The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-27 00:00:00

HAYMARKET.

Excepting in the crowded state of the house, the audi-
ence which was assembled here last night offered but few of
those signs which generally distinguish "Boxing Night"
from all other nights of the season. Mr. Bernard's comedy
of the "Evil Genius" was listened to throughout with as
much quiet attention and enjoyment as though it, and not
the pantomime, had been all the novelty of the occasion.
What a contrast to the days when those time-honoured
precursors of pantomime, " Jane Shore" and " George
Barnwell" used to be played through tumult and uproar,
which reduced them to mere dumb-show. Surely our audi•
ences, even down (or up) to the gallery, have become much
more humanised.
On the termination of the "Evil Genius" a slight offer-
vesceace and a few of those dulcet sounds usual on these
occasions marked the excitement which attended the com-
ing of the new pantomime of St. Valentine's Day; or,
Harlequin and the Fairy of the True Lovers' Knot." Im-
mediate quiet and attention, however, followed the com-
mencement of the overture, which contained an appropriate
feature in the introduction of occasional solos on a very fine
toned knocker, the sharp rat-tats from which were given
with 4 smartness and artistic finish which were worthy of
the practised hand of a professional " twopenny."
The introduction which leads to the harlequinade is by
the author of the pantomimes which have been so success-
fully kroduced at this house for several seasons past, and,
like thiem it is constructed with much feeling for the graceful
and the elegant.' The playbills tell succinctly the story :
how ascertain Bishop Valentine, in former times, being the
friend .of all true lovers, used to assemble his proselytes on
the 14th of February; how each swain presented to the
maiden of his choice a letter containing pictures and
verses; which afterwards became termed a " valentine ;"
how duo Sylvanus, being in love with fair Phoebe,
a pretty milkmaid, is rendered jealous by their enemies--
ScandAl, Gosaip, Hate, Spite, Malice, and other such
characters—how, after having quarrellod, a friendly fairy
invites them to a festival in her spring-flower abode on

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the eve of ValentiAe'siday—how even here they are pur-
sued by the adverse powers, and how eventually all is set
right by the intervention of Bishop Valentine, when the
transformatiofi of the characters leads to the harlequinade.
The scenery thrbugheut is excellent, that of the intro-
duction being by Mr, Frederick Fenton, while the artists
of the harlequinade are Messrs. O'Connor and Morris.
Among the most conspicuous effects may be named the
" Spring-Flowered Dell," and the transformation scene of
the " Gigantic Envelope and opening of the Fairy Valen-
tine." In the first-named scene are some beautiful imita-

ions of crowns, flowers: in coloured glass, displayed with

brilliant effects of light, while the envelope scene is one of
those elaborate and gradually-developing displays of corn-

bined gorgeousness and elegance wide]; are now generally
expected in a pantomime of any :pretension; nor will
any amount of reasonable anticipation be disappointed in
the present instance. The effect on the audience was such
as to cause the immediate call for Mr. Buckstone and the
artist, who were compelled to appear on the stage before th•
business of the scene could proceed. The pantomime pi oper
then begins, and is carried on with great liveliness and
bustle through a series of animated scenes, in the course of
which are hits at strikes, Big Ben, rifle corps, and other
topics of the day, ending with a tableau of the Channel
Fleet off the Eddystone Lighthouse during the great storm
of November last.

It remains only to speak of the acting. Miss Louise
Leclercq was a most fascinating Phoebe, and acted and
danced with a grace and refinement which could not be
surpassed ; while Miss 'Weekes, as Sylvanus, was a most
assiduous and attentive lover; nor should we omit a word
of praise to Misses Denvil and Williamss, who, as Cupid
and Hymen, spoke with a distinctness and point but too
seldom achieved by very young ladies in pantomimic intro-
ductions. The characters in the harlequinade were sus-
tained by Mr. Arthur Leclercq as Harlequin, Mr. Charles
Leclercq, cis Clown, Herr Cole as Pantaloon, and Miss
Fanny Brown as Columbine—a capital pantomimic quar-
tett. The Harlequin is nimble and vigorous beyond the
average, da,nces well, and makes his leaps with a dash and
precision that could not be improved. The Clown is active
and gymnastic rather than humorous, but humour of late
has become a rare quality in clowns. The Pantaloon is tug
patient a scapegoat as could be wished, and takes his fair
share of the active business, while the Columbine is a skil-
ful and graceful dancer.

With the exception of one or two slight hitches, the pan-
tomime went remarkably, well for a first night, and it was
so decided a success as to promise ample and well deserved
return for the care and cost which must have been bestowed
on its production.

'

PRINCESS'S.

After the satisfactory performance last evening of " Home
Truths," in which Mrs. Charles Young, Miss Leclereq,
Mr. G. Melville, Mr. Shore, and Mr. Frank Matthews were

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listened to with exemplary, patience by the gallery, laughed
at and occasionally applauded by the pit, and gently encou-
raged by approving smiles from the boxes, " a mirthful,
magical, and comical" Christmas pantomime was presented
with entire success. A better opening wo have not seen or
heard for some years of experience in pantomimes. The
author of " Jack the Giant Killer, or King Arthur and ye
Knights of ye Round Table," is Mr. Byron, known as the
writer of a great number of burlesques. To his ideas of
fun, which are very good in their way, thb scene-painter
and other practical assistants of stage effect have brought a
most liberal aid. The acting, too, is of an order which is
not often associated with the performance of a partomime.
Miss Louisa Keeley plays Jack with an evident determina-
tion to make a part of it. She does more. She throws the
whole weight of her talents into the scale for the purpose of
ensuring a general completeness and a triumph for all con-
cerned as well as for herself. The excellent and truly Bri-
tish spirit of this young actress was even noticeable in her
" lending a hand," more than once, to assist a tardy move-
ment of stage mechanism. She sang several parodies with
all the archness and ease which have already so distinguished
her in the pieces in which she has appeared since the
opening of the Princess's under the now management. Her
comedy is of the hearty and spontaneous nature belonging.
to her mother equally with herself, but which in the young
performer's case is tempered by a peculiar grace and sweet-
ness. Mr. Shore, as the principal ogre, was thoroughly
gigantesque. His height and bulk were surprisingly mag-
nified by the skill of the costumier, but it was his own as-
sumption of burliness, and its accompaniments of porten-
tous gestures, and a strident voice, which mainly conduced
to the illusion. When. after a terrific combat he is run
through the body by Jack's trusty blade, the manner of his
sinking back into tho arms of his attendants, displaying by
the action an immense hob-nailed pair of boot soles, pro-
duced a peal of laughter. Many such mirthful incidents
occurred, and it is difficult to say whether the credit of them
is fairly due to the author, to the actors, to the scenic-
artist, or to the designer of the masks, of which objects it
may be observed that they are cleverly combined to move
with the features of the Vo4rPri VA 1;1' lettliti tlict ifttli-
ral mouth pito free, to allow a clietinet enunciation, instead