverted language of
Prince Arthur's address to Hubert. Mr. Toole, as the
Babe Tommy, acted with extraordinary zest. Miss Wool-
gar played the cruel Uncle, and though evidently suffering
from illness, threw an immensity of spirit into the part.
Mr. Bedford was a sufficiently border ruffian, Miss Kelly a
spiteful, precocious " niece," and Mr. C. J. Smith deserves
the greatest credit for his make-up and exaggerated render-
ing of the true melodramatic villain. The burlesque is a
work of the highest order of excellence in its way, for the
laughter it produces among the audience is uproarious, and
so continuous that it ceases only with the piece itself. The
scenic arrangements were excellent.

SURREY.
The revival of Massinger's celebrated play, "A New
Way to Pay Old Debts," at this theatre last night, was a
matter of no little interest. Firstly, because old playgoers
will remember that Sir Giles was one of the elder Kean's
pet parts; and, secondly, because it gave Mr. Vezin an
opportunity of displaying his great abilities to the fullest
extent, and thus to justify his claim to rank among the
first actors of the day. The character of Sir Giles
Overreach has been, to a certain degree, shunned by all new
aspirants for histrionic honours, owing to the many quali-
ties necessary for its embodiment. We have had plenty
of Othello's, Hamlet's, and Macbeth's from America and
other places, yet, with one exception, and that was a failure,
Mr. Vezin is the only person who has had the courage to risk
his fame on a portrayal of one of the most, if not the
most difficult character ever drawn by an author of the past
or presant generation. With the result of last night's per-
formance Mr. Vezin may well be proud, and again con-
gratulating him on the admirable and effective manner in
which he performed his arduous and difficult task, we trust
that throughout his future career he will always do as he did
last night, trust entirely to himself in the conception and
execution Of characters, and leave imitation to those to
whom nature has not vouchsafed the gift of genius. The
stage has, at length, a Sir Giles Overreach, ,which it has
not had since " the Great Edmund" died.

In order to add to his attractions Mr. Calvert has effected
an engagement with Mr. H. Widdicombe for a limited
number of farewell performances, and last night he ap-
peared as Tommy Twinkle, in the pretty drama, "All that
Glitters is not Gold." He was most cordially welcomed to
the scene of his former triumphs, and acted throughout
with his usual ability and success.

Count Arese's task in forming a ministry meets
with impediments. He sent to Bologna, by telegraph, for
M. Massimo d'Azeglio, who flatly refuses to join him.
A curious fact about Count Arese, the new
minister imposed upon the King of Sardinia by the Em-
peror of the -French, is narrated by the Independance Belge.
After the entry of the allied armies into Milan the Sar-
dinian Government nominated M. Ratazzi as governor of
that city. Napoleon refused to permit the appointment.
M. Cavour then suggested the name of M. Arese, but the
French Emperor again objeeted, saying that he had " other
views" with regard to the count.
In some quarters the appearance of a re-assuring
manifestoe from the Emperor Napoleon is looked for, but
his Majesty's words no longer carry the weight that once
attached to them. No announcement of this kind, unless
involving a general disarmament, can restore confidence.—
Daily News City Article,