The Sun.
London, England, 1829-12-28 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE•

We have seldom seen a more " splendid" as ir
is very correctly styled in the bills of the der"--;
affair, than the new Pantomime of " Harlequin an.a
Jack in the Box," which was brought out at !k!
Theatre on Saturday last. It opens
of " The enchanted Grove and Goblin's abode,"
beautifully painted by Stanfield. Here pern
(Mr. Barnes), an enchantress and the irusr-'al--
of
the adamant-box, holds Jaelr'ollr. .
rn
custody. Jack's crime is, that he, baring too
.1111.
pant a tongue, has blabbed the secret !of the es!
enee of " a hidden island," where a Princess suffers
incarceration, which Princess the destinies have
Chinese
de-
creed is to be released from thraldom by a
knight, assisted by his squire. Heigh-ho (Howell)'
the Chinese knight, and Ram-go, (J. 5. Grimalifi),,
with a vie:
the squire, are represented in " A fairy vision of
the Hidden Island," (the excellent work of Stao.
field), releasing the imprisoned Princess. They aft-e"
wards appear, and realize the vision ; Heigh-ho eat-ting off the hand of Ho-Fum, the giant ger.""
whose spells have been exerted against Luciana
(Miss Ryall) the queen of the Hidden Island:
The gigantic figures of Ho-Fum, and of hie
Queen Hi-Fum, are managed with great skill.
Each of them beats Louis, the French gianr,
by a couple of feet ; arid their grotesque motions
caused universal laughter. Their demeanour at a
splendid banquet was no less amusing; but her!,
the Ogre King having taken somewhat too much
aqua vitce, is placed at the mercy of the cunning_
Chinese Knight, who fails not to avail himself of
the opportunity for securing success to his enter-
prise. We next behold the adamant box, which
encloses Jack, placed near the crater of a burning
mountain, and guarded by the enchantress Peep-ho:
She, like some of our old watchmen, falls asleep, and
is surprised by the Chinese Knight, wilt? se jiz:ck is
s bey
magic wand, and, striking the box with - tot
once more restored to liberty. Jack, 111 return
his deliverance, declares that -the Knight and the
Princess shall be united; but, ere the* happy event
takes place, it is necessary that they should undergo
all the trials to which Harlequin and Columbine are
usually exposed. He then transforms Howell Into
Harlequin, and Miss Ryall into Columbine, Barnes
into Pantaloon, and J. S. Grimaldi into Clown
Then comes "the tug of war." All are on the
alert. rile tricks are very numerous, and many of
the transformations pointed arid ingenious. They
er-
were, making due allowances for a first night's,
p
pforromb tnicoen b,
uwellonce,
n ee,x eaend ut e
thatd .
w Indeed,
as
whenthe
duringcriaotwbtehore,
progress of the Pantomime, we heard no char
having been soused in a well, proceeded
unceremoniously to disrobe himself en the 1115.
The dance, very properly denominated 1*
velutl
Speculum, was exceedingly good. The agile and
graceful motions of Mr. Howell and Miss Ryall, as
Harlequin and Columbine, were repeated with
admirable spirit and correctness by Mr,Chilletni!ind
Miss Macdonald. Many, unaccustomed to an illu-
sion of this description, would suppose that the per-
formers immediately on the stage were danci▪
ng
before two mirrors. They would scarcely imagi▪
ne
that the nice and accurate repetition of the motions
and gestures of Harlequin and Columbine was not
reflected in a looking-glass, but was elegantly per-
formed by the individuals whom we have named.--*
The drama was greatly applauded, and was justly
encored. The comic pas de deux, by Chilkini and
Wieland, in the character of the Siamese Youth's
deserves much praise; it was full of whimsical va-
riety. The scene which follows, where the fishes 01
" the vasty deep"—crabs and dabs, lobsters and
cray-fi,h, turbot and plaice, with a long et cetera of
piscatory characters—amuse themselves with a qua-
drille, excited much laughter. These scaly revellers
were inimitably dressed : a Billingsgate committee
could have added nothing to their appearance. The
extraordinary activity of the phenomenon, Mynheet
Von Kleshnig, excited universal astonishment
Amongst other novelties, we were introduced to a
young lady, Miss Poole, who made her first appear"
mice, as well as a very favourable impression on the
audience, on this occasion. She first sang with con-
siderable spirit in the character of that nondescript
being, a " dandy," the song of .1 Smart
young bachelors," and an encore being it
!listed on, she appeared transferred, as if by magic'
into a broom-girl, and, thus attired, she executed 0
characteristic song with much juvenile hunaour.-"'
The scene of the Pantomime is throughout sur-
passingly splendid. The views, especially of Virgin"'
Water, with the upper and lower lake, and the long
walk, with Windsor Castle at the end, and I
squadron of glittering cavalry coming slowly up to-
wards the spectator, beats any thing of the kind W.°
have ever seen. The varying tints too of the
morning, evening, and moonlight, are very acceratell
preserved, with the exception that the moon is
rather too large and clumsy in appearance. Amon%
the performers we may select Mr. Howell's- Haile; '
gum, Miss Ryall's Columbine, and Mr. Barnes
Pantaloon. All three characters were admirably
sustained. The Pantomime was received With the
loudest applause by an unusually crowded house.

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• When the Sparrow, envious of its good fortune.
Perehes upon the house-top, and taking a fatal aim,
sends the arrow to its rival's heart. A general con-
sternatidti ensues. The fly and the fish are re-
ePeetVely-seen and admired, and the human rnor-
41e have recourse to ./Esop for advice. All this
0 "MI before one of the prettiest scenes in the
Pa •
ntotnirn,a
iew of a village on a frosty morn-
bl;painted by Grieve, and in many respects in his
et mariner. Xsop proceeds indignantly to the
" Court of Birds," where the sapient Owl sits as
president, but while he does sa, Cock Robin is
bßall orne to the grave. The funeral was clever ; the
tolled, the bell magnificently, the Raven made
th%good priest, the Dove an affectionate chief mourner,
e Linnet, excellent rank and file men, and the
'°hine bore the pall decorously. This novel pro-
cession excited roars of laughter. The eloquence
atio
dtiop is on the point of procuring the condem-
n of the detected Sdarrow, when Vulcan inter-
ies his authority, but is checked by " the star of
Zs's" which appears on high in the distance, and
lushly descends to the earth with its fair inmate.
is in every respect a beautiful piece of mechan-
p
isros-and does Mr. Bradwell great credit. It is in-
elegant, and effective. Venus converts her
r,tyaious,
oured lovers into Harlequin and Columbine; and
ulp gives the garb of Clown to Hobnail, while Pan-
taloops p -
rings from the earth. The individual who per-
souscid the character was worthy of his origin, and
e cessively prone to it. The immortals disappear,
Ithe exit of Venus being most gracefully managed
ugh the assistance of some moving palm-trees,
1 the liarlequinade commences. It is such as to
1,4T:41 occasional laughter, and to afford amusement.
Clelown is thrown into a watch-house, where he
visited by a tremendous spider, which crawls over
This hile its fellow spins a web in an archway.
4 was efficiently executed, and much applauded.
(~" el'ePharst is introduced, and drinks the Thames
41) tbe great inconvenience of the fishes, who
41114 itcl relief from a shower of cats and dogs wh;ch
a libmetliately afterwards. The scene with the
Old Watchmen, who are transformed by the magic
*end into New Policemen, and whose useless boxes
`l4 Put up for sale, is tolerably good, but is not
tt °lied our as might have been expected. Towards
"° conclusion there is a clever scene by W. Grieve,
o„."rh. Picture Gallery." The whole of the figures
thte pictures form " a most animated produc-
:°n,"Th and the effect is ludicrous and good.
The -.Diorama of the Polar Expedition," does
Aedit te"--the skill and conception of Roberts. It
ha loudly and deservedly applauded, particularly
,he views of Cape Farewell, Baffin's Bay, Melville's
:hincls &c. The acting was excellent. Mr Eller
h*de an elastic Harlequin, Miss Egan a pleasing
4°ttrohine and Mr. Paulo a humorous Clown.
Nualoe was called for, but was unable to ap- ,
Peet from indisposition. By the bye, we cannot
Suit the subject of this Pantomime, without sug-
!lesting to the Managers, the propriety of suffering
t'antotnime to precede the Plays. It would
IN the former a much better chalice of a run.