The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-30 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

The Adelphi opened on Saturday for the winter
season, under the direction of Madame Celeste.
Our readers are aware, that during the recess Web-
ster has become lessee of this favourite theatre, and
its appearance on Saturday evening bore ample
testimony to the taste and liberality of that
most enterprising of managers. The theatre has
been completely renovated in every part. The decora-
tions of the front of the boxes and of the proscenium
consist of richly carved gold ornamental foliage and
gold mouldings on a beautiful white ground. The
satin paper with which the boxes are lined correspond
with the exterior decorations, the cushions and dra-
peries being of a rich crimson velvet. The dome has
been ornamented in a similar style, and the old ormolu
chandelier has been removed, and a magnificent glass
chandelier substituted in its place. These altera-
tions give the interior of the theatre a very light, and
cheerful, and elegant appearance. The comfort of
the audience has also been cared for. This, which
formerly was one of the closest, is now one of the
best ventilated theatres in London. A great improve-
ment has been made in the construction of the boxes,
which now all radiate from the centre of the stage,
so as to command a view of the stage from every part
of them. The new curtain and the new drop scene,
both from the pencil of Mr. Marshall, are exceedingly
tasteful and beautiful. The strength of the corps
dramatique ..is greatly increased. The old favourites
of last season are retained. Paul Bedford, Wilkinson,
and Mrs. Fitzwilliam return to the scene of their for-
mer triumphs, and Hudson, of Drury-lane, has joined
the Adelphi corps. The piece chosen for the opening
was a drama entitled Mother and Son, a translation
from the French by Bourcicault. Victor (Madame
Celeste), a. sbanker's clerk, is the only son
of Madame Lagrange (Mrs. Yates), who is dying
of consumption. N othing can save her life but
removal to a warm climate, and to procure
the means for this removal he robs his employer of
1001., which he tells his mother the banker has given
him. An unexpected remittance arrives, and the
mother is become, comparatively speaking, rich. Victor,
in attempting to replace the 1001. in the
.safe, is seized
by the banker, goes mad, and is removed to an asylum.
A funeral bell is heard ;• he is told his mother is dead
—the shock overcomes him ; he recovers his senses,
and all ends happily. The acting of Mrs. Yates and
Madame Celeste was true to nature throughout ; and
it is, in fact, to their admirable delineation of their
respective characters that the piece is indebted for its
success. 0. Smith acted the part of a rout fellow-
clerk of Victor—a small part, made of importance by
the truthfulness of his acting. The house was crowded
to excess, and there is every prospect of a brilliant and
successful season. Previous to the performance, Mrs.
Yates spoke the following Addreas, written by Mr.
A'Beckett :
" The drama's new campaign begins to-night,
All are in arms, and eager for the fight;
But do not take alarm at what I say,
The war we mean to wage will be in play;
And in our efforts we shall never cease
To bring about a most successful piece.
Yes, we shall deem the battle bravely won,
If we can fairly get it with a run;
We will not bluster, lest, like other folk,
We find our vapouring all end in smoke.
Though few the forces that our troops combine,
You'll find we've got some veterans of the line;
Though but a single company we form,
We mean to try and take the town by storm.
We really don't intend to stick at trifles,
But call ourselves the pocket rifles.
If eulogising thus I longer stand,
You'll think I blow the trumpet for the band—
The band I—that word reminds me, by the way,
That of our leader I a word should say :
Our leader is a lady—very true—
A lady manager is nothing new ;
For it she is not always one in name,
She is in fact, and so it's all the same.
- Besides, who'd call the male the worthier sex ?
Is not Regina quite as good as Rex?
If by the greatest we could test the small—
If what is true of one is true of all—
The feminine ought always to be first,
And Lindley Murray's judgment be revers'd.
After that logic, it must be confess'd,
I've proved that lady managers are best ;
At least that so in theory the fact is—
I trust you'll find it carried out in practice I
Our dramas, ere I go, I ought to mention,
We should prefer them all of home invention ;
But if our manufacturers are prone
To work upon material not their own,
We might be left without if we declined it ;
We can but take the market as we find it.
At all events, we ask your approbation
Of our new manager—she's a translation ;
But, then, the kindness to her you have shown
Has made her ft el the English stage her own.
In foreign steek,Lts though she plays each part,
She's ceased to be an alien at heart.
If you approve the post in which she stands,
Ratify the appointment with your hands!"