The New York herald., 1878-02-27

Rosas company during the previous season. II was
confidently expected that tho next time he came
10 London he would introduce "Lohengrlh. !.
and the "Naster Singers OF Nuremberg"
in English dress 10 the London public, nnd
that, In fact. the costumes anu appointments icr
the iormer opera actually prepared. IL is, be-
heve, fact that the performances OF the "Dutch-
man. which attracted such immense houses hoth 10
London and the provinces. injured the receipts whep
tho wishy ywashy, hackneyed. old ballad operas were
gwen and thai the public once thoroughly aroused TO
tho appreciation Of work Of intense artistic pAtbos
refused TO be any longer captivsted by the common.
place melodies and tnterpolated dialogue OF
.Mar,tana" and the "Bohcm,an Girl" Arist though
he Mr. Rosa ia also manager, aud as he cannon run
Tho "Dutchman'' without two companies ne 's
Obliged 10 consider his pocket as well as MS arts'o
Impulses.
Az AMATEUR ASroxixx
But tho theatrical event OF the week has teen TIE
production OF pan.omime IN winch inc rI'mc'p", y.
male roles werc nied by amateurs well known J"
London society. ana tho preparations Tor which have
much exercised the fashionable and literary world o'
lae. The pan tomIme was specially written Tor she oc
casion by Messrs Rocco, Beckett, Burnauo ana
Byron, VINO each contributed a sccne The piece was
called ''rho Forty Thieves" aud consisted OF inc
usual burIesque opening, followed by mar, ,eQuinado
In which Mr.. Gilbert, The dramatic author, was the
harlequin; AR. Yardoy, famous cr,ekeIsr' mo rno
Glow o, and Mr. I. Knox Holmes the pauidloon Tne
Hon A. s. Wortiey was TO have been clown. put an al.
tack Of measles having unfortunately deprived MN o.
ocuar powers necessary Tor that exalted r0tc no
content 10 figure as trumpetcr Loru ae
Clifford enacted swell, aud Captain Colviie oi tne
Guards, policeman. The regular pantomme busi.
Of brcakd0wns, red hot pokcrs, butler sidcs anu
jumping through clocks and shop windows we're sue
cessiuy gone through, and some rosliy comic sliua
tIons were supported with great velness anu d,hunor
A gentleman, admirably made up as Mr. Giadstonc
figured, IN hand, one oil tho ''Iorty thicvSs;
aud Mr.. Leslie Ward who duplicated INC conv,c. DON
son. turned his artisc powers 10 account Wy drawing
ik oil Lord Bcaconsled aud Mr. Gladstone with
chalk ON u blackboard. The features OF "Dizzy were
greeted with cheers, while those oil Gladstone wcrc
satuted with groans and hisses. You may think from
TINS that the theatre crowded with ignorant aud
vulgar roughs. Not so II was highly distinguished
aud,ence that was present; "society was there and
as no uch az ElO0 was paid Tor box. The Prince and
rrncess oi Wales. with three OF their children, were
present at she performances.
DRuRY.
The most interesting item Of theatre gossip Is the
auuouncement that Mrs Grove (Miss ''Lcah" Bate.
maui has taken Drury Lane Theatre IRON hs expira-
ton of the present lease. Thu question s. What will
she do with it, make Il u real national theatre OF
merely the apotheoss OF Mr lrvingy London says
..Whatcver II is do hope Mr. Irving will not keeT
Shakespeare all TO himself but will be artist enough ie
riyc US Saivni every year. We near that Mrs Grove
backed by lady with mIllions-a lady VINO has
always shown WISE and liberal interest IN dramatic
art tho lazy under whose patronage Mr. Fcchicr (ot
why did lie leave us--we shall never look upon mi
ike again) was introduced to discriminating Engst
AUDIENCE ~