The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-20 00:00:00

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

Mr. Henry J. Byron has supplied the grotesque opening
to the Pantomime at this Theatre. It is entitled," Whitting-
ton and his Cat, or Harlequin King Kollywobbol and
the Genius of Good Humour." In the first scene we find
King Rat (Mr. Collett) in his underground home. work-
ing his evil spells to the discomfiture of Dick Whittington
(Miss Maria Harris), who is a good, straightforward lad,
and, consequently, detested by the Rat King, who protects
Bad Lot (Mr. Garden) the wicked apprentice, simply be-
cause he is an underhand scoundrel, who shuns the light
and does not know what honesty means. In all this there
is just sufficient allegory to please a child's fancy without
for a moment confusing him. Good Humour (Miss Helen
Howard) enters and thwarts his plan by protecting the
cheery, simple-minded Dick. The next scene is a very
fanciful and brilliant one, and represents a Bower of Roses,
in which the efficient ballet of the theatre exhibit their
terpsichorean attainment to great advantage, and Robin
Goodfellow (Master Haslern) is sent, in the likeness of a
Cat, to watch and protect Dick. The next scene is East-
cheape, with the exterior of Master Fitzwarren's shop.
Here we find Dick paying attentions to Miss Alice Fitz-
warren (Miss Pauline Leclercq), much to the disgust of
the bad apprentice, Bad Lot, who accuses Dick of
having purloined the eatables and drinkables, which,
in reality, have been taken by the cook, and
given to her admirer, Bull's Eye (Mr. Moreland),
a member of the force. Fitzwarren kicks out Bad
Lot for being a sneak, and gives Dick in charge.
In the next scene, Dick, who has escaped from the
police, is discovered sleeping on the milestone at Highgate,
where he hears the famous peal of bells ring out that he is to
be Lord Mayor of Lon lon. Bad Lot, who has tracked him,
is about to kill him, when he is pounced upon by the cat,
who accompanies Dick through the piece as a protector. By
the advice of Good Humour, Dick determines to try his
luck in foreign lands, and starts with his favourite on a
voyage of adventure. With pantomime promptitude we are
transported to a distant region, .ss here King Kollywobbol
(Mr. Cathcart) is in a terrible state in consequence of his
kingdom being undermined by rats, which have increased
in quantity since the elevation of Bad Lot (who has been
cast ashore from a wreck and who has contrived to worm
himself into a very high position) to the post of prime mi •
n'ster. However, Dick and his Cat are also wrecked and
cast ashore, and Dick offers to rid the kingdom of the pest,
at the price of the Princess Popsiwopsi's (Miss Rose
Leclercq) hand. Everything goes well, but eventually
the Rat King lays on such an enormous supply of rats that
the cat is evercome, and Dick's hopes completely dashed ;
Dick is thrown into jail and the cat is blown from a mortar,
only to re-appear, however, unharmed, as Robin Good-
fellow. Dick marries the Princess, Bad Lot informing the
audience that his revenge will come when Alice Fitzwar-
ren comes over by the next ship to look after her truant
lover. The transformation scene, which concludes the
opening, is most magnificent, and the scenery, dresses, and
appointments throughout the piece are of the most gor-
geous description.

FEHJLE DRESS.