The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-13 00:00:00

BASTIsh NOVELTIES.

Of late . years. managers have seemed to evince
little faith in the attra-,:tiveness of Easter spectacles,
and this year the amount of novelty produced is
less than usual. Perhaps the greater facilities af-
forded for holiday-miking amidst the sunshine by
excursion trains and steamboats, and the counter-
acting influence of those places of out-door enter-
tainment that open about this time, have had their
effect in checking the exertions of the honourable
company of spectacle-mak,rs that were wont to
cause the wealth of theatrical treasuries to be lavished
upo❑ the tinselled fairy pieces of Covent-garden and
Drury-lane. in the days gone by. Possibly, too, the
forestalling of the recognised Easter productions of
burlesque and extravaganza by some of the houses
at Christmas have lessened the probability of the
olden outlay being polrt,c at this season ; but,
however it may be, the fact is evident, and with
very few exceptions the performances have little of
a novercharacter, and in several instances the bills
remain entirely unchanged.
The rival operas commence the season on Easter
Tuesday, IlEn MAJESTY'S and the LYCEUM both
entering upon their spring campaign, under the
respective banners of Messrs. Lumley and. Gye,
with an array of forces that should secure the strong
position to which they mutually aspire. Of their
strength and their prospects we have already
spoken, and it only remains to be added that the
former leads off 'with "La Favor its," and the ballet
of " Esmeralda," and that at the latter the opening
opera will be " I Puritani," with Grisi, sad a new
divertissement, entitled "Les Abeilles." The in-
terior has been fitted up in the usual expensive
style, and the exterior has also received some em-
bellishment. On each evening, to afford more con-
venience to the aristocratic , supporters, the opera
w:11 commence at half-past eight.
DRURY-LANE opens with what is called an Easter
Carnival of six nights, in which a junction of the
Lyceum burlesque of " Conrad and Medora" with
the Drury pantomime forms the principal feature.
Mr. Charles Dillon appears as Othello, and is sup-
ported by the principal members of the company
that lately belonged to the Lyceum. To increase
the novelty of this experiment, a day performiince
of tird burlesque-cum-pantomime will be given on
Easter Monday at two o'clock.
The HAYMARKET really has an Easter piece, in
the form of a classical love story, furnished by Mr.
Frank Talfourd, founded on a familiar mythological
legend, and produced under the a.ppella I ion of "Ata-
lanta, or the Three Golden Apples." The female
portion of the company has been strengthened by
the accession of Miss M. Oliver, Miss Marie Wilton,
and Miss E. Ternan. The brilliancy of the dialogue
and splendour of the scenery have been both reported
as likely to create a theatrical sensation, and the
repute of the writer will justify a sanguine expecta-
tion, on the part of the public, of a plentiful pro-
vision of those pleasant puns and piquant parodies
with which the author's extravaganzas are generally
studded. The long-required new arrangement of
prices to all parts of the house will be also an addi-
tional attraction to. the ,visitors, and a decided
advantage to the manager.
The PRINCESS'S relies upon the unabated attrac-
tion of " Richard the Second," with its military
pomp and pageantry, and exciting episode illustra—
tive of the return of Bolingbroke.

The ADELPHI celebrates the season by thei return
of our public favourite, Madame Celeste, from the
provinces, and the re-production of the Terfsi-
chorean and operatic spectacle of "The Elves ; or,
The Statue Bride. The farces of " Welcome,
Little Stranger," and "A Night at Notting hill,"
precede and follow the extravaganza. "Like and
Unlike" is to be revived on Tuesday and succeed-
ing nights, with Madame Celeste in her original
character of Lisette ; supported by Mr. Billiugton,
from T. R. Birmiuguaw, as Harry Mowbray; Mr.
Wright, m Peter Potter ; and Arthur Leslie, by
Mr. C. Selby.

The OLYMPIC presents for acceptance the bill
that has. been so often honoured by the audience,
and reserves the new extravaganza in rehearsal for
another occasion. "Daddy Hardacre," with Mr.
Robson as the hero, will therefore still be the most
important feature of the programme.
The STRAND, with a morning performance on
Easter Monday, provides for its evening visitors
the drama of "Ruth Oakley," and a new burlesque
by Mr. Leicester Buckingham on the subject of
"William Tell."

SADLER'S WELLS commences its summer season
under the management of Mr. G. Webster, with
Miss Woolgar as the "star" for the first week, and
Mr. Charles Dillon for the second.
The SURREY has a new drama of strong interest,
called " The Iron Arm," in which Mr. Shepherd
plays the hero, Malaventure ; Miss Mortimer,
.fromßirmingham, the heroine ; and the bill is further
made attractive by the return of Miss Poole to the
stage, this popular vocalist re-appearing in the part
of Apollo in Kane O'Hara's old burlesque of
"Midas." Madame Auriol and Mr. Flexmore are
also engaged, and appear in "The Dumb Savoyard
and his Monkey."

ASTLEY'S furnishes a brilliant military spectacle
which for come time past has been in preparalion,
and adds some astoeishing feats of equestrianisra
to the ever popular scenes in the circle.
The unfortunate MARYLEBONE THEATRE .Will
open for the Easter holidays on Monday evening,
under the management of Mr. E. F. Edgar. The
pieces will be the drama of "The Marble Heart"
and the comedy of " Giralda' '-" the principal parts
in which will be sustained by Mesdames O'Hara,
Clinton, Charlotte Astor, Robertson, Turner ; and
Messrs. E: F. Edgar, W. Young, Robert Soutar,.
W. Rob'ertson, &c.
Going to the E-rst-end we find that Mr. Phelps
is still retained as the star at the STANDARD, and
at the CITY OF LONDON great exertions have been
made to produce counter-attractions for the holi-
day-folks that -always muster strougly in this
locality.
The GRECIAN SALOON hag a new burlesque ; the
BRITANNIA is visited by Mr. Ira Aldridge, the
African Roscius, who here plays a round of parts,
prior to his departure for the Continent; and the
concert rooms promulgate the fact of auxiliary aid
being engaged for the amusement of their fre-
quenters.

- Of entertainments not belonging to the dranatio
class we have an infinite variety. Mr. ALBERS
SMITH continues to relate his amusing experiences
of continental tourists, and illustrates Mont Blano
and its associations at the Egyptian-hall.
Mr. W. S. WooDIN infuses into his "Olio of
'Oddities," at the Polygraphic-hall, new vocal and
local allusions.

THE LION HUNTER, Mr. GORDON CUMMING, adds
to his stirring relations of the exploits he achieved
and the adventures he passed through in Southern
Africa, descriptions of the discoveries made by the
enterprising missionary and thiveller, Dr. Living'
ston.

THE SURREY GARDENS present Mr. and Mrs.
German Reed in their popular illustrations.
EXETER HALL celebrates Easter Monday after its
own fashion by a grand Verdi Festival, in which
Madame Clara Novello, Miss Louisa Vinniug, Miss
Dolby, Mr. Sims. Reeves, Mr. Weiss, and other
vocalists of celebrity, are supported by a full chorus
from ihe Italian Opera, and Mr. Alfred Mellon's
excellent Orchestral Union.
ST. MARTIN'S HALL opens with a miscellaneous
concert and the dramatic photographs of Mr. Sey-
mour Carleton.

At the REGENT GALLERY Mr. and Mrs. Henri
Drayton continue their pleasant vocal illustration
of popular proverbs. _

The POLYTECIINIC, in about a dozen diffell'ent de-
partments, furnishes a complete exposition of the
wonders of science ; and the COLOSSEUM provides a
.startling shilling's worth in the multiplicity of its
musical, dioratme, optical, and general attractions.
Burfcrd's Panorama of MOSCOW, the Great Globe,
the Soc.ety of British Artists in Pall-mall, the Na-
tional Institution at the Portland Gallery, the
Zoological Gardens, the Botanic Society, Madame
Tussaud's, Kahn's Anatomical Museum, and, pro-
minent amongst the rest, the Cryst'Ll Palace, fur-
nish abundant means for gratifying every taste, and
to all the "Open Sesame" is one shilling.
CANTERBURY HALL also opens its hospitable por-
tals, giving th,e best 'entertainment, in every Way,
to its visitors. In addition to the well-known
corps, the proprietor has been fortunate enough to
secure the services of Madame Marietta, the cele-
brated Spanish vocalist ; and Mr. Sam Collins, the
well-known Irish singer, who infuses into his melo-
dies the long lost spirit of poor Tyrone Power. Oa
the 20th inst., another mighty Sam, will resume his
position, and Mr. Cowell will again narrate the
deplorable fates of the " Ratcatcher's Daughter,"
and of " Lord Lovel," and the stirrim, adventures
of " Billy Barlow." 0

CREMORNE is re-emtellished in every way, and
re-opens with new att! actions. The railways pre-
sent every possible temptation, by the cheapness of
transit, to invite excursionists on their respective
lines • and though Greenwich Fair be abolished,
Richardson's ghost numbered with the things that
were, enough yet remains to contribute to—wba
we trustail may enjoy—