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

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.
The entertainments at this theatre consisted of Mellon's
new opera, " Victorine," followed by a pantomime called
" Puss in Boots and the Fairy of the Golden Palms," of
which the opening, or introductory portion, is from the pen
of Mr. J. V. Bridgeman. The performances began at seven
o'clock, an hour earlier than usual, and the opera was con-
siderably shortened so as to be over by nine o'clock ; but
all this was necessary to afford time for the pantomime,
which did not terminate till midnight.
Notwithstanding the curtailment of the opera, and the
rapidity with which it was performed, it went off with great
effect. Though it was boxing-night, and the house was
crowded to the doers, the audience was most attentive, the
principal pieces were warmly applauded, and the composer
and the principal performers were called for at the fall of
the curtain.

The old nursery tale of "Puss in Boots" is a good subject
for a pantomime, and Mr. Bridgeman has made good use of
it. The incidents might have been a little more connected,
and their sequence more intelligible, without any detriment,
and the introductory portion is rather spun out by some
tricks and practical jokes of a character which rather be-
long to a harlequinade ; but these excrescences may be
easily pruned, and probably will be, for it must have been
evident to tho performers themselves that they dragged
somewhat heavily. But the greatest portion is admirably
quaint and comic ; and the dialogue (which is in heroic
verse) is written with a degree of point, elegance, and spirit,
by no means common in productions of this class.
Huon, the hero of " Puss in Boots" (Miss Emily Scott),
is the younges t son of a miller, and the piece openein the
mill, where the poor youth is discarded by his hard-
hearted elder brother and thrown upon the world with
nothing belonging to him but a favourite cat ; and in
addition to his domestic distress, he has the further
misfortune of being hopelessly in love with no less a per-
son than a princess—the Princess Blanchefleur. Puss
comforts him in his sorrows, by telling him that she is
no ordinary cat, but " for some youthful pranks, a+banished
fairy," and that she will see him righted, and united to his
princess. Puss, accordingly, equips herself in her well-
known boots ; and the pair set out together in search of
fortune. We are then carried to the Court of Queen Inno-
centia, a potentate of fairy land ; a good fairy, who has for
a neighbour and rival another fairy sovereign called World-
linessa. Queen Innocontia is not clear about the designs
of her neighbour; and has encouraged a volunteer move-
ment in her dominions, and we find her reviewing her rifle
troops. This is one of the prettiest scenes we have ever
seen in any theatre. The royal palace is gorgeous and
beautiful ; and the exercising ground is filled by a host of
fairy soldiers, all armed with rifles, and going through a
series of real military manoeuvres—forming squares, dell'
ploying into line, advancing and retreating, firing in alter-
nate lines, &c.,—with a smartness and precision which we
hope our rifle brigades may be able to emulate, and form-
ing a series of the most exquisite tableaux. The Queen
harangues her troops, and her speech is so much to the pur-
pose that we must extract a bit of it :
"That Queen, in truth, need apprehend nolrifle,
Whose subjects, one and all, can use the rifle.
Though now at peace with ever y fairy power,
We might have war break out at any hour ;
And, though I am not in the least alarmed,
I recollect one fact : Forewarned, forearmed I
I may regret this state of things, but yet,
'Tis, gentle subjects—l can ne'er forget—
An evil 'neath which every power must labour
That's get a strong and not too nice a neighbour.
Perhaps I wrong her, but I must confess a
Suspicion of the Fairy Worldlinessa.
All this considered, then I think it wise is
For you to study well your exercises ;
They'll teach you how—and this 1 lay much stress
on—

To give in your turn—any foe—a lesson
Which will not lessen the respect that's due
From every other fairy folk to you."

The effect of these lines, delivered by Miss Kate Saxon
with much energy, was immense. The house rang with ap-
plause for several minutes. This scone, in truth, is the
great feature of the piece, and is so admirably managed—
so brilliant, graceful, and animated—that it is qnite suffi-
cient to make the success of the whole. The good fairy,
Innocentia, is the protectress of Huon, Puss being employed
by her to watch over and protect him, and especially to
counteract the designs of Worldlinessa, who]wishes to marry
the Princess Blanchefleur to the son of a courtier, a clownish
youth, called Wilfulweight, who is made the subject of the
tricks and practical jokes we have already alluded to as being
somewhat de troll. The next incident relates to a certain
Ogre, a formidable personage, whose castle Huon, under the
direction of Puse, determines to conquer ; and this exploit
is effected by Puss, who, getting into the castle, persuades
the Ogre, by way of showing his power as a magician, to
transform himself into a mouse, and, seizing the opportu •
nity, instantly gobbles him up. After various adventures
we find the principal personages brought in a steamer to
Fingal's Cave, in the Hebrides. What has brought them
there, indeed, does not much matter, as it introduces a view
of that celebrated spot—a most exquisite work of art, full of
zrandeur and beauty. In this scene the denouement of the
story " Puss in Boots" takes place ; and then come the
usual transformations. Huon becomes Harlequin (Mr. F.
Payne) ; Blanchefleur becomes Columbine (Miss Clara
Morgan) ; a femme character, the Countess Grabenuff,
s capital
e Harlequinenon be-
comes the Pantalcon (Mr. Barnes) ; and the Count be-
comes the Clown (Mr. Payne). The harlequinade is
m
i‘Fio.rigaanynewiassm a rellpretty and
knownto
be a
a smart
and
graceful Columbine, but, beyond dancing in and out, had
little or nothing to do. Mr. H. Payne, as the Clown, turn-
bled and bestowed kicks and slaps in all directions with in-
finite agility. There was a Lilliputian Harlequin and Co-
UMW= (Master and Miss Lauri), w 49 danced arcs de