The New York herald., 1851-09-30
FOREIGN Music and the Drama.

Foreign Music and the Drama.
Her Majesty's Theatre in London has closed for
the season. For the last two or three weeks the
prices of admission were reduced apparently on the
New York plan-but the press express fear that
such reductions will have no beneficial effect.
The Ba.eman children are performing to large,
mixed audiences. at the ST. James's, London, but
the critics do not approve Of these precocious dis
plays of imitation. Still, they repre- that pub
Lie curiosity is very much excited to witness the per-
formances.
At Sadler's Wells, Shakspeare's "Timon Of
Athens" which has not been perfor med in London,
since lsl6, has been brought out with great care
Mr.. Phelps as Timon.
Madame Sontag sang at concert at Manchester
on Wednesday also Signor Tagliadco; they were
most enthusiastically applauded.
At the Adelphia Theatre, Madame Celeste has
appeared in new play, it being the last one In
which she would perform, prior to her departure to
the United States. The London Times thus speaks
Of IL =
who was the Man in the Iron Mask y is a
question which for variety of solutions may vie with
Letters while in the power of awakening The SYM
pathies Of the former question has advantage
over the latter inas much rs romantic interest is
diused over the masked prisoner which does not be-
long to the veiled politician. The known facts of
thu case-that is the man in the masks case-are
something to this effect ;-I1 1864 1879 (for dates
difer) man Of noble figure was brought to the
Chateau Pignerol, of which St. M srs was governor;
eat without removing II; and orders were given 70
kill him If he should attempt TO take IL off. He
waited on by the Governor himself, who accompa-
MED him when, in l69S be was moved to the Bss
tile. His dep p,rtment and habits bespoke person
Of superior education, and he was always treated
with Difference. The occupations Of reading and
playing on the guitar seemed t. content his mind,
and he was never heard to complain Of his situation
He died In l703, after few days illness, and his
room was rgidly searched, lest he mil ght have left
any evidence as TO his real rank and character.
Such are the main facts. Conjectures who the
"Man in the Iron Mask" actually was are innumer-
able, the investigation being rendered especially
difficult by the circumstance, that man Of imp,r-
tance was missed in Europe at time Of tho Masks
Duke Of Monmouth, ictimled BY Jesuts, have sue
cessively become the blocks upon which ingenious
theorists have elapsed their masks, the English
duke beirg allowed to retain his head upon his
shoulders FOR the express benefit Of his patron.
Others allow n natural son Of Louis XIV. and La
Valliere to sovd the mysteryj while moro curious
explanation, stron gly supported, and honored with
the adhesion Of Voltaire, makes the "Man in the
Mack" irregular son OF Anne OF Austria, wife to
Louis XIII and consequently brother, after some
fashion, to the " 5rand Monsrque."
But Of all the bold unriddlers, the boliest Is the
author Of the "Queens Secret" produced at the
Adelpbi last night, OF rather the author Of the
French OPERA Of which IL is m adaptation, nsiaus
the music. Here the question about the Man in
the Max Is treated like q quadratic equation, and
furnished with two svers; there rs mask, but
two men are made to wear II The explanation
that the ysterous being Is the son of Anne Of Aus
iria IL adopted; even the peculiar theory that he Is
the elder twin TO Louis NV. bat vondrousy is the
exIlaL alton modified
The piece, as it stands, has some Of the defects
which naturally pertain to a drama built iibre
10. Here and there a situation falls fiat, and n
scene seems needltssiy elongated. But these weak
points more than counter balanced by the strik
ing situation when Rolani is captured after the
inteiyiew with his mother, and the ingenuity of the
de"oa'mont: With Madame Celeste as Roland 70.
presenting by look and gesture ths quiet despair Of
m an tor whom all hope Is extinguisbed, with Me.
Webster as the chevslier partly rufisn, partly
rO1e but Pa, heiic under the influence Of contriton,
and with Miss WoOlgar ss the Countess, oIe Of
tbose French ladies' Of the old school who uni ed
seriousness ,f purpose wish laughing exterior. the
pic &c has ,veiy requisite 60 insure success though
q little cuitsiment towards the beginning may be
suggested.
pause, Mr.. Webster, in answer to repeated calf,
sisted that The piece would be repested every even
mg till the departure OF Madame Celeste for Ame-
rca. The farewell performances Of this lady are TO
continue till Saturday week. when she will Tor some
months leave theatre, to the unvarying popularity
Of which she has contributed by her histrionic Ia
lent, While. as manager. she has displayed the
rare merit Of conducting establish ment for eight
years withou. any recourse to the s;ar system.
Mr.. and Miss vardenhof have been performing
at sheffield in Vrgipius, Macbeth and the last new
play that was produced st Drury Lane, entitle 4
"lpgomsr."
~ EdiDburg, MIR. Charles Pitt, the popular
trteic actor, has arrived from Amer where he
has betnperforming for fsur years pat. and 10 nov
playing several Of his most admired characters to
Ednburg audiences.
The grand ballet Of the Spirit Of Air " 10 In
ssive preparation, and will speedily be produced ct
the Grecisn Saloon.
The Theatre Royal, Bristol, has opened fn II.
mited period, at half prices. Messrs Gomersal and
Harcourt Blsrd, with the Mesdsaes Cuthber and
Tyrsr ere the leading performers.
Mice Glynn has commenced Shsksperean read
ings in Loudon With unequivccal success"
A farce, founded on the French sne ,dcts Of the
barber sbo suit HE customers throae. and disposed
OF the 20 Die an next door, has been produced ct
the Olympic, London. IL is entitled "Tve Eaten
nv Frispa." aud sess with the terrors Of Mr.. Je-
Iytop, (Mr Ccmptcn,) lodger at . meat pie shop
in Whitechspel, Who detects st dinner buttor,
marked \. ID, in his pie. Forthwith, he imagines
ell the horrors related Of the French barber. an
sccoupt Of whom he had recently read. Az the eli.
msx, however, q fhisperplesity, his friend, "fra-
ssilal q. Eoxat, asyeass, and an explana.isp Il