The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-26 00:00:00

;THE NEW ADELPIII THEATRE,

We are glad to see that the spirited manager of the New
Adelphi has at last become impressed with the fact that it is
possible to sup too full even of horrors, and that enough is
as good as a feast. "Toujours perdrix! toujours perdrix I"
is as displeasing to the playgoing public as it was of old to
the French ecclesiastic ; and we offer Mr. Webster our
thanks for having set before his guests a bill of faro in which
the ordinary dish of ill-starred love, murder, and suicide,
flanked with the customary entreinets of remorse and de-
spair in the shape of a heavy father and repentant mistress,
are totally wanting. Mr. Webster, in his disregard of
past routine and traditions, has found in the wit sarcasm,
and graphic power of Le Sage a more ' than adequate re-
compense for his desertion of the " Newgate Calendar."
The public appear to have met the experiment in the most
satisfactory spirit, the house being crammed from top to
bottom, many persons being disappointed in their endea-
vours to obtain a seat. Of course the "gods," who were
last night in the seventh heaven, asserted their right of
domination, and in spite of Epicurus, whose doctrines they
most practically refuted, took the greatest interest in every
matter, human and divine, brought before them. " Their
thunderbolts," in the shape of catcalls, whistles, and
orange peel, were " not lightly curled," to borrow a
phrase from Mr. Tennyson, but were heard ever and
anon resounding from the upper regions, nor was
the approbation displayed by the "miserable mortals" be-
low less hearty because more subdued. Who does not know
the glorious tale of " Le Diable Boiteux," at least under its
English title of "The Devil on Two Sticks." how an im-
prisoned spirit set free from his bonds by a Spanish student
shows his gratitude to his releaser by unroofing the houses
of Madrid, and displaying the different sorrows, joys, in-
trigues, and passions which make the story of our lives from
year to year, going on therein ? It was, then, with ne
slight pleasure that we were last night duly re-introduced
to our old friend with a new face, "a polite, refined, and
Parisian demon" (Mr. Toole), who, in spite of his crutches,
sings and dances in most infernal fashion, or what we must
deem as such. Taking under his protection Don Cleophas
Zambullo, a jealous lover (Mrs. Mellon), who in the words
of the playbill "is a young Spanish swell, less given to rise
with the lark than to sit up for one," he conveys him and
us to the housetops of Madrid, a scene as skillfully painted
as it is cleverly conceived, and favours us with certain "de-
moniac illusions," ending by casting Don Cleophas into a
deep sleep. During this long sleep Don Cleophas is trou-
bled with a nightmare in the shape of the Dey of Algiers,
who by some fatality has become the possesor of Leonora
(Miss Mary Keeley), the lady-love of Don Cleophas. The
various expedients of the lovers to free themselves from
captivity, the danger of discovery, the cruelty of the Dey,
and a very fine day too," succeed each other with rapidity,
and prevent any flagging in the interest and action,
although we would suggest that a little of the pantomime
in this part of the play might be safely curtailed. Finally,
by the agency of the friendly spirit, Don Cloophtis
awakes, becomes convinced of the groundlessness of his
jealousy, and overcomes the opposition of the "uncle of
extreme heaviness" (Mr. Paul Bedford), by rescuing Leo-
nora from a " terrific conflagration," and receives the usual
avuncular benediction in the usual stereotyped fashion.
The play concludes with an illuminated representation of
the Cremorne of Madrid, whither, in the ebullition of joy,
the whole party had proceeded.
It must not be supposed that we would imply a censure
on those whose names we have not mentioned. Where all
did so well it is almost invidious to make distinctions.
Miss Kate Kelly, however, as Don Mendoza, rendered no
slight assistance to her friend Don Cleophas—and the
Fatima of Miss Arden and the Muley of Mr. C. J. Smith,
were models of stage Orientalism. Nor must the very
graceful dancing of the ladies of the Dey of Algiers' house-
hold be passed over in silence. If applause is the test of
merit, last night's extravaganza came forth with the true
mark
cisive, and we have no doubt the piece will attract full
houses.

PRINCESS'S.
As might naturally be imagined the success of "Henry V."
is far too great to allow any change in the bills for the
celebration of the Easter holidays. None of Mr. Bean's
marvellous " revivals" have proved nearly so attractive as
this great historical work, and last night he had what is
emphatically termed a " great house."

OLYMPIC.
Here the Paschal season is disregarded, the managers re-
lying on the steady attraction of their regular business.
With Mr. Tom Taylor's new comedietta " Nine Points of
the Law," with the " Porter's Knot," with the "Boots at
the Swan," and with their own little compact com-
pany, including Mr. Robson and Mrs. Sterling, they make
a good holiday figure without caring for the holydays.