Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-04
The Theatrical Illusions in Thacke rays Novels.

From Longman's Magazine.
 In EVanitv Fairr the allusions to the thea
 tre are few Becky Sharp is the daughter of an "opera girl,' , and appears on the stage of the Charade theatre, at Gaunt House, where
 she personates Clytemnestra, and afterward,
 as ravissante French marquise, all powder
 and patches, sings the song of 1.-The Rose upon my Balcony" which, by the way, per
 tained in truth to Sir George Thrum's opera
 of ''The Brigand's Bride" and had original
 ly been sung by Morgiana Crump, the wife
 of Captain Hooker Walker and the heroine
 of MT. Fitz Boodle's story of 'The Ravens
 wing" Mrs. Rawdon Crawley, it is further
 stated, may have been the Mime. Rebecque
 whose appearance in the opera ot Ia afeo Dame
 BIanche' at Strasburg in the year 1o3O gave
 occasion to furious uproar in the theatre
 there George Osborne, on the eve ot his departure for the continent to fight Bona
 parte, and when he has taken wine enough,
 goes off half price to Drury-Lane to see MT.
 Kean perform ShyIock. There IS nttle other
 reference to the stage in FfVanity Fair" But
 in ''Pendennis' we are introduced to the
 beautiful Miss Fotheringay and the other members of MT. Manager Bingley's company performing at the Chatteriss theatre. NIT. Bows is the first fiddler in the orchestra, and
 the money is taken at the doors by slum- berous old lady, who is explained by MT. Fo- keT to De MrS. DGOI)SICuIIJ bIl1SlCJ er-in-law, great in Lady Macbeth" Miss Fotheringay's Mrs. Haller is supported by the Countess Wintersen of Mrs. Bingley, the Baron Steinforth of Garbetts, the Tobias of Gott: by Hicks and Miss Thackthwaite, and the Stranger of Bingley, in pantaloons and hessians with large cloak and beaver hat and hearse feather dropping over his rud dled old face, and only partially concealine his great buckled brown wig" He wears too, upon his little finger, which he allows te culver out of his cloak, large sham dia mond ring Towering the first joint of tho finger and twiddling in the faces of the pit, It had belonged to George Frederick Cooke who had it from MT. Quin, who may have bought it for a shilling! Nevertheless 'fBingley fancied the world was fascinated ! by it's glitter" Upon the occasion of he benefit Miss Fotheringay represents Ophelii and Susan in Jerrold's nautical drama. MT Hornbu1l, from London, was the Hamlet O | the night, Bingley modestly contenting him self with the part of Horatio and reservine his chief strength for William in "Black ! eyed Susan'' Gott was the admiral ant Garbetts the captain. The artful Major Pen dennis would have Miss Fotheringay re | moved from Chatteriss, and to effect that ob \ feet brings into action Dolphin, the London | manager who figures also, it may be noted | in ''Love1 the Widower" as the employer O Bessy Bellenden in the ballet-girl period O 1 her career Dolphin comes to Chatteriss, ''t I tall and portly gentleman, with hooked nose and a profusion of curling brown hail and whiskers, gorgeously dressed, with ricl under waistcoats, many splendid rings, pin I and chains and shaking out odors of berga ! mot from his yellow silk handkerchief H \ is of the Jewish nation, if his portrait is t, | be trusted. Dolphin attends the theatre ant witnesses the performance of Cora by Mis- Fotheringay, funcommonly handsome il white raiment and a 1eopard's skin, with I sun upon her breast and five dawdry brace
 lets on her beautiful glaneing arms" It wa
 in vain that Bingley, as Rolla, darted abou 1 the stage and yelled like Kean; that Mrs l Bingley, as Elvira presumably, raised he voice and beloved like bull of Bashan | that Garbetts and Rowkins and Miss Ronney 1 tried each of them the force of their charm or graces, and acted and swaggered ane
 scowled and spouted their very ioudest | Dolphin gave attention only to the efforts O.
 Miss FotReringay, forthwith offered her al enpaeement in London, and fairly removed 1 her from the history of Arthur Pendenn!s | When he next met her she had quilted th'
 staoe and become my Lady Mirabel, the wifi l of Sir Charles, Ian old beau in star and 1 blonde wig. ,