Star.
London, England, 1829-12-28 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES.

_
As well might the father of a young family attempt
to satisfy the expectations of that family by the substi-
tution of .a haunch of venison and apple-tart. for the
fare of roast-beef and plum pudding on a
y, as that the Manager of a Theatre should
present to the holiday folks an Opera or a Farce on the
day succeeding the 25th of December. instead of the
long and anxiously looked for Pantomime—that spec-
tacle, on the anticipation of seeing which the minds of
a large portion of his Majesty's liege subjects had fed
for many months preceding. The displays of activity
by the leading personages of that species of entertain-
ment have become so familiar to an English audience,
that we verily believe, were they to be disappointed, the
consequences would, in many instances, be such, as
totally to destroy all the happiness usually produced at
this festive season, certainly of our young friends, and
drive many of their elders to a more than customary con-
sumption of that spirit, for which we are so much in-
debted to Messrs. HODGES, RICKARDS, SLAG AD, and
Co. &c. The momentous question, therefore, arises
as to whether the cause of morality is not better con-
sulted by the creation of *flow of spirits in John Bull,
by such exhibitions as Pantoiiimes, than by a too copious'
draught upon the spirits of the individuals above men-
tioned.. There cannot be the slightest doubt upon this
point, neither are we troubled with any duberousness as
to the fact, that the abolition of the Christmas Panto-
mimes would induce an immense number of the middle
and ;giver classes to expend their savings in the purchase
et Distil-Moil effusions. We therefore, with much
satisfaction, proceed to detail the particulars of the Pan-
tomimes of the Christmas of 1829. And first, we begin
with " his Majesty's sdrvanta" of
DRURY-LANE.
At this house the inventive genius of Mr. A. BARR Y-
moan produced, after the representation of Jane Shore,
which, as us usual on these occasions, was looked at, not
listened to, by a very crowded and noisy audience, a
Pantomime, entitled Jack in the Box; or, Harkquin
and the Princes! of the Hidden Island. The over-
ture, and music generally, is slid to have come from the
pen of Mr. T. Coo K, but we have been given to under-
stand that his son has contributed no small portion of it.
It is every way characteristic ; and was received with
much applause. The next point to be noticed is the
scenery, which, as has ever been the case since the acces-
sion of Stanfield to this establishment, was splendid lathe
extreme. The most conspicuous are the opening scenes,
No. 4,5, 6, 14, and his Grand Local Diorama, the
effect of which was greatly increased by a discharge of
about 70 tons of real water. The whole has been got up
at very considerable expense, and reflects high credit
upon the lessee, and persons employed in its production.
The story of Jack in the Box must be so well remem-
bered by our readers, from the strong impression made
on their minds by its relation in the nursery, that we
consider it would be a work of supererogation to give it
here. We shall therefore satisfy ourselves, and trust our
readers also, by saying that the incidents of that cele-
brated narrative have been dramatised, if we may use the
term, with considerable tact. The tricks are extremely
well arranged, and the machinery, allowing for the trilling
delays which almost unavoidably attend a first night's re-
presentation. went off extremely well. On the whole, the
pantomime was well received, the audience departed in
great glee, and we trust the treasury will benefit by the
dish which has been cooked up to tempt the public, and
to relieve the holiday folks of their loose cash.
COVENT-GARDEN.
This house has, from time immemorial, been cele-
brated for its successful efforts in the pantomimic de-
pertinent, and on this occasion that King of Spectacle,
FARLEY, has catered with as much judgment as ever.
After the performance of The Royal Fugitive, to which
a more than holiday-like attention was paid, the new
pantomime of Harlequin and Cock Robin, or Vulcan
and Venus, was commenced. It is founded on the well-
known nursery story of Whv killed Cock Robin? and
the mere title of this entertainment was in itself suf-
ficient to fill the house; for who can reflect on the time
' when to be able to give the relation of the death of Cock
Robin was the height of his or her ambition, without con-
awing those were bouts which yielded more real satis-
faction, when free from the cares and turmoils of a busy
world, than any which they have subsequently enjoyed.
The introductory part of the pantomime at this house is
founded on the heathen mythology of the differences
of Vulcan and Venus, who, as ancient writings in-
form us, were for ever at variance ; who or what-
ever Vulcan befriended, his wife opposed ; and Venus,
per contra, was invariably thwarted in her wishes
by her lord and master ; and, as the ancient writers
of fables assert, carried their spleen so far to-
wards each other, that they condescended to espouse the
cause of even rustic mortals ; so that Venus, for the
kindness shewn to her favourite bird, the dove, by a
village youth named Cuddle, the goddess vouchsafed
him her protection against the machinations of a wealthy
rival in his affection for the maid, whose heart Cupid's
dart had caused to bunt with equal passion. Vulcan, SS
cross his wife, befriended Hobnail, the apprentice or
Clout the blacksmith, whom he transforms into the like-
ness of a sparrow, so to effect the destruction of the
lover's favourite bird, she robin. Thus, by theunited
aids of the opposing deities, the programme of the pan-
tomime at this house this year is founded on the nursery
tale of " Who killed Cock Robin ?' Here the business
of the pantomime begins, and the lovers are followed
through a series of difficulties, until the superior power of
Venus enables her to effect an union between the lovers.
Amongst the tricks worthy of particular notice that in
the ninth scene, where the Clown, who has been
guilty' of a theft, lays himself down on the top of one
of the old-fashioned ru.eting-places for ticket porters'
loads, in order the better to make another grab,
when he is blown up, and on the dispersion of the smoke
be is seen affixed by the hands and feet to the outside of
a house, is the most effective. The funeral procession of
Cock Robin elicited great laughter, as did the expert
manner in which the bull tolled the bell. A row in
Covent-garden Market with the Charlie:, who in-
stantaneously are transmogrified into the new police,
die met with its reward. But that which excited the
mestrisibility was the fifteenth ecene, where the beholder
'sees tie Thames, with several steam-boats and ves-
sels admit. An elephant is then introduced, who
after baying drank a large potion of rum-punch, ex-
a desire to lave his mouth. His attendant'
Lll.l.Blead him to the Thames, when in a very short time
yea will perceive that the decrease in the quantity of
water is such as to sink the ships, and in the course of a
Minute or two the bed of 'the river presents itself to the
view; with all its finny occupants jumping about se
*Gult out of their element. The picture gallery, and
the exhibition of the Fire-eater, were well done.
It is scarcely necessary to add, that the house was a
per, and that the audience separated in perfect good
humour.
ADELPUL
MISSrI. NATI; swig and YAT Ls have not allowed tbe
traction of their truly wonderful Elephant to interfere With

*s.

their Christmas arrangemenb. A new
teatime was produced at this Theatre
the pen of BUCKSTONZ, under the title .
ton's Needle. Notwithstanding the usual
upeti* the piece in which the celebrated
duced, thit. Managers have not allowed
to abate their zeal on behalf of their
very excellent Pantomime has been
an attention to scenic effect and incident,
necessary, when we consider the vast
been expended upon the Elephant of Siam.
heroine appeared to be the only attraction
Her tricks, or rather acting, almost threw
gentry into convulsions ef laughter;
anything of the kind before in Engleid.
elisirdelight and admiration by thewarmest
et applause. The pentomime,without going
Wry of its details, was sufficiently interesting
announcement of its repetition with very -
The tricks woe all good.
COBURG
Davi DG E entered the fists against
with great spirit. In addition to the •
a comic pantomime. a transatlantic nit
duced, under the title of the Banks of
piece is founded upon a tale in a recent
" Chelsea Pensioner," and depicts
the extraordinary incidents which .
American war. The principal characters
to Messrs. COBILAN, HUNTLEY, f
DG E, CoN QV EST, and SLou au •
SURREY. .
The young holiday-folks on the
water were conside.ubly diverted' by
brought out at this Theatre on Saturday,
production of Messrs. Buc STUN E and
pantomime is named, A. Alphaber
phabet, and is taken from the old
apple-pie, B. bit it, C. cut it, &c.
with an humense number of cooks nia
apple-pie. The Bower of Barley-sugar
was extremely cleverly got up, and •
applause. The whole p tntomitue is
managers, and was gone through with
performers. Mademiselle Rost
danced a pas scut with much taste
OLYMPIC.
The little Theatre in Wych-street
hand with its larger competitors, "
velty for the epteitaiument of those
holiday-folks, did gre t credit to
WILD, to whom the management
confided since the opening of the
Star is a pantomime of more than ,
to originality ; it is full of fun, splendour,
kicks, tumbles, and hair breadth escapee.
consisted of a series of views, painted in I
proved that Messrs. Ho L LOO Art and Mil
are no novices in the art of producing
Ow scene, the Palace of the King.
the Golden Mountains, received v
In a scene representing Vauxhall
sight, a Miss CLARKE danced on
great ability and ease. There was
sitßrltt, who performed some astonishing
&c. TM house was crowded '
bag before the rising of the curtain,
the entertainments appeared to give ".
the audience.
PAVILTON.
The proprietors of this Theatre presented the at.di-
tme at the East End with a Christmas Pantomime.
galled Mother Carey's Chickens, or Harhquin and
the Enchanted Cape ; and certainly if, the 11111t4.1uti
applause with which the various Lcenes, trick,
hats were received,- be a proof that their efforts ue:o
successful, they may fairly reckon on each 14 Lt v.,
have full audiences. The piece opens with a vessel in
a storm off the Cape of Good Hope, followed by the
sailor's terror (Mother Carey's Chickens;) all hauls
am lost, and the scene suddenly transforms itself jut./
the subterrane mansion of Mother Carey, who calls forth
the victims of the recent storm, in one of whom she dis-
covers her son ( Paddy), who is claimed by the Flyihy
Dutchman ; a quayrel ensues, and eventually she mounts
a dolphin, accompanied by Paddy, and takes an acrid
voyage to Ireland, (of which country Mr. Put Lit rs ta.t
given two excellent views, both in Dublin); there they
meet with Duck-legged lary, who, with many other
►
of the Emerald lode, subsequently becon.e the leading
characters of the piece.

Mrs. Barnard returned ten per cent. to her tenants at
Messinghint, at her audit last week.
Several accounts of the arrest of the Solicitor-Gcne-
ral and Sir C. Wetherell have been given in the T.ub.ic
papers and of their subsequently giving bail to kee?
the peace ; but it has not been stated than any actual
challenge was given by either of the parties. We un-
derstand, front good authority, that the Solicitor-Ge-
neral did send a challenge to Sir Charles Wetherell
which was accepted, and two gentlemen were requested
to set:le the necessary preliminaries ; but, as the ma-
ga' urates interposed, and prevented the chance cf a rim
Solicitor-General being appointed, or the loss a one of
the leaders of the Tories in the House of Con.nu.na, the
whole affair was referred to two gentlemen c.t the liar,
who decided that an apology was due from Sir ('barley 1..
the Solicitor-General. The decision of those gcutleru-it
was immediately acted upon by the former, and the .ff.ir
terminated amicably —Court Journal.

CORN—EXCHANGE, MARK—LANK, Dac. 22.
The severity of the frost having completely stopped the !naviga-
tion, we were at a stand -still this mendsg, and prices must be
nominally quoted u so Woodsy.
Wheat. Kent & Rows •MS 734 Pees, Grey • See 7.44
Suffolk. . 60e 72s Brans, Small . 34s 364
Norfolk • 40a 450 Tick Sas 35.
Rye • . 30e Hs Oats, PQM.* Us 2444
Barley,oloos.3osNew,32s 54s Poland . 114 s gas
Mak . 54,605 Feed . ISt 114,
Peas, Wlike• . . 32s Iles Floor,per ma. ISs6O s
Boilers . Ms NU Rapeseed SU. 2411. par It%t.
INFORTATIOWS LAIR WM.
lA4 Outs
Kitt racers •
Beans, English
Ditto, Foreign
Do. id&

Wheat, English, tiostien 2.236
Do. Foreign . . 1,275
Irish Ditto . . .
Batley, British . 3,625
Foreign 460

6,705

52
I ,91::

. M. 1.....

Do. . .
Irish • .
Malt, English . . 1.417
English Oats . 11.113
Foreign Ditto . . 560 I
SMITHFIELD I
CAM' AT
MAN..
Sbeep sod Lambe IS 520 I
4. Od to 4s 6.1
Mutt.' 45 4d 4, i,l
Limb ..... 0. Od Os Od I
Hay per load, AS 3.. so A 4 10.. ('bee, .t 3 ISi. to £5 3..
Straw AI 130. to N.
COAL MARKET—Taw Day.
The arrivals d Sendelbod and Newcastle Coal has been small
since Wednesday lit, wsly 111 ships baying arrived ; bat owing to
the norther kft en hand, there was an keens, *apply at matk•t
to-day. Mt Coal Exchange woe well attended by bayou.
11* arrived der* the siontb..llll
Ent Weaned BO& M 401. ad.
Other own
dipel Market ............ OSA.

Peso. itaslish • SS:
Ditto neap
•
Eseids FINN. sacks . 4 791
Americas Woo. brl..
MARKET. Dse. I.
11117.
naves
„
I rir .......... 140
IVali • ...... ..4. 04 le 5T 0.1
Pork Ss 04 as 04

splendid comic Pao- - •
on Saturday, from
•
tie of Gammer Gar-
sual bustle attendant
oil Elephant is intro-
ed that circumstance
it holiday folks. A
produce& and with
:idant, perfectly un-
it outlay which has
Siam. Indeed, the
ction of the evening.
threw the Christmas
they had never seen
gland, and testified
rmest demonstrations
going intoa long his-
'tweeting to bear the
erygeneal applause.
oinst his competitma
le usual attraction of •
!nolo-drama was pro-
of the Hudson. This
mot work called the
in glowing, colours
occurred during the
meters were assigned
Gomaasat., DA-
-
s Survey side of the
• the new panto:ilium
inlay. It u the joint
and IrouNGE. The
4, or Harlequin Al-
i legend, A. was an
c. The scene oplaa
making an enormovs
ugar in the third seems
received very gee tt
is very creditable to t? .n
rith great spirit by ►l.a
,tElt, sa Columhihr,
sand graze.
treet was not behin.l-
The se!ection of no-
w laughing mortals, tl.o
the judgment of M:•.
of this house has been
e season. The Pub...r
ephemeral pretension
splendour, eccentricity,
escapes. The scenery . s
inted in a manner which
and MILES, the arti4.,
.ducing theatrical effect.
ing, and the Summit of
i very warm applause.
call Gardens on a ga..t
on the slack wire with
was also Signor SPEL-
istonishing feats of ba-
!waded to an overflow
attain, and the whole of
ve the highest delight to