The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

AGENTS FOR LIVERPOOL:

Messrs. J. P. PLATT and CO No. 53, Castle-street.
Mr. R. ANGUS No. 6. Cook-street.

THE LANCASHIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY.

CAPITAL, TWO MILLIONS.

OFFICE-26, Market-street, Manchester.
LONDON OFFICE-2, King-street, Cheapside.
LIVERPOOL OFFICE-3, High-street,&s, Exchange-street East.
GLASGOW OFFICES-118, Ingram-street. and
4, Hanover-street.
GREENOCK OFFICE—The Mansion•house.

DIRECTORS AT LIVERPOOL.
CHAIRMAN—Eyre Evans. Esq.
Benjamin Darbyshire, Esq. W. F. Hunter, Esq.
Thomas Fry, Esq. Frederick Lyon, Esq.
George Glen, Esq. Daniel Powell, Esq.
Charles Holland. Esq. I James Smith, Esq.
RESIDENT SECRETARY—John Semple, Esq.

THE LIVERPOOL SThNDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.

stantial patronage from hosts of eager purchasers. Having
dwelt so long on preparations for corporeal feasting, turn
we now to the amusements, and in , doing so let us linger
with THE PANTOMIMES.
What scenes of juvenile delight—what moments of un-
sophisticated enjoyment—and what explosions of unfeigned
merriment are conjured up by -those two magic words,
" The Pantomimes !" The sparkling glories of the Fairy's
Cave; the fantastic woes of Columbine; the magic pos-
tures of Harlequin: the hobbling malevolence of
Pantaloon ' • and the gambols, broad-grins, cachinnatory
roars, and ready mischief,of the Clown, are all passed in
dazzling review before the excited imagination. The first
night of the Pantomimes, then, is really a great one,
embracing, as a matter of course, speculations as to the
certainty of aim with which the mimes will " shoot folly
as it flies ;" conjectures as to the merry man's nether gar-
ments, and whether they will be most effective in the
concealment of juvenile grunters, or Cochin China bipeds ;
whether he shall staff them with vagrant shawls or erratic
chapeaux, and whether his admixture of fun and frolic
shall be caustic or mild. At the three theatres we have
three Pantomimes : the Butterfly's Ball being the ground.
work for that at the Theatre Royal • the Park Theatre
lessee has chosen " Ormshead" as the scene of his pan-
tomimic mirth ; and he of the Adelphi brings, " Sinbad"
once more upon the stage.
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, " The Butterfly's Ball; or,
the Grasshopper's Feast," is, in its introductory part, the
production of Mr. Buckstene. The scene is laid in those
pleasant places to which butterflies and grasshoppers de-
light to resort ; and the plot is founded on that most
popular of nursery poems, The Butterfly's Ball and the
Grasshopper's Feast. The histrionic personages of the
drama derive their characters principally from the world
of entomology ; and, as beauty predominates where nature
is most lavish of her gifts, the prelude to the " tricks"
is exempt from repulsive features, but abounds in such
brilliant guests as usually grace a " butterfly's ball."
Where botany is most attractive, there, also, alas ! are
to be found plants of the most poisonous nature ; and the
curtain, on this occasion, rises on " Nightshade Nook,"
tenanted by the hag Belladonna. The witch thus
rejoices :
Oh, joyful sight, to see my rank plants growing,
To see my hellebore and nightshade blowing,
To see my deadly herbs so strong, and thriving;
Because to poison all mankind I'm striving ;
While to dispel the darkness of the night, •
The glow-worms lend thena their phosphoric light.
A wasp, crossed in love, appears :
Belladonna (starting).—Who's there?
The IVa.v.—'Tis I, the Wasp, who seeks your aid.
Wave you some deadly poison ready made ?
Blue.—l have •, but for what purpose do you seek it ?
The Wasp.—Revenge and, with your help, I mean to
wreak it 1
Bella.—Revenge on whom ?
The Wasp.—The Lady Silverwings,
Who scorns my suit ; my proffered honey flings
Back in my face, when 1, to win her smiles,
Have carried bags of it for many miles.
In vain I tried alt lover's arts to win her,—
Bought her bJuquets, invited her to dinner;
But with my passion site has only played,
Or with indifference my pains repaid.
Now to be married I have heard she's going!
Bella.—To whom?
The Wasp.—A long-legg'd fellow, hardly worth the knowing:
A grasshopper—a wretch without a shilling,
Except his chirruping is mighty killing.
To-night the lady gives a fancy ball—
Flies, vermin, insects, she's invited all.
The grasshooper intends to stand the feast,
Which is to cost a hunched pounds at least;
But as he hasn't got a hundred pence,
Those who supply it can have little sense,
Unless the lady, in her lofty purity,
Passes her word, or gives them some security.
Bella.—Women will often do these foolish things.
Wasp.—But, to crown all, the Lady Silverwings,
As if to mock my painful situation,
Hds sent to me a card of invitation.
Bella.—And will you go ?
Wasp.—l will, if you will but supply me
With something sery deadly to keep by me :
I know the kitchen where the supper's cooking,
lu at its window shortly I'll be looking ;
And while the cooks are busy with each dish,
I'll poison all the soup—the joints—the fish.
Beta.-1 like your plan—here take this crimson phial ;
To test its power give it but a trial
On any creature you may chance to meet,—
Dead in a moment he'll be at your feet.
Wasp.—Good Bellad,nna, take this bag of honey,
With us, you know, it's quite as good as money.
Away despair—l'll now be gay and hearty,
Have my revenge, and poison all the party.
.1 circle of glowworm light expands : Brightray, the Genius
of the Spring, appears : Belladonna and the Wasp star tin
astonishment.
Brightray.—Base creatures, I have overheard your plot ;
But this economy you've quite f rgot—
That nature, though some poison may provide,
Has still for all an antidote supplied.
When morning breaks my pleasant task shall be
To find them and your disappointment tee.
For know vou not the Genius of the Spring
Gives to the Butterfly its colour'd wing,
Its sunny morn, and happy sunny hour ?
And I'll protect her from your hateful power.
Belladonna.—Genius, your interference I defy ;
Wasp, lose no time, but on your errand fly.
Be watchful ever—let no chance evade you,
For, though unseen, my influence shall aid you.
Belladonna and the Wasp disappear.
Brightray.—The morning breaks, the opening flower invites
The harmless Butterfly to her delights.
Now for sweet Silverwings—l will befriend her,
And from the Wasp and all his schemes defendher.

Butterflies are partial to flowers, and the scene-painter,
Mr. Dearlove, has produced for them a garden which
nothing but beauty and butterflies should inhabit ; it is a
scene of surpassing loveliness ; alas ! that such scenes are
only found on the stage. Every creature has its enemy,
and the plague of households and butterflies are boys, not
naughty boys for there are none such out of—school, but
thoughtless lads, and in this garden of roses they rush in
dozens seeking-to catch the butterflies. Stage butterflies,
however, are not *many caught ; and when the pursuit is
at its height, Brightray appears and thus addresses the
truants :
Forbear, dear thoughtless boys, and do not try
To catch and harm the happy butterfly.
You may through many a rosy summer live—
Nature but one to butterflies will give.
Let them enjoy that one, and leave them free
To share the flowers with the busy bee,
You will, I'm sure, your wanton sport give o'er;
And if you promise to do so no more,
With me this evening you shall each one haste
To the Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast.
In the meantime the enemy is maturing his plot.
The Wasp.—lts famous poison: For I've killed already
A frog, a cow, two ponies, and a neddy ;
So, if with ease I can knock down a beast,
I'll kill a thousand insects at the least •
While, as for Silverwings—oh, woe betide her!
Th., grass divides, and shows a leafless hawthorn bush, with
the spider in his web.
Who's there ?—My solitary friend the Spider.
The Spider comes out of his web, and approaches the Wasp.
The Spider.—Ah, how d'ye do 1 my roving honey stealer.
Where have you been so long? Tip us your feeler:
The Wasp.—l've got some poison.
The Spider.—Ah, that's very proper.
Who do you want to do for?
The Wasp.—That grasshopper.
The Spider.—l hate that chap ;—to catch him were no good :
To suck him useless, for he's got no blood.
The Wasp.—Ah, here he comes, his Silverwings to meet.
Let's watch them both.
The Spder.—Walk in to my retreat.
The Wasp.—You're very kind; I'd rather lurk close by.
I don't much like your web, as I'm a fly. [grieves
The Spider.—You doubt my friendship !—Your suspicion
Me very much.—There's honour amongst thieves.
The great business of cooking, like the motion of the
planets, never ceases ; and Lady Silverleings' kitchen
gives busy note of preparation for the ball.
Silverwings—Now, my good cooks, have everything all ready—
We sup at eight—so keep yourselves quite stew:47.
Let the boiled cabbaze, for my friend the snail,
Be a side-dish—some bottled dew, for ale,
l'ut on a sideboard. Don't forget the nuts
For Signor Squirrel, and some nice rich cuts
Of well-fed lob-worm for my friend the mole,
Who promises, to-night, to leave his hole
And join our party. Also get a leetle
Nice biscuit toasted for our friend the large black beetle;
An(l honey for the bees and butterflies—
And with stewed duckweed Master Frog surprise.
The emmet will require something nice,
And so be sure to boil a little rice.
For Mrs. Dormouse—place some cheese beside her,
And grill a bluebottle for Mr. Spider.
Rose-leaves distill'd shall be our pleasant nappy ;
And that, with tl e! (10 the Grasshopper), shall make me
truly happy.
The result of the great preparation is a procession to
the bower of butterflies ; and in rank and fine order "
walk the trumpeter Gadfly, the Dragonfly, and the nume-
rous heads of families who tenant the meadows. The table
is a mushroom ; but, having done duty, it disappears, and
there is a ballet by butterflies. In the midst of the pas-
time the hag Belladonna appears, and speedily stupifies the
butterflies by a fall of snow ; but, let innocence and beauty
triumph ! Brightray appears, restores summer to the
scene, and sends Columbine, Harlequin, Clown, and
Pantaloon on their mazy travels, in the course of which
they unravel all quips and quiddities, by which the four
generally render their course remarkable, finishing up in
the bower of Brightray.
AT TRH ROYAL PARK THEATRE—" Ormshead the
Great, or Harlequin and Jenny Jones, and the Fair Flower
of Snowdon " is the title of an interesting and brilliant
pantomime, and the story touchingly depicts the per-
secutions and enduring constancy of Jenny Jones and her
faithful lover, Edward Morgan. The opening scene is of
an amusing and extremely original character, introducing
to the " shade" of the author the " ghost" of Joe Miller,
who has stepped from his tomb to complain of the dread-
ful manner in which he is cut up in " pieces."
"The few good things I have said, now are made
By every upstart Joker' stock in trade.'

No more I mean to harbour refuge jokes,
Or give my own for those of other folks."
The author pledges himself to make the world acquainted
with poor Old Joe's grievances, and in return solicits a
good idea for a pantomime—
* * * "II simply want
A merry subject for my Christmas Pant.
In vain I've rummaged alt my Eastern lore
And swallowed Fairy stories by the score."
Joe is disgusted with such a distant taste, and advises the
author to
"Look nearer home—avoid those stupid tales,
And take a turn through Cambria's lovely vales;
Picture the beauty of her rock-boutLi coast,
Her mountain peaks in cloudy grandeur lost.
Amuse the town with one of those blythe tales
Which haunt the memories of the men of Wales."

The idea is approved, and in a twinkling appears scene
first —" The Devil's Bridge," where the demons or "earth-
men" are holding their infernal meeting." Their mys-
tic revels are suspended by the sudden appearance of a
wicked fairy Lushiuna (Mr. Appleby) who has been ejected
from Snowdon for " drunk and disorderly habits," and is
fuming for revenge against Queen Snowdrop (Miss Mar-
" But I'll have vengeance, and henceforth disdain
Mar-
riott)—
i ot )
To serve a Queen who will not stand a drain."
The fair Snowdrop is, however, impregnable to her wicked
malice, so she proceeds to set her wits against the peace of
her protege sweet Jenny Jones. Upon this the plot of
the piece is worked, and King Ormshead, Edward Mor-
gan, and a host of other characters are rendered subser-
vient to the author's pleasure. Scene follows scene in
rapid and exciting succession, and the humorous dia-
logue is agreeably interspersed with a number of clever
songs and parodies. After a series of amusing incident;
the transformation takes place.-31r. Appleby, from the
ThefttakretYalSi being the Clown, Mr. P. Anderson,
Pant Signor Guarrino, Harlequin, and Mad'lle
Rose, Columbine, The Ormsheads are stripped of their
royalty and changed to mountains—