The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-17 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

After a recess of a week, well employed, we presume,
in preparations, this theatre re-opened on Monday
evening, with the treble attraction of two new pieces, and
the first appearance (for the season) of that excellent
light comedian, and very favourite actor, Mr. J. S.
Balls. The first of the novelties above mentioned, is a.
piece from the prolific and generally
successful pen of
INfr. Selby, entitled Tie Maximums and Speciments of
!Valiant 2vluggins, gathered up and noted down
by him during a short but eventful career as
a doctor's boy, a sailor, and a grocer's foreman, the
second character of the three being filled by him during
the time his reputation is under a cloud, in consequence
of a supposed participation in his friend, Fred. Flipper's
clandestine practices on the till of a benevolent uncle;
who is also a grocer. William Muggins is a hero of.
Ihe good boy school, and if he maintain his ground on the
stage of the Strand, will be more indebted for his success
to the clever acting of Miss Ellen Daly, than to what the
author has done for him. The "'maximums" which he

is ever and anon taking out -a note book to set- down
(rather an unusual practice in boys of his age and call-
ing), consist of good' sentences, well pronounced, and
which, as Shakspere says, would be better if well fol-
lowed. We cannot follow his career to its happy
termination, but the reader may make up for our
unlucky deficiency of space by a visit to -this
little theatre, where Miss Daly, till further notice, will
lay it before him more clearly and agreeably than we
can hole to dci. A more prominent character than the
/I"ere. is Samuel Snigger, " a town-made boy, who laughs
continually, and can never keep his countenance," ar.d
whose unfortunate propensity to grinning, in sea-
son and out of season, loses him every situa-
tion he falls into—apothecary's boy, footman,
and undertaker's mute, till at last fortune picks
him up . as a crossing sweeper, and, by making a
gentleman of him, gives him the only serious moments he
ever had in his life. The part was capitally played by
Mr. Attwood, and the hearty applause of the audience
was only a tribute he well deserved. We can hardly
say in what capacity he shone the most ; we should say
the ftiotman, if we did not recollect the misplaced,mirth of
the undertaker's man ; he was worst as the sailor ; his
fun evaporated as soon as he got on salt water. Mr.
Hall, as Canterbury Tom, a real " old salt," a regular
" Jack Junk," had too little to do ; his " yarns': were
admirably spun, and his face and figure so admirably
made up, that it was a perfect study. The most lively
scene was that of the Pignity Ball in Barbadoes, which,
however, is hardly new to the stage. The piece was
successful enough to be announced for every evening.
CITY OF LONDON. _ .

The entertainments for the Whitsun-holidays at this
theatre possessed sufficient attraction to draw a full
house, notwithstanding the many inducements to out-
door amusement, which the fine weather and the present
season offer. In the language of the bills, "an Original
Eastern Spectacle" called the Massacre of Cabool, or the.
War in Alfganistan, and Zulima the Indian Maid, was
the first and chief piece of the evening. The incidents
turn upon the late disasters in Affghanistan. The bad
taste in selecting such a -raibject for a dramatic per-
formance (and that, too, a very ill-constructed one), at a
period when the relatives of the sufferers have had scarce
time to recover from the first shock of the tidings, can-
not be too heavily censured.' Further than this we will
not say, save to express a hope that the play- wright of
this establishment will in his future productions se-
lect themes which shall not jar with the tone of public.
feeling. The piece, such as it is, was very well cast—
Mr. C. Dillon as Akbar Khan,-and Mr. J. T. Johnson as
Zamand (a native chief friendly to the English), were
respectable. But that which rendered the " spectacle "
tolerable, was the humouri.the fun, frolic, and drollery of
Kitty Cavanagh (Miss ElizaTerrey), who, with all the reck-
less abandon of the children of the emerald isle, manages
in her capacity as camp follower, to be at " the head and
front" of every movement, whether of' peril or of pleasure.
This character, well-known by its old appellation, Moll
Flagoi is so trite, and has been well played by so many,
that it is by, no means easy to please in it, and yet Miss
Terrey did draw down plaudits repeatedly. We could
scarcely persuade ourselves that one " born within the
sound of Bow," could give the brogue so sweet, and
rich, and broad. The second piece, entitled The Maiden's
Vow, or the Soldier's Return, was an adaptation from
the French drama of The Maid of Croissy, the dialogue
changed to suit the circumstances of the Affghan war.
It was a very trifle, and was followed by an affair
called The Murderer's Revenge, of which the less said
the better.