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Z , » The iumps of the Harlequins and Clowns are Serb ; and the ?" Village of Lilliput , " in whiclv riown is besieged , like Gulliver , by an army of taCts ) is an excellent finish to the sport of the evening . '¦' . .. .., ¦ ¦ ' ^ COVEN'T fcARDEKT . Covent Garden and Boxing Night ! What memolies would not awake at such a combination of names ? -. The time-honoured past , the recollections of Mother Goose and Grimaldi , the legends we have received of Pantomimic days gone by from our fathers and grey-haired uncles , all combine to throw A present halo of glory around such nomenclature .
English Opera and Boxing -N ight ! This is , indeed , a strange conglomeration , a wedding of things almost , so . to say , antagonistic . Music and the cat-< jalls , singing and the holiday shouts of the gallery to Too * , " and " Bill , " and " Mate , " seem as probable to meet and act in unison as that wonderful course which was once ordered for a dinner , consisting of " tripe and curacoa . " But time tries all , and if , as Conway said , or sang , or wrote , years ago , Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast , no better illustration of the truth of the old humourist ' s dictum could be wanted than the experience of
the fugitives by the hair-brained monarch , Ins friend , a Gnome , and the ninety-year-old lover , his protege , gives rise to amusing and thoroughly effective situations . After one or two changes in the aspect of affairs , the lovers are at last tracked to " Prince Diamond ' s Cavern of Gems , " followed by a magnificent scejiic effect , in which Mr . Grieve has eclipsed himself , called the " Palace of Jewels . " Incidental dancing of merit above the average is here introduced , and the irate King is finally baffled whturnthe
by the good help of the Fairy Ruywing , o s happy pair adrift into a world of happiness as Harlequin and Columbine , and disposes of the other characters very much as usual . -The " comic business" is as likely as ever to delight holiday visitors . The artists of the harlequinade are all as familiar to old playgoers as they are strange to young ones . Comic shots at the follies of the day , comic clutches at the ideal Cynthia of the minute , are plenteous enough , and good scenery and management all pervading . Shall we say more ? Can we ?
—No ! HAYMAKKET THEATRE . The performances here have commenced each evening during the week with Goldsmith ' s comedy She Stoops to Conquer , in which Mr . Buckstone assumes the character of Tony Lumplin , supported by Miss Reynolds as Miss HarJcastle , and Mr . Chippendale as Mr . Hardcastle . The pretty legend on which is founded the pantomime of Undine , which follows , was given at length in our last week ' s impression , and need not be repeated . Itis treated as folio a-s : — The first tableau , which is ushered in by some pretty music of a sentimental cast , shows us a most resplendent Sea-Weed Cavern , seat of the Water
ther , Carlo Brosclii , the supposed agent of the arch fiend , was Madame Faure " , an agreeable , and , on the whole , satisfactory vocalist , though endowed with no great power , from the Oper ^ Lyrique at Paris . This lady made a very pleasing impression in a duo in the third scene of the first . act . Her part of the trio , " Ferme ta paupiere , " was purely sung . She was no less pleasing in . the finale to the first act than in several of the subsequent morc ^ aux , and her willing exertions earned for her considerable applause . Some allowance must always be generously made for the depressing effect of Britannic frigidity upon artists unknown to fame on this side of the Channel , who make their first bows to an .
English audience . This preliminary coldness was doubtless not without its effect upon the members of M , Re ' musat ' s company t > n Wednesday , for we noticed , as the opera progressed , and the audience and singers somewhat warmed towards each other , that a decided improvement was perceptiblei . Again , the wretched weather now prevailing , which night after night we see affecting the organs of our most accomplished domestic favourites , may be well imagined to bear hard upon strangers and _ sojburners . Though this plea must be strained to serve M . Fougeres ( if he really come , as stated , from Amsterdam ) , we are anxious to advance it for his fellow artists ; and with them let him too have the benefit of the doubt suggested .
LTCKUil . " A very elaborate and gorgeous burlesque and pantomime has been brought out at this theatre , by Mr . R . Brough and Mr . Falconer . The written part , by Mr . Bro . ugh , is a clever parody or burlesque of a portion of the Iliad , and includes some forty speaking characters . The chief are : ^ Mrs . Keeley , Hector ; Achilles , Miss Talbot ; Ajax , Mr . Charles Young ; and Patroclus , Mr . Kogers . The Trojan Horse is of course a great object of
fun , and Mr . Rogers , by his quaintness , added much , to the merriment . The part of Mr . Falconer , as manager , is very creditable , he having spared neither expense nor pains to produce gorgeous and pleasing effects . The subject is perhaps , somewhat too remote from modern knowledge or sympathy , but it makes a beautiful spectacle . The harlequinade is comparatively the least part of the entertainment , but it is sufficient to end the evening with an hilarious feeling , and to satisfy the audience ;
. ¦ ¦ - OLTSIPIC . Mr . Byron , whose success in burlesque at the Strand entitles him to attention , has written au elaborate burlesque for this theatre founded on his great namesake ' s poem and the horse piece at Astley ' s . The entire company are engaged in it , and Mr . Robson ' s exploits on the back of " the raging animal , " purchased at the Lowther Arcade , and his frenzy in the character of a celebrated rider , afford much amusement . The show and scenery are pretty , the dialogue smart , and the music blithe and appropriate . And so Mazeppa and his wild horse are likely to hold on their course throughout the holidays , and will very likely run to Easter . astley ' s amphitheatre .
Although the pantomime here is termed Equine , yet neither Harlequin nor Columbine , Pantaloon nor Clown are mounted on horseback . The introductory fairy story admits of some quadrupedal performance , and Baron Munchausen ( the hero ) contesting with satanic influence , \ indergoes some extraordinary adventures , amongst others that of having his steed cut in , two * The harlequinade is well supported and fully answered the expectations of a very crowded audience .
SURUEY THEATRE . This theatre may be t 6 nned the transpontine Drury Lano , and vies with its great prototype in tho magnificence and magnitude of its Christmas spectacle . It is equally complete in its burlesque introduction audits pantomimic portion . Tho burlesque is an allegory tending to expose tho indignities and wrongs Old Father Thames is subject to . This of course admits all tho mythology of river gods , and gives grand opportunities for groups of water nymphs , grots , &c , It is exceedingly splendid , and vory well imagined and contrived ; and tho linrlcquiniiclo was us much approved as tho gorgeous opening 1 . It ia likely to have a very successful run . SADI . Ult ' s WICIJL 8 .
Mr . T . L . Greenwood , one of our oldest anil ablest concoctors of pantomimes , has given tho critical frequenters of this thcatro a vory pretty and amusing entertainment , entitled , Harlequin , or Old TzaaUWtt fton ; or , Tom Moore of Fleet-street , the Silver Trout , and the Seven Sitters of Tottenham . Tho introductory matter ia quaint ami picturt , aqua , and tho harlequinade quite sustains tho reputation this house justly has attained . Of all the junior pantomimes wo should bo inolinod to considor this tho beat from report and as far as wo have soon . . *
' STRAND . Kciiilwortl ) , and its didinnl story of Amy Robsart , furnishes tho matorinl for tho burlo ^ quo whioh horo always takoa tho plaoo of pantomime , and it has boon very quaintly , and wo almost , may say wittily , treated by Mr . Lftwronco ami JMr . HalHday . Tho show is also \ oey taatofully got up , and is rosplondent with all tbo
family , of -whom Undine is a disjointed member . The leading members of this party are . Kuhleborn ( a stern ^ spirit ) , Mr . Cullenford , and a very ardent young Spirit dressed in a suit of some apparently silver-plated fabric ; Translucia , Miss Fanny Wright , who executes some captivating tours de force . We next find ourselves in the fisherman ' s hut , near the enchanted forest , where the wayward sprite Undine ( Miss Louisa Leclercq ) , who indulges in dancing of an eccentric-but spirit uel order , is serving her time to Mortality , and is supposed to have nearly passed the ordeal of falling in love , which was fraught with such peril to her . She is , however , fated to surrender to that , falsely called , gentle
passion . A belted knight turns up . Sir JJulbrand ( Mrs . Leclercq ) is his name , and he is engaged to the tall and handsome Lady Bertalda von liingsteiten ( Miss Fitzininan ) : But , lady-killer as he is , he thinks nothing of a sweetheart more or less , and sues Undine , , to suit the story , surrenders a discretion . She finds too late that with the encumbrance of an attachment she has taken up that of a soul , and the spirits who pervade the air mourn in plaintive strains " lost , lost Undine . " A little jealousy is , of course , a necessary ingredient in the salad . The departure of Berthulda on the most whimsical of hobbyhorses in search of her lover is productive of much amusement , and the paroxysms
of the lovelorn Undine , when she finds she is betrayed , give room for some elegant pantomime . By an eflbrt the latter conquers her earthly passion , restores her kuight to his first lovo , and , her transient fault forgiven , is readmitted to the glorious spirit halls beneath the waves . The performance of the harlequinade by theLeelercq family partakes more of an elegant than a boisterous character , but the comic scenes are properly enriched with fun of the usuul cast . For further particulars of this very genteel pantomime our readers must apply to Mr . Buckstono at the theatre , who will be happy , on receipt of the usual consideration , to afford , every information .
ST . JAMES S THEATRE—OI'fiRA-COMXQUE . On former occasions we drew attention to this enterprise and the liberal promises of its projectors , which comprised some twenty operas or more . On Wednesday wo assisted nt their ilrst representation , when Auber ' s La Part du Diablo was given before a numerous and well-composed audience . Tho libretto is well known to be a pleasing one . It wns arranged originally by Scribe , from his tale , Carlo Brosohi , and is so well adapted for tho at ago that it has found its way on to the London boards in several shapes , with some of which— 'for instance , The JJetiira in It and Tim Little I ? evil—nl \ regular
playgoers are familiar . Auber has felicitously interwoven with tho spoken dialogues soveral of his most captivating strains , so highly finished as to npponr artless , nnd M . RdmuBiit ' s well-solected oreliofltrugnvo those with proper delicacy and ofibct . Tho sruno can hardly bo said of M . Fougorea , from tho Court Theatre nt Amsterdam , tho representative of-Raphael dtistintiga , tho university student . This * artist ' s voice , if it has not soon its bust days , has certainly lost for tho timo boing tho flexibility required for tho part Allotted to him on Wednesday , and ho must only bo regarded as a stop-gnp for very present use . Tho Canilda was MnUanio Colino Muthiuu , from tho MtiraeiUos Theatre , i \ nd her
broiast Monday night at Covent Garden . It certainly was funny to hear , when Mr . Mellon took his seat in the orchestra , the gallery ( we beg their pardonihe " gods" ) following up the well-deserved applause with which our English Costa was greeted with that shrill and expressive cheering which only emanates from English boys . But during the opera , gallery , pit and all were as silent as the most dilettante audience under Mr ; Gye ' s management . They would not ; stand encores . They were right ; abstractedly we think encores a nuisance , and the -gallery were anxious to get at their piecesthe Pantoriiime . Now about the Pantomime . We honestly
• confess to having got desperately tired of openings to pantomimes in which the whole writing is destroyed in its effect from being spoken by people in masks , which are more like portmanteaus than anything else , with ah actor speaking through the keyhole . We are sick of good actors being compelled to { alk most inarticulately , and deprived of the power of showing what we consider to be a very high art , the true art . of pantomime . Pantomime— -that is , pantomimic action— -we confess to considering a high art , and there are few enough left upon the stage now who can embody its requirements and display its powers . Luckily , Covent Garden , this Christmastide , has not only secured the services of the most talented
. pantomimic family of the day—we mean W . II . Payne and his sons—but also those of two writers -who , while they point their lines with wit and neatjiess , give full scope for the illustration of their ideas by others . We are here alluding to Messrs . Bridgeman and Sutherland Edwards , who out of tho old story of Little lied Riding Hood have constructed a nice , jolly , amusing , old-fashioned opening to a pantomime . The story is , of course , the " old , old . story" of the fight between True Love ( Colin , Mr . H . Payne ) , assisted by the Queen of the Rosebuds , . against Wealth , represented by Wealthiana , who wishes a dreadful Baron ( Mr . W . II . Payne ) to marry Little Red Riding Hood . In order to carry out this fearful wisli , the Baron , presented with a bottle of elixir vita , becomes a young man again , but , unless ho wins the fair one by six p , m ., must become a bear ,
wolf , or pther beast , . as the case may be . Of course lie does not win the maid ; of course he becomes the ¦ wolf ; of course ho tries to eat his former love 5 and of course tho fairy arrives in time to prevent a ¦ catastrophe by the proper transformation . Those who would learn once more what real pantomime is , or . how- dumb show can express words and feelings , And make everybody laugh , should go and see this Pantomime " opening . " Mr . W . II . Payne as tho ¦ Baron , and his son , Mr . 3 ? . Payno , as his man Rvberto , are , as might bo expected , inimitable . In fact , everything is good : the overture has an admirable fOivboration of Shield ' s old air , " The Wolf , " from the Castle of Andalusia ; tho first scene is torso , smart , ¦ ami witty ; tho ballot is oxcellont ; tho comic scenes iuJUy carry out tho promise of tho opening ; and the Vholo is worthy of the golden age oi Pantomime .
PR 1 NCK 8 »' S THEATRE . The Jealous Wife , tho revival of which at the high fide of Sir Oreawell Ores well ' s operations had about to a certain air of waggery , makes a capital nnd popular-prefaco to Mr . CrowqulH ' s pantomimo of Tho Kwgoftha Castle ; or , Harlequin Prince Diamond and the ¦ Princess Brighteyes , which wo believe tho most astute of dramatic JL > ryns < luats can traco to no ono pnrticylar legend , song , or nursery tulo . Tho opening was , however ' , so satisfactory to tho higher classes ( the godu , 1 . e . ) prosont on boxing night , that tho manager yas vociferously called to receive most genuine hoiionr at their unwashed hand ' a . Tho King 0 / < Ao CqsUq in question callod Ifottuwievcrgthing / mun nw ft lovely daughter , ' JJrig / ttei / M , whom ho is aeeirous' of sacrificing at tho altar to tho 'Huron W ^ ffinthekgaandtvUg , But sho uObcts un ulopo-^ ont with Prince Diamond , and tho pursuit of
Untitled Article
-fro , 458 , January 1 , 1859 . j THE LEAPEB 1 B
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 1, 1859, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2275/page/15/
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