The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-27 00:00:00

OLYMPIC.

The entertainments at this Pretty and favourite
little theatre commenced last night with Leman
Rede's highly successful burletta, Life's a Lottery,
or Jolly Dick the Lamplighter, which, notwithstanding
all the exertions of the hero, the great George Wild
himself, and his excellent company, passed off nearly
in dumb show, in consequence of the uproarious im-
patience of the holiday folks, who thronged the galle-
ries, and until the commencement of the harlequinade
allowed no voices but their own to be heard, to the
very great annoyance of the equally crowded boxes
and pit. From the ,latter, loud and indignant cries
for " order and silence" were occasionally lifted above
the storm of the gods, to whom those rational ap-
peals were made in vain An extravaganza,
under the title of The Coat, followed, and was
to the spectators as unintelligible as its precursor,
and from the same cause. At length, after an over-
ture of considerable merit (for its purpose), composed
by Mr. Blewitt, the opening scene of the pantomime
was greeted with rapturous applause. This truly
original production is named Harlequin Old Cocker;
or, Arithmetic Hall and the Rule of Three. It is de-
scribed in the bills as calculated to " make up with
interest the full sum of laughter," and the public are
invited to " come in numbers and see it" (the sul
" proved." We are first introduced to the Hall of
Slates in the Subterranean Palace of Multiplica-
tion, who is attended by a body-guard of animated
slate pencils, with well sharpened points, and
a group of living sponges, serving to de-
termine the question amongst naturalists as to
whether or not these useful marine productions are
to come within the province of zoology. Practice, a
youth having a good business connexion, comes to
apply for pecuniary assistance to enable him to prose-
cute his suite for-the hand of Miss Addition; but the
old usurer has calculated her in his own total, and
drives the applicant away in despair. The next scene
is a splendid representation of the palace of Dame In-
terest, the mother of Addition, and here Multiplication
receives the promise of the fair one's hand. Practice,
in the act of courting his mistress, is put
into a quotient by the Sheriffs' officers, Long
and Short ,Division, when the Lady Addi-
tion, : now the remainder, is carried off by
Subtraction, a gentleman who had seen better times,
and at present resides in the hovel of Reduction. Prac-
tice escapes from his captors, and the several parties
proceed to the enchanted palace of .Queen Figurante,
a splendid scene, where the usual changes take place.
Practice (young Bologna) becomes Harlequin, Addi-
tion (Miss Wright) Columbine, Multiplication (Mr.
Jefferini) Clown, Interest (Mr. Hartland) Pantaloon,
and Proof (Miss Lebatt) Harlequina. The chase
,commences, and is pursued in the old style, with
infinite bustle and drollery. The occasional delay
and dulness incidental to the first night of such
exhibitions, being relieved by the graceful
dancing of Misses Wright and Lebatt and young
Bologna. The action is diversifies by an average
number of tricks and transformations, and they were
rewarded with the: usual amount of laughter and
applause. Jefferini, whose abilities as a Clown are
well known, introduced " Hot Codlings," and some
original comic songs, in which he was encored. In
the conclusion, all parties arrive at the " Temple of
Merit," where the prize is awarded to Practice, for
having solved an arithmetical problem in the Golden
Rule, which was beyond the powers of his rival,
Multiplication. At the fall of the curtain there were
some expressions of disapprobation, which, however,
were completely drowned in the tumult of applause.