Star.
London, England, 1826-11-03 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

A new piece of the class called a Musical Comic Bur.
tette, was produced at this Theatre last night. It is en-
titled The Barber and his Brothers, and is taken from
the well known story of that " Great Unknown" of the
Eastern world who wrote the Arabian Nights' Enter-
tainments. The loquacious, meddling, and humorous
shaver of the " beards of the faithful," found an effective
representative in Mr. WRENCH. The bustling officioes-
ness and insatiable waggery of the character could not
be better depicted. In the scene with the young mer-
chant, who, on the point of an assignation with the beau-
tiful Maimoun, finds it almost impossible to get his
chin out of the hands of the talkative operator, he was
particularly amusing, and the spirit with which he per-
formed his part at the imaginary banquet with the
Caliph, created unbounded merriment. The amorous
and poetizing tailor felt into the hands of Mr.
JOHN REEVE, and could not have been better dis-
posed of. The tragi-comic expression of his gro-
tesque passion for the miller's wife was delineated in
a rich style of broad humour, and though " his goose"
did not warble its spontaneous effusions with all the
melody of a nightingale, it gave apparently as much
pleasure to his audience as they could possibly derive
from more pretending inspiration. Alnaschar, the
I"builder of castles in the air —a sort of Persian pro-
jector of bubbles—but who, unlike our modern bubble.
blowers, destroys nobody's property bet his own—was
personated by Mr. YATES. He gave the points with
a great deal of vivacity. Mr. TERRY played a
formal, pompous, and avaricious Cadi, who seems
to know the art and mystery of making the adminis-
tration of justice lucrative. Mr. TERRY played it with
great spirit, and did not abate an iota of the mock dignity
and real servility of this Dogberry of Eastern police
establishment. Shakabac, the reprobate, by Mr. T. P.
Coocz, ought to be mentioned with commendation;
his scene in the room with the three blind men was very
entertaining, and he gave a specimen of ingenious
"gymnastics" in eluding the activity of their staves,
that might have excited the envy even of the German
professors of the art in their " New Gymnasium." The
Sultana (Zobeide) was played by Mrs. Bowie, hereto.
fore only known at the Nobility's Concerts, and who
made her first appearance here on this occasion. Her
voice is very clear and well toned, and she managed it,
particularly in the higher notes, with a great Deal of
skill and science. Miss Bonze, as Alaimoun, was modest
and interesting. The scenery and dresses of this piece
were entirely new, and for the most part very attractive.
There was a very pleasing Seaport view ; the Interior
of an Eastern Cemetery, was solemn and picturesque;
and- the Interior of the Seraglio, and the Moonlight
view of the city of Bagdad, were splendid and oriental.
Indeed, the latter was equal in magnificence and effect
to any thing of the sort which we have seen at the
greater theatres. The overture, and the whole of
the music is,composed by Mr. G. H. RODWELL. It has
not the pretension of ambitious science, but its combi-
nations are agreeable, and in harmonious keeping with
the character and transitions of the Piece. There were
some passages of a wild and picturesque character, more
especially while the Ghoule performed its demoniac
rites, that consorted well with scenes of enchantment.
A grand Eastern Ballet, composed by Monsieur Howe,
enlivened the drama very much, and was warmly ap-
plauded. The testimonies of approbation throughout
the whole of the performance were loud and frequent,
when Mr. Teeny announced the Piece for repetition,
The House was from an early part of the evening
crowded to excess.

Mr. KEAN has recovered from his late illness.
Mrs. FITZHERIERT has taken a Mansion in Brock-
street, Bath, with the intention of passing the winter there.
The Second Series of " Tales of the O'Hara Fa-
mily" is in a forward state at the press. These vigorous produc-
tions have been justly designated as " vest Pictures of an unopened
vein of national manners, characterized by as bold etching, and as
fine masses of eking,'" 'score, as were ever produced even by the ex-
quisite burin of the Scottish Rembrandt."
The Furniture and Fixtures, including the marble
chimney-pieces, valuable stoves, cornices, &c. have been entirely
removed from all the rooms in the King's Palace, Pall-mall, except
those of the Library and the King's Wardrobe. They have been
principally. removed to the King's Riding House, which had been
tar some months under preparation for that purpose. The remain-
der has been removed to the King's Palace, St. James's. It is said
that the whole of the furniture, fixtures, &c. are to be removed to
the new Palace now building in St. James's Park, for the future
London residence of his ALCIIISTY, when that building is in a state
sufficiently forward to receive them. It is also understood that the
doors of the State Rooms, as well as various other parts of the in-
terior of the King's Palace in Pall-mall, are to be removed to :he
intended new Palace, when the appropriate parts are prepared for
their reception, Mr. Nam, the architect, having taken the di-
mensions, &c.
_ _ _

Three hundred and ninety-one booksellers met at the
last Easter fair at Leipsic ; and two thousand three hun-
dred and seventy-tour new works, written in German
or in the ancient languages, sufficiently proved the pro-
digious activity with which the sciences are cultivated.
To these must be added, atlasses, romances, dramatic
pieces, musical compositions, lice. making the whole
number amount to 2749.

PORRIDGB ISLAND.--4t is not generally known among
our London Geographers, that the district between St.
Martin's Church on the west, Castle-court on the east,
ChanJos-street on the north, and the Strand on the
south, is called Porridge Island. It is at present inter-
sected by a great number of filthy and extremely nar-
row courts and passages, containing, perhaps, the
densest population of airy space of equal extent in
Westminster. The meditated improvements in this
quarter few will be disposed to censure. The opening
of such a dark and dismal mars to the benefit of light
and air by new streets, must add much to the health
and appearance of Porridge Islaid.