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

ADELPHI.

The Christmas piece at this theatre'was an extravaganza,
called "The Nymph of Lurleybury, or the Knight and the
Naiads. As the title indicates it is a metrical version of
the Rhine Legend which treats of the feats of the daring
young robber knight who sought the hand of the wealthy
water nymph, and was punished for the mercenary motives
which induced him to make his perilous journey beneath
the Rhine. It is the production of Mr. H. J. Byron, and
is founded on the operatic drama of " Lurline," which was
presented successfully at the old Adelphi several years ago.
In the first scene we have Sir Rupert the Reckless (Mrs.
Mellon), who, having spent his fortune in dissipation, and
finding that the companions of his prosperity are indis-
posed to sustain him in his follies, asks for the hand of
Lady Una (Miss Kate Kelly), the daughter of Baron Witz
(Mr. Paul Bedford), a wealthy neighbour. The young lady
is well-inclined, but the Baron, finding that Sir Rupert is
without property, declines the alliance. He suggests to
him, however, to ask the hand of the water-nymph Lurline,
whose palace is reputed to be full of treasures and richest
gems. Rupert assents, and on the banks of the Rhine te
meets with Lurline (Miss Eliza Webb), and immediately
falls in love. He follows her into the waters, accompanied,
though most unwillingly, by his Seneschal, (Mr. Toole.)
Arrived at the Castle of Lurline Sir Rupert attacks but too
successfully the heart of the nymph, and from her ho re-
ceives a casket of precious stones, with which he mounts to
the regions of the air, after many promises of fidelity to his
benefactress. In the presence of Una, however, ho forgets
his vows, and, after wounding Count Calimanco, a vain
swaggering rival, the day of marriage is fixed. His Senes-
chal, however, who has borne a long grudge to Sir Rupert
and the Count, at the head of a band of marauders, inter-
rupt the marriage ceremony. Sir Rupert falls wounded by
the Seneschal, and is on the point of being put to death,
when Lurline, at the head of a band of Amazons, comes to
the rescue. Having saved the knight and disarmed the
Seneschal, she resigns her own claim to the hand of Sir
Rupert, sees him united to Una, and points the moral of
the tale, which is that nymphs should not be caught woo-
ing, and that knights should not seek by unworthy moans
the possession of wealth. The scenery of the piece is much
quieter than the usual style of Christmas decoration, but on
the other hand the punning is much more extravagant.
The palace of Lurline forms a brilliant picture, and her
nymphs make a most resplendent figure therein. Amid the
gay scenery of the palace a ballet divertissement, arranged
by Mr. W. Smith, the stage manager, took place, and was
very successful. But the most stirring scene of the whole
was where Lurline, on hearing of the faithlessness of Sir
Rupert, calls her Amazons together, addresses them in a
speech to excite their ardour, and then guides them through
various military manceuvres. In the narrow space in which
Lurline had to execute her evolutions it is much to be
doubted whether the most active drill-sergeant in the
service could have produced so much movement, and
combined so many picturesque forms. Miss Webb, who
made her first appearance here on this occasion, per-
formed the part of leader in a voice. figure, and bearing
that left little to be desired in a stage Penthesilea. Mrs.
Mellon was, as is usual in her heroic personations, com-
plete; and Mr. Toole made the audience laugh as heartily
as ever. But on the whole the Christmas piece was not so
lively as it ought to have been, and it consequently obtained
no very marked approbation from the audience.