The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-28 00:00:00

DRURY LANE.

The interior of Drury-lane Theatre on Saturday
evening presented a scene of the most remarkable
description, crowded as the splendid theatre was
from floor to ceiling with one of the merriest Christ-
mas audiences that ever assembled. Hundreds were
unable to obtain admission ; and although it was
anything but pleasant to those who experienced the
disappointment, yet it speaks well for the interest
that is invariably felt to witness the first perform-
ance of Mr. Chatterton's Grand Comic Christmas
Annual. The introductory farce, "My Wife's
Out," was gone through in dumb show. All were
anxious for the pantomime, ar.d the descent of the
curtain on the farce was hailed with satisfaction
and loud cheers. Like all the former successes the
pantomime for 1868 is from the pen of Mr. E. L.
Blanchard, and " Grimalkin the Great ; or, Puss
in Boots and the Miller's Sons," may, without
doubt, be placed at the head of the many brilliant
contributions this accomplished author has given to
Old Drury. The commencement of the overture

produced a little lull in the uproarious merriment
of the audience, but immediately the first notes in
4 the well-known song, " Tommy Dodd," were heard
5
the jolly audience in the galleries broke out i❑
chorus, and never has the celebrated ditty been so
1- 1
well performed. Briefly told the plot of the panto-
mime is as follows :—The first scene represents a
hive, or rather a honeycomb, the height of
the stage, in which some hundreds of children
appear as a swarm of bees, busily occupied manu-
facturing honey. The intrusion of a great blue-
bottle into the hive is seriously resented, but the
bees, at the instigation of the Queen, spare his life
on the condition that he will disclose a plot against
their person and property. It seems that two greedy
sons of a neighbouring miller have resolved to de-
troy their hive for the sake of the honey against the
wish of the youngest, Jocelyn, who is therefore to
be assisted. The bees punish the elder brothers and
assist the youngest, who is to be supplied with a
honey cake composed of the rarest essences from
various flowers. Jocelyn, finding that his cat, the
only legacy left him in the memorable will, is
desirous of tasting this peculiar delicacy, affords
him the opportunity, and Puss thereby becomes
endowed with speech. The scene changes from the
Mill in Normandy to the Cornfields, where Puss
advances the fortunes of his master, and the bril-
liant victory over apparently adverse fate is gained
in the Magician's Castle, where the Cat cunningly
persuades the mutable magician to transform him-
self to a mouse, and then, pouncing upon the
wizard, gets possession of the castle for his young
master,theAlarquis of Carabas. The pantomitne this
year is more than usually gorgeous in scenery and
ballet, and for beauty the pastoral divertissement
a la Watteau has never been surpassed ; but what
shall we say of Mr. Beverley's great transformation
scene, "the glittering web of the golden gossamers?"
It is perfectly impossible adequately to describe the
refulgent splendour of this magnificent work
of art. The painting, dresses, and artistic ar-
rangements E produce a scene that created
the wildest enthusiasm, and amidst a per-
fect storm of applause Mr. Chatterton and Mr.
Beverley bad personally to bow their acknowledg-
ment on the stage. The principal parts in the
" opening" were well sustained by Miss Harriet
Coveny, Mr. Irving, Mr. Moreland, Miss Kate
Harfleur, and Miss Hudspeth ; whilst the comic
Christmas characters of Harlequins, Columbines,
Clowns, and Pantaloons were supported by Messrs.
Saville and Huline, Mdlles. Grovenor and Marion,
Harry Boleno and Laurie, and Paul Herring and
Morris. The comic business is more than ordinarily
good, and elicited unbounded delight ; but the
crowning triumph was the last scene, the deck of a
man-of-war manned by hundreds of little children,
who go through a variety of evolutions with such
alacrity and precision as to call forth enthusiastic
applause. The pantomime is one of the greatest
and best that has ever been produced, and the suc-
cess with which it was received must be particularly
gratifying to Mr. Chatterton, who has spared no-
thing that money or exertion could obtain to main-
tain the prestige of Old Drury. It is, in short,
a wonderful production and a gigantic success,
and one that will attract crowded audiences for
many months to come.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
Mr. Augustus Harris, whose name is identified
with the picturesque grouping, stage management,
and artistic taste which have rendered the Royal
Italian Opera renowned among the creme de la creme
of European society, opened Covent Garden Theatre
on Saturday night with a pantomime, or spectacle,
of the modern pattern. It is founded ou the familiar
and world-famed story of " Robinson Crusoe,,,
who, in compliance with Christmas custom, has a
supernatural addendum, its second title being " or,
Friday and the Fairies." Mr. H. J. Byron has
written the libretto, and Messrs. Telbin, Matt
Morgan, Dayes, and Hawes Craven have painted
the exquisite scenery. The pantomime, extrava-
ganza, spectacle, burlesque, or whatever they may
please to call it, has no cause to fear a rival on its
special merits. It was a great success, and gave
unbounded satisfaction to a crowded audience.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Whatever reliance other managers may place in
their Christmas novelties, Mr. Buckstone has an
unfailing inducement to public patronage in the re-