The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-27 00:00:00

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

The performances here last night commenced with
The Merchant of Venice, with G. V. Brooke as Shy-
lock. He has now nearly recoved his fine voice, and
be never acted better than last evening ; whenever be
appeared the audience, at other times noisy, were
bushed into silence and attention. The scene with
Tubal, and the trial scene, were triumphs of acting.
The piece was very strongly cast, Mrs. Stirling being
Portia; Mr. L. Murray, Bassanio; Mr. H. Farren,
Gratiano • and Mr. Compton, Launcelot Gobbo. The
grand Christmas piece which followed is a burlesque
which, br its witty dialogue, its beautiful scenery,
its graceful dances, arellits gorgeous costumes reminds
us forcibly of the Olympic burlesques during the
Vestris dynasty. This new burlesque, %lief' is'
written by Mr. Tom Taylor, is entitled Prince Dorus,
or the Romance of the Nose, and is founded on the
fairy tale of the sane name by the Countess d'Aul.
nois. The plot of the fairy tale is well known.
A malevolent old fairy, in revenge for • not
having been invited to the birth of Prince
Dorus, bestows upon bim a nose of unusual size, which
is only to become reduced in length when he himself
discovers that it is too long. He grows up, but
without discovering that his nose is of more than the
proper length, nor does he find it out until he is
about to marry, when, wishing to kiss the lady of his
choice ,and being prevented by the length of his pro-
boscis, he becomes aware of his defect, the evil charm is
kokelA Arad his nose becomes of the ordinary

size. Upon this outline of a plot, a lery
capital burlesque has been constructed. Prince
Dorus (Mr. 11. Farren), at twenty years of age, ad-
vertises for a wife, and ladies who are desirous of the
honour of his alliance send him their portraits, which
are endowed by Sir Clairvoyant (Mr. William
Farren, jun.), the Court physician and mesmi-
rig, magnetiser and magician in ordinary, with
the power of speech, when they all exclaim against
the Prince's nose. Count Cequeluche (Mr.
Compton), gold stick in waiting, for something
better, endeavours in vain to pacify them. The
Prince, however, has fixed his choice upon the
Princess Mignonette (Miss Louisa Howard), and
Coqueluche bas been equally snaitLen by her attendant,
the Lady Blualte (Miss Ellen Ai' irner). Sir Clair-
voyant and Sir Carmine (Mr. W. Sbalders), the
Court painter, who have become ent4moured of the
same two ladies, carry them off. They are pursued
by the Prince and Count Coqueluche, who, after a
variety of adventures by earth, air, fire, and water,
in which they are protected of course by the
good fairies, manage to dispel the charms of Sir
Clairvol ant and obtain possession of their lady loves.
The piece was splendidly got up, the scenery being
excellent, and the dresses, which were in the style of
those in the pictures of Watteau, of the most gor-
geous description. Several dances were introduced
which would have done credit to the Italian Opera,
Mdlle. Adele being.theprificipal danseuse. The charm-
ing Princess Mignonette was well represented by
Miss Louisa Howard, it- being impossible to say
which change of dress she looked the best in, whether
as a shepherdess, dressed a la Watteau, as the Rose,
the Queen of the Flowers, or as a water-nymph.
Compton in Count Coqueluche was as quaint and
humorous as ever, making every one of his jokes tell
most effectively. H. Farren, W. Farren, jun., and
W. Shalders were also very good in the other cha-
racters. The scene of the Picture Gallery, in which
all the portraits ofthe various princesses werediscovered,
was very well managed, and had a beautiful effect.
The Lake of Lillies by moonlight was also a very
well painted scene, and the last scene and tableau of
the Bower of Stars and gorgeous bouquet of Beauty
was not at all inferior to the celebrated last scene in
the Island of Jewels. The house was crowded, and
the burlesque was much applauded, and when it has
been somewhat shortened will no doubt have a long
run.