The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-25 00:00:00

RAY MARKET.

The performances at the Haymarket, last night,
opened with the Sherffir of the County, which bids
fair for as great a run of popularity as Old Heads and
Young Hearts, its predecessor. The rural simplicity
of the Sheriff (Mr. W. Farren), the tawdry pride of
the Sheriff 's wife, the gaucherie of the servants, and
the historical blunders of Pansy, the gardener (Buck-
stone) continue to amuse as much as ever. As for
the episodical story of the soldier, who is sentenced
to be shot for knocking down his superior officer, it
is dull, heavy, and tiresome, and quite out of keeping
with the lively characters of the play. Webster 's
acting as Lord Mayor's footman, a sort of culinary
drill-sergeant, was admirable, and Mr. Strickland
exemplified the craft and selfishness of Smirker, the
attorney, in a manner which was loudly applauded.
" A new grand, clasical, extravaganza," as the bill
terms it, called the Golden Fleece, was brought out
here last night, for the first time. It is in two
parts, and Mr. Planche is the author. Every
school-boy knows the history of Jason and
the Gulden Fleece. fEetes, King of Colchis (Mr.
James Bland) promises to restore the golden
fleece, provided Jason tamed bulls which breathed
flames to conquer a multitude of armed men
who would spring from a field, which Jason was
obliged to sow with serpents' teeth, and to kill a dra-
gon which incessantly watched at the foot of a tree
from which the Golden Fleece was suspended. Medea,
the King's daughter (Madame VestriO, falls in love
with Jason (Miss P. Horton), and in return for vows
of eternal fidelity, promises to deliver him from all
dangers. The stage, after the fashion of the ruined
Greek Theatre, was partially raised, and the rising
of the curtain discloses the Palace of the King of
Colchis, on the front of which is written in Greek
and English characters, " All in my eye and Betty
Martin.' There is a mock throne, and the chorus is
represented by Mr. Charles Mathews, dressed in the
most approved classical costume, who, as the bill in-
forms us, "renders at least 59 male voices perfectly
useless." To sustain a performance like this, where
the plot has little interest, an almost uninter-
rupted flow of humour is necessary a succession
of ridiculous incidents, humorous expressions,
and witty phrases ; dulness in a composition,
which has neither solidity or refinement to re-
commend it, is intolerable. Mr. Planche seems
fully alive to this, and the Golden Fleece contains a
great deal of broad farcical humour, and of a vein of
lively ridicule. )Fetes is attired much in the same
mariner as Creon in Antigone, and Bland mimics,
with much truth and effect, the pomp and dignity of
Vandenhoffi Jason sings a most unclassical song,
" I'm a sprightly, lively lad." 2Eates leaves the stage,
and Jason,

--- Pursues tEe King,
To the grind-stone his nose to bring,
when Medea is about to charm the dragon, she ot-
serves, that
The dragon is a very artful dodger,
And sk-eps with one eye open—the dry old codger.
And Jason fears he will be,
Like the Lord Chancellor who got the pack,
He has lost the wool and only got the sack.
When Medea inquires, in what manner,
/Eetes' spirit fled,

Jason replies
By a punch on the head.
And Aetes says
That fatal punch, I feel it in my noddle,
And down to Pluto's realms I must toddle.
So much for the first part. The foundation of the
second is—Creon, King of Corinth, promises bis
daughter (Glances) to Jason, who repudiates Medea.
Medea, in revenge, sends her a poisoned garment,
from which she dies, and Creon, with his family,
share a similar fate, the palace being burnt, with
which the piece concludes. Medea complains of
Jason's conduct, and says that—
How mad it will drive her ;
I'll be thrown on the parish without a single saver.
And pathetically exclaims—
Ile (Jason) lives in a fine palace over there,
While I and my two babbies are coop'd in a two-pair !
And when the chorus remonstrate she, after some
fine reasoning, classically exclaims—
And, therefore, most inveterate haters,
Close up the trap in which-you put your taters !
Creon interferes, upon which Medea says—
None of your soft sawder,
Your downy words don't weigh with me a feather I
When Medea says—
A bridal gift for Glances I'm preparing.
The Chorus answers—
And which, I have no doubt, she'll be the worse for
wearing,
The Chorus, speaking of Jason, says—
If I were his father I'd break all his bone,
And send him to sea like that other boy Jones.
We cannot notice this piece at greater length, and
must conclude by remarking, that it was loudly ap-
plauded, and that at the fall of the curtain Mr.
Mathews came forward, amid the cheers of the au-
dience, and announced its continuance until further
notice.