The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-12-27 00:00:00

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THEATRES.

Pliefi,v-Lais Temarite.—Tne •liordsy entertainments
iors.§ as usual at this house last night; mills the repreatn-
tOils of the tragedy of George Bermes/I, alter wls,:h was
predmesd a new Comte. Pantomime, called by the sublime
and mystical tit:* of Got and Magog ; or, Harlequin Ahti-
;Nary. A name so Intiosteli ilsociated with the glories of
Guildhall and the Mayoralty, of course, produced an over- i
doyen, attendant., of the industrious youth, who look to
civic honours with fond anticipation. The superintendence
of those two terrific champions of the elty, was nut nes*
'elens to the pantomime over which they presided. The
pipes was for some lime releiveil with the good humour
which characterises a Christmas audience, but the spirit of
disapprobation soon manifeited itself In a manner that
could not be misunderstood. The pantomime wsi so heavily
manufactured, for the most part, that the good spirits which
the audience brought along with them, rapidly began to eva-
porate, but they were now an.l then restored to a pleasant
feeling by some display of scenery, which was interesting
and attractive. The tricks, however, were so poorly con-
trived and so clumsily executed that in many 'esteem.,
there was a complete failure of effect, and in several the
mischances of the machinery produced the usual expres-
sions of disappointment. Wa do not, therefore, enter into
any description of the piece, which called forth in the lest
scene the loudest exclamations of distaste. There was,
however, some applause to the conclusion, but it was quite
overwhelmed by the cries of " Of ! Off I" which resounded
through the house just before the failing of the curtain.—
Mr. RIDGWAT:`1111110 played Harlequin, tame forward to
announce the piece for repetition, which he did, after silence
was with difficulty prochead. The announcemeet was an-
swered by cries of " No: Not" mingled with some *p-
elmets. It is but justice to say, that the performers exert-
ed themselves to the utmost throughout, and that their ef-
forts occasionally excited a kindlier sentiment towards a
production which no Meat or address could long sustain.
With the exception, Indeed, of the scenery, some of which
was very line, sad e few comic songs, with some dashes of
ellbetlyeelvicity„ it was perfectly tiresome, being destitute
not only of the broad humour of the most eccentric Panto-
mime, but having neither that quickness of evolution in the
tricky, or skilful application of machinery, which could be
'substituted fur originality, and vigour of action and de-
sign. .
COVINT-GAIMI4 TIMATIIII.—Last night, after the Tea.
gedy of Douglas, a new Pantomime was produced, entitled
Harlequin and the Ogress ; or, the Sleeping Deady of the
Wood. The Introductory part represented the celebrated
fairy tale In a very splendid manner, and when the trans-
formations took places le whlehHarlequis,Colustbise, and
their clumsy persecutors originate, a series of tricks, en-
ebastimette, ativenteree, and accidents commenced, which
proceeded with greet rapidity, dexterity, and humour, to
the final triumph of the hero and heroine. It would be ridi-
culous to labour eat a description of the various occur-
rences exhibited to ter eyet we shall therefore say no more,
Mao that they aiorded Mr. ffiettiatot, senior, a good scope
for his broad hamoar—Mr. Gatuatet, junior, a suecient
oppertualty for the display of these feats of activity in
which be excels. and ell the performers strong reason to be
eatielled with their respective undertakings. The scenery
is the .at splendid that we remember to hove witnessed
eves at this Theatre for many years. Among the most re-
seirkelpieble s moviag Panoramic View of the Royal go-
besliatioll fbr Soothed, and the'progrpsi of the Royal Party
tolls Wide, fa that coldly. ' ili krona/en Clew of Water:
100-bvidge, sad the Palace of the Fairy Blue Hell, are also
veryesegolfleset I bet it le sliettless to dwell rime scenes
we'll would inns fee letweetsit. The ekaegus were ewe- i
'dieted with mush precision, sad the tricks were executed '
with such facility, that not '. single failure took place
through the night ; in fact. the whole had more the appear-
ance of a law practised exhibition, In which the performers
and treshanists were rendered perfect by experience, thee,
of a wow overheard, laying its first claim to approhatioe.
It eru received with shouts of applause from the beginning
to this sad, and possessing all the materials calcutatml to
reprint such performances attractive, we mey confidently
predict a successful run in its favour. The' house was
crowded to excess.
AIIILTNI TIIIIATRIL—After the performance Of the well
keel's bundle of Tout asdJerrg, at this theatre last eight,
a new Male pantomime, intitied Harlequin's Huas.was pre- i
'anted to • fall hosts. It consisted of a series of views of
Rakers', tailors', amd barbers' shops. including an exhlhi..
tloa of waiter Mermaid, and of the Brixton Tread-mill.'
Most of tbe scenery was new, and does credit to the
artists. The pipes was tedious, though occasionally relieved
by NM, sprightly music and dancing.
WesT Lumley TUEATIC—A new entertainment ealled
The LOW Stake was presented at this little Theatre last
sleet. The story is founded upon the old popery igloo( •
great Klee Wee deeply into love with an intsginary being,
who finding all human means of obtaining 'the object of his
desires fail, is driven to the expedient of ealling in super-
human aid. He consults a magician, who requires, et the
ries eltis aid, that the Prince shall present him with a
bride of uttionsisbed wily; but to assist !skein his search
after eisobjeet so difficult to be found, he supplies him with
a mirror. which has the magic power of making any face
look Befouled where the Mind was not of the purest cast,—
Tbe Prince, having without success. applied this ordeal to
Melodies of his own country. visits Bagdad in the same
pursuit, bet with' no better 'fortune. At length, In the
detester of one of his offieers, whose obscure. condi-
dee had for a long time prevented her being exposeJ
to this difficult test, be Inds seen a woman is the Alegi-
etas petaled out to him, and the natural result is. that
all her troubles end In his being united to this übseure fair.
Tbe Aar. whose daughter the Sultan thus espoused,
thrust:Mt to be au Irishman, the archness of whose blunders
gave considerable interest to the piece. The whole con-
eieded with the descent ofthe Geniis in • cloud of sulphur.
The parte were well performed. and the representation
wanted nothing of that glare and hustle so necessary to a
behalf motertainment. Some of the tricks too were
hisfrown. and the machinery good.
Sopaav Tara-roc—At this theatre last sight there was
Me paateesime, bet there was an exhibition, which was •
solbetleate for It. It was the story of Alassaniello dram-
theall—adorned with romantic scenery, end interspersed
with ambling horses, treachery, end mortal combats. As a
sgeetaele It might vie with the last dramatic Cbreerstfort,
and as a tragedy it was sufficiently deep. The story, Is of
itself always interesting, however fannliar It maybe to the
stied. The chief merit. however, of the exhibition' lies with
the printer, width:. beautify] stud of horses. Of the parts
owe of lb. a
ttoe_clae,ndthatht
eofcoMnroluudnitngVoenseavoinfs—thrhe
toe
nrizterreclioonf,
slige most admired : but for want of sefficient light on
the stage, and occasionally from a prodigious quantity of
smoke enveloping the scene, It is difficult for the spectators
to bars a fall sad pleasant view of what takes place on the
stage. A perpetual fusillade was kept op !utmost during the
last scene. The musketry men should be by all means put
on a reduced provision of powder.
Comte T n .--At this Theatre the tragic history of
George Barnwell was represented in the form of a Melo-
drama. As soon as the London Apprentice Itrul termi..hted
his career at Tyburn, Torn and Jerre commenced their ee-
centricities in France, and the merriment of the andimice
continued unabated. The entertainments of the evening
concluded with • new Comic ?entombs... under the tine of
The Mermaid ; or, Harlequin Odd Fish. Oroups of Tri-
tons, Nerieds, and Mermaids, glittered for a while upon the
stage; an amourous Triton declared his passion for the most
t attractiveio ns. the humours. tthe
Mermaids,
eorfmtah ied st; earl' eilq ui aftern :l d ept ter used
:nu:l:nisei
nneterera.b
appeared
rlrs
The"
scenery was splendid; many of the mechenical contri-
vanees were ingenious, and the whole
to give unbounded satisfaction.