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• whose merry laughter is the best commentary on a piece of the kind , ' appeared in diminished numbers . Harlequin Hogarth is an old legitimate pantomime—it is none of your classical , mythological extravaganzas , b , la Planche , full of parody , neat allusion , j eux des mots , puns , ' and humour , but a ye ^ ular •? allegory , " where Idleness and Ignorance , after a variety of struggles against the march of intellect , ' ' stand prostrate , " as Lord Castlereagh would gay , before their victorious enemies Industry and Knowledge . The apprentices cut a variety of capers , which stow that a great many of Hogarth s original series must be lost to us , and it is but due to Mr . W . Pavne . as Toby Cricket , and to Mr . H . Payne ,
as David Drone , to say that their excellent pantomime and lively good , humour did much to avert disaster from ; the pantomime . The scenery generally ¦ was new , the tricks old , middle-aged , and sometimes juvenile ; but there were some " gorgeous effects " and transformations , followed by a view of the Crystal palace ( scene XVI . ! and last ) , which kept the house in good humour . It was remarkable that the French question was touched upon very tenderly . There was only one allusion to it : the Clown , by the submarine electric telegraph , asks , " Howare you allin Paris ?" The reply is , -December 2 . — Paris is gay as usual-Marshall
plenty of balls going . " The Clown , Mr . H . , is very clever , and his burlesque imitations of Bottesini , Sivori , &c , on the violin , were very amusing . On the whole , if the pantomime be shortened a good deal ( for there was no delay , wonderful to relate , with refractory slips , traps , scenes , or machinery ) , it may last the holydays very well . The ventilation of the house seems to have been well attended to , and the theatre has an air of p ' rosperty about it which , we trust , will not be fallacious . The orchestra is not well "in hand " yet , and allM . Schirra's very vigorous efforts could not give precision and harmony to their performance of the overture to William Tell . and humoured
\ Pbincess ' s . —The crowded goodaudience assembled to witness the Christmas pantomime at this theatre did not reserveJtheir attention , as is too commonly the case , for the new piece ; but gave as fair a hearing to the Merchant of Venice as if it had not- been " boxing night . " The introduction of the Christmns piece is founded upon the ancient ballad of Billy T lylor . The pantomime is entitled Harlequin Billy Taylor ; or , the Flying Dutchman and ( he King of Raritongo . The scene opens upon the aubmarine caverns of the Nereids , where the fairy Nautila ( Miss Desbbrough ) is planning the marriage of Billy Taylor ( Mr . F . Codke ) . Britannia ( nicely
acted by Miss Kate Terrey ) is indignant at not being consulted , and sentences him to be impressed and carried off to sea . Billy Taylor is then seen upon his shopboard in Tooley-street ; and we are also introduced to his bride , Paulina di Punto Portsmouth ^ ( Mr . Wynn ) , a regular Bloomer . The marriage ceremonies are interrupted by the pressgang , who seize the luckless William . His bride follows in male disguise , and the quarter-deck of the Gallant Thunderbotnb is the witness first to a ^ scene of seaman-like jollity , and afterwards to' a terrific engagement with the phantom crew of the Flying Dutchman . Billy Taylor jumps overboard , and landing upon a savage island consents to marry order to his
the negro princess of Raritongo in save life ; but Paulina appears at the rig ht moment to forbid the banns , and shoots him . through the head . The transformations then begin . Columbine finds a graceful and charming representative in Miss Carlotta Leclerc . Mr . Cormack performs the { spiriting of Harlequin with great ability ; and Mr . Flexmore as the Clown , and Mr . Paulo as Pantaloon , exhibit something of the ancient excellence in their personation of those characters . Mr . le Barr was to have played the Sprite , but having sprained his knee an apology was made for his non-appearance . The fairy scenes are beautifully presented . In a , " model farmyard" some live chickens were brought upon the stage , and great laughter was excited by the circumstance that one chanticleer began to maul and
assault his brother poultry as suddenly and fiercely , as if , like the French President , he had specially vowed to protect them . Bramah and Chubb do not , of course , escape ; but they are revenged when Mr . Hobbs is sent for to pick' Davy Jones T s locker , and the discovery is made that there is at least one lock in the world that Mr . Hdbbs cannot pick . A capital view of London by moonlight discovers Clown and Pantaloon in their robes de nuit upon the tiles , unable to sleep for the caterwauling of hundreds of tabbies , who swarm upon the houpe tops , and convulse the junior part of the audience by their antics . The clown discharges a blunderbuss at tho cats , and a shower of deceased felinity falls upon the stage , while hundreds of windows are thrown open , out of whioh . children thrust . their heads and ecreain &nd spring innumerable rattles . This is the boat aceno in the
pantomime , and soon afterward the " homo of Britannia in the floral realms of light , " by its magnificence caused the curtain to fall amid a fuir whore of applause . This Lyceum , —Thereis a charm about the Lycoum " which makes it sure to attract in holyduy times , and the crowd which , long before the hour announced for opening , besot tho doora leading to tuoao parts of the
house which are the favourite places of popular resort * showed the apprehension felt by the several parties of visitors lest they should be anticipated . The entertainments of the evening cqmmencedwitn The Game of Speculation , in which , the part of Mr . Affable Hawk was admirably performed by Mr . C . Mathews , and there was nothing to detract from the gratification of-the audience , escpriessed by iready laughter and hearty applause , for the other characters Were well supported . An " entirely new and original fairy extravaganza" followed . It is by the author of Prince Charming and other productions of established reputation , arid is described as being founded on the Countess d'Anois' story La Bicheau Bois . The
Prince Happy Land , or the Fawn in the Forest , opens with a conference between Nigretta , Princess of Ethiopia , and the Fairy Carabossa , the result of which is that the fairy undertakes to punish a rival of the black princess in the affection of Prince Felix ( Miss Julia St . George ) , the Prince of Happy Land . The spectator is then introduced to the palace in which the Princess Desiderata has been kept for twenty years all but a week , to avoid the spells of the Fairy Carabossa , into whose- power she is to fall should the light of day shine upon her . The Princess is reclining on a couch in a " point-lace chamber in the Tower of Tapers" ( a very pretty
scene ) , and awakening , relates a dream she has had to Floretta ( Madame Vestris , who met a most hearty reception ) . The Princess in her dream had seen a Prince with whom , as a matter of course , she has fallen in love , and who turns out to be Prince Felix , the Prince having , according to use and wont in fairy tales , become enamoured in like manner of the Princess . The Grand Duke of Vert and Venison and the Grand Duchess , parents of the Princess Desiderata , then make their appearance with offers of marriage for the Princess , who is to leave her taper-light state of existence-in the course of a week , when the power of the malign fairy over her destinies will expire .
The Princess rejects all the offers . At this moment an ambassador from Prince Felix iff announced , and a living picture of the Prince is introduced . Miss St . George , who played the part of the Prince with her usual spirit and ability , was very warmly received ; and a duet between the Princess and the Prince , or rather his picture , was loudly applauded . A vehicle to exclude the light of day is constructed for carrying the Princess to the dominions of Prince Felix . A halt is made at Blackgang Chin e * where a party of Ethiopian serenaders appear ; -they are suborned by the malignant fairy to distract the attention of the Princess's attendants from their
mistress ; and as their performance ( which gave much amusement to the audience ) draws to a close Carabossa rushes forward and tears open the palanquin of the Princess , who , on being exposed to the light of day , is transformed into a fawn . A beneficent fairy , Pineapple , interposes to mitigate the calamity , and the Princess is to regain her original form each sunset . A scene of rare beauty then opens , representing , in the language of the bills , the Peerless Pool and Pleasure-gardens . " The effect is heightened by the introduction of groups of children in the background ; but to form an adequate idea of this unique and charming representation of fairyland , it must be seen . A grand gathering of for the introduction of
fairies affords an opportunity the corps de ballet . The Princess , as a fawn , is wounded by the Prince ; and , as soon as night arrives , appears wich her hand pinned with an arrow to her ear . Nigretta and Carabossa are at last on the point of carrying their malignant designs into complete effect , when Floretta , recollecting that s he had brought the beneficent fairy to the aid of the persecuted lovers by accidentally touching a ring which she wore , invokes the same agency , when the Fairy Pinettp ^ pio interposes ; the young couple are restored tp / happiness ; and the piece concludes with a Splendid display of the " Golden Pinery . " The brilliancy of the scene and the success * of the piece were acknowledged by enthusiastic applause , and Madame Veatris and Miss Julia St . George were
summoned to receive tho congratulations of the audience . . . Sadlbk ' s Wells .-The entertainments at this house consisted of the play of the Lady of Lyons , and a comic pantomime entitled Harteqitin and the Yellow Dwarf ; or , the Enchanted Orange Tree and the King of the Golden Mines . The prelude to the piece is founded upon the well known juvenile story of the Yellow Dwarf , in Mother Bunch ' s Fairy Tales . The tirBt scene opens with a beautiful and characteristic view of tho ancient Court of Revels , in Old Stylo ' s
Christmashull , where we find the Abbot of Misrule superintending the ancient sports and foolories , attended by a number of celebrated personages of the olden time —inoluding King Arthur , Henry VIII ., Anna Bullen ( carrying her head in her hand ) , Queen Elizabeth , Sir W . Raleigh , Sir John Falatuff , Dame Quiokly , and others . The principal feature of the scene is the dance of Sir Roger de Coverley , which was executed in a lively and humorous stylo . In tho midst ol : the fun , frolio , and gaiety , " Old Style , tho host ( Mr . Mardyn ) , enters , and , addressing tho reveller ^ , expresses his regret at tho innovating spirit ot modern 4 ay » , and urge * that tho xaga for improvement must
be resisted , so far ^ least , as the time-honoured sports are concerned . At this moment New Style , in the shape of a young Bloomer ( Miss Mandlebert ) , makes her appearance , and asks in surprise , — " What have we here ? Oh , this won ' t do all ; 'Tis out of date . We must keep up the ball ;" in proof of the necessity of which , she refers to the ' go-ahead" J 9 pirit which , is so active on the pthet side of the Atlantic , and which has lately produced among other things unequalled reaping machines , impregnable locks , and * unapproachable yachts . To show the revellers what she can do , she changes the
scene to the Temple of New Style , in the Regions of Design , where a pretty dance by a troop of little Bloomers ( the pupils of Mr . Frampton ) is introduced with good effect . After some further conversation between Old and New Style with regard to the spirit of progress , the latter so far yields to the entreaties of his rival as to agree to spare the good old pantomime from the threatened destruction of ancient pastimes . The Yellow Dwarf ( Mr . Thome , afterwards Quicksilver ) having been summoned to assist in carrying out this compromise , scene changes to the Enchanted Orange-grove , with a distant view
of the sandy desert by sunset . Here the Princess Ailfair ( Miss DeVere , afterwards Columbine ) enters , and having , in spite of the warnings and entreaties of her attendants , snatched the forbidden fruit from trees of the Orange-grove , she is assailed by the lions , who are placed there as its guardians . The Yellow Dwarf immediately appears , and offers her his protection on condition that she will promise to be his bride , which having done , the scene changes to the Emerald Boudoir of the Palace of the Ruby Noses , the residence of her mother , Queen Golconda ( Mr . Naylor , afterwards Pantaloon ) . Here
the Princess meets a new suitor in the person of California , King of the Golden Mines ( Mr . C . Fenton , afterwards Harlequin ) . The wooing , however , is cut short by the appearance of the Yellow Dwarf , who , after a severe struggle , succeeds in carrying off the Princess to his dwelling in the Golden-hall of a Hundred Steps , where he in vain endeavours to tempt her with magical illustrations of the five senses . At length the Desert Fairy ( Miss E . Bullen ) comes upon the scene , and changes the various characters to Clown , Pantaloon , Columbine , Harlequin , tmd . Quicksilver , who at once begin the usual round of
incidents and changes . In addition to the characters we have just named , there ~ were two others introduced ( viz ., a little clown and little sprite ) , who found admirable representatives in Master Stilt and Master Rochez . The tricks and transformations , many of which were exceedingly ingenious and -amusing , followed each other in quick succession , and were received with hearty applause . The pantomime is from the pen of Mr . Greenwood ( joint lessee of the theatre ) , and was produced under the direction of Mr . Williams . The scenery , dresses , and decorations were excellent , and altogether we may say the piece was quite successful .
Olympic . —The pantomine , which is from the prolific pen of Mr ; Nelson Lee , is entitled Red Rufus ; or , Harlequin Fact , Fiction , and Fancy , and is described in the bills as being " historical , instructive , moral , pleasing , whimsical , and comic . " Without entering into the " historical , instructive , or moral" merits of the piece , we can say that it was whimsical and comic enough , and that it was produced in a style most creditable to the management . The " opening " of a pantomine is a mystery which it is no easy matter to unravel , and the opening of Red Rufus certainly did not form an exception to the general rule . AU we can say of it is , that the destiny of a
pair of lovers had some mysterious connection with that of the second Norman King of England , and that when the unfortunate Rufus is slain in the New Forest by Sir Walter Tyrrell the transformations take place , to the great satisfaction , as it seemed , of the audience . The pantomimic business was of the usual character , but formed an agreeable relief to a somewhat dull introduction . Mr . Forrest was a Bmart and active Harlequin , and Miss Lees as Columbine danced her part most gracefully . A now Clown , Mr . Edwin Edwards , made his firat appearance in London , in
and created a very favourable impression . Ho - troduced the performance of a couple of remarkably well trained dogs , who danced and threw summersets to tho gratification of the audience , and with great apparent ease to themselves . There were no political allusions , direct to indirect , in tho piece , and tho only attempt to " hit" the follies of the day was tho appearance of a dozen young ladies in full Bloomer costume , who performed a 4 « whioh , from tho applause with which it was . roueived , appourcd to create HOnio . propoauessibn in tho audience in favour of the dress . .
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' ' W M at Jan . 3 , 1852 . ] MM ? : ; i ^ 9 ^/ : . :: ¦ , _ .:..
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Geology . — Groat Pun is dead , but tho mountains are not voiceless- ; upon their utono tabletB wo may read , if we will but observe , the story of tho earth ' s mutations , the" lmtory of creations which existed during those vast ages when the earth was undergoing the changes necessary to tho realization of that garden "in whioh was created a reasoning man . — JiritUh ' Qwrterly . favieWp Ni > ' 2 $ »
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 3, 1852, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1916/page/19/
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