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Leader (1850-1860), 31st December 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1415, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      more salient fbllies of the day , arid though he never fails to hit , the barbless weapon bears no poison with it . The ladies concerned are of the prettiest their dancing is of the first order ; as is" the pantomimic dumb-show of the principal actors without exception . If the reporter names the comicality of Messrs . Flexmore and Boleno as possessing more than ordinaryattraction , the reason must be offered that those artists appear , more than their fellows in this harle-r . quinade , or , indeed , in general , to be naturally gifted with humour , as well as being excellent in rousing a sense of it in others , after the fashion of their art .

      The Covent Gabden Pantomime , if not so exuberant in the riot of the harlequinade and the number of its harlequins , clowns , and the like as that at Drury Xane , is no less striking in those portions—the introduction especially—in -which large resources , liberal outlay , and elegant taste are called into play . Mr . J . V . Bridgeraan has chosen for illustration the charming nursery tale of " Puss in Boots ; " and while he has certainly given his fancy all the abundant license the opportunity permits , lie has religiously preserved and dramatically depicted , for the delight of the children , all those , features of the legend that render it so charming in the-nursery . After a condensation of " Victorine , " achieved by an

      excision of . dialogue which we see no occasion to deplore , a spirited overture brings us in medids res . We find Huon , the hero , in his brother ' s mill , bewailing his position as a younger brother , unhappy at home and With no prospect abroad but wretchedness , as the lover of one placed far above him , to .. ' wit ; the Princess Blanchefieur , and now insulted by his brutal brother his fate seems still more clouded . But Puss in Boots ( Miss Craven ) , to whom , sanctioned by the antique tale arid the precedents of the " talking fish" and the " goat-herd .. " ( heard ) in Dinorah , Mr . Bridgeman has given a speaking--part without intervention of fairy or magician , comes to his aid . Puss is herself a fairy ; she places Hiion ¦

      under the protection of a still more potent one Innocentia ; achieves his introduction at the Court of his inamorata ' s papa ; eats the ogre Gulpemdown ( turned into a mouse ); annexes his property to the Carabas title- and defeats the machinations of a wicked fairy Worldlinessa , who in opposition to the Innocentia faction had espoused the cause of another suitor for the fair Blanchefieur . The denouement sees the triumph * Of true love , the retreat of Worldlinessa and her evil train , and the pantomimic change at the will of her successful rival . Among the most successful of the many hits in Mr . Bridgenian ' s charming version is the introduction of a rifle corps of quite another description than that

      alluded to in our notice of the Drury-lane pantomime . The rifle movement figures in one way or other , in , we believe , every entertainment of the class this year ; but it would be quite beyond the resources of nil but the two great houses to organise such a brilliant troop as the enterprise of Miss Pyne and Mr . Harrison have placed at the disposal of our author . The Drury-lane fencibles arc a reduction of the rifle-green fever to the absurd , the First Royal Company of the Theatre Royal , Coventgarden , is its ctherealisation . The joint company of artists to whom we owe the magnificent scenery at this house , and one of whom , at least , Mr . Telbin , appears as an artist of the highest order , as well

      without as within the theatrical painting-room , have provided in their scene of " Queen Innocentia s Court , Fairyland , " an exquisite practice-ground for the force ; and of the force itself Ave may say in the words of a , contemporary * that were our coasts so defended , a hostile invasion would bo a fiirco . A hundred of the fairest of Bayaderes form the corps . They are gracefully arirayod in a . white and silver uniform , borsagliari hats , Knickerbockers , and each bears a silver riflo Trained by stalwart sergeants , who found their pupils more lithe and no less intelligent than train-bands

      from the Tomplo or the Strand , those young ladies ground arms , stand at ease , form squares , ami deploy into linos at bugle note , with interesting precision , ami evident degreo of pleasure that cause the greatest sousutlon , and evoke ' the * most vociferous demonstrations of dolight from high and low among tho audience . In this scene , too , the cunn ng author has heightened tho olTect by sundry lines ot a political colour , that did censorship flourish here , ¦ would to a certainty havo boon expunged , but which , aided by music , light , colour , and semi-martial narado . rouso the natriotic sentiment in all hearers .

      Tho fairy volunteer movement ia certainly one great and memorable feature of the Covent Garden panto , mime . Another is tho extraordinary tnlont of tho renowned Messrs . Payne , whose expressiveness ana genuino comicality , without coarsonoss , in ootft t » o opening and the harlequinade , are as invaluable as they are appreciated by all lovers of roal pantomime , or dumb-show aoting . Tho " Fuss in . Boots ; " again , of Miss Craven , is a charming moroeau . Dressed in a suit of manifestly real cat-skins ( how many poor pussies , wila

      or tame , must 'hare contribute *! , will not bear thinking of ) , this younglady enacts her part with a feline grace that- makes us quite forget or excuse her un-feline tones and proportions . The scenery * too , besides that above'homed ,--comprises a beautiful river-side landscape , with the harvest fields of the Marquis of Garabas , a noble interior in the Ogre ' s castle , a true picture of Fingal ' s cave ; and a Fairy Palm Grove ( the transformation scene ) , worthy to be ranked with Mr . Beverley ' s grand effort at Drury-lane . The last , and to ourselves , hot the least , attraction to which the Covent-Garden-bound playgoer should be alive , is the necessity under which the opera management labours of fitting luxurious strains of music to a class of entertainment for

      which elsewhere ( and in this place at other times ) it has often been considered that any music was good enough . " The English Opera band cannot be dismissed at the close of " Victorine " to make way for another of an inferior order , and as it comprises few ,, if any , but high class artists , it follows that its contribution to the' ensemble , is of a character that it would be all but folly for managers to provide , or for the public to expect , elsewhere , and that the effect of that ensemble is correspondingly enhanced . Mr . Buckstone , of the Hatsueeet , pursues his old custom of compounding his own pantomine , and displays the remarkable judgment his long practice has given him ,, in squeezing a vast amount of effect

      out of a small company , and an outlay which we should characterise as small compared with that of other managers . He , however , has the good fortune to have a clientctte of his own , who seem to accept the bills he draws upon their good humour or good taste with a geniality equal to his own , and the cordial and unanimous verdict that a house full of them , all as quiet , as mice until the close , pronounced on his boxing-day entertainment was , " First rate . " The Pantomime is called " Valentine ' s Day , " the introduction discloses the courtship , and its incidental crosses ^ of Syloanus and Belphcebe , an uncommonly pleasing pair of Arcadians , personated by Misses Eliza AVeekes and Louisa I > eclerqi Mr . scenic artist host in himself

      Fenton is the —a — like the gifted ones we have named at the other houses . Messrs . Clark and Coe / with other comedians of the Haymarket troupe , assume the parts of Envy , Hate , Spite , Slander , Malice , and all uncharitableness . The harlequin and clown are two more of the clever ILeclerq family , not to mention a pretty and elastic columbine : and the result is an ensemble of genteel comicality , grace , and elegance quite in keeping with the usual tone of the entertainments here . The second scene—a winter landscape—is of almost academic delicacy and taste . The third is an extremely beautiful dark wood , in which the entire stage is covered with an apparently close network of boughs and trunks . The next two tableaux

      represent pictures set in frames . They are " visions , " in which the lovers appear to each other , and are grouped arid executed in the same charming taste and style . The religious procession introduced in the scene of St . Valentine ' s chapel is a failure . So it should be , for it is far out of taste , and , but for tho quality of the Haymarket audience , to which we have above alluded , would have "been well hissed on the spot . None there had tho pluck to applaud , and wo were glad to be relieved from the apprehonsion of the former expression of free opinion by the appearance of tho " Gigantic Envelope , with tho opi-ning of the Fairy Valentino and transformation . " This superb piece of machinery represents a monster envelope as large as tho stage , with

      carved out of the ordinary scenic ruatorinjs , tho same delicacy ns Messrs . Do la Hue apply to tho execution of their hot-pressed paper Valentino covers . Tho decorators aro not behind their brethren in fancy or ' colour , and , as for light , they apply Mr . Gurnoy ' s method which , in handmess anil effectiveness , outvios tho electric . To continue , tho outer onvelope , which is brilliant enough , being unfolded , an inner one . ot silver flllagroo is disclosed . This is succeeded by a wondrous curtain , and this again melts into an Arabesque hall of surpassingly fairylike device , in tho midst plays the fountain of love , with tho croddess herself in a goldon car . The side panels ot tho wall now open , nymphs on swan-drawn cars descend to

      come forth , and Venus and her trnhi mo front in a hurricane of colour , light , and npplauao . Two black spots—which wo soon make out to oe tho heated master-painter and tho smirking lossoo- — step , tho one nervously , tho other ns jauntily as it ho were used to it , to the lamps . They there receive tho ovation of their many admirers , who aro by cms time rejoicing in a sort of black-hole temperature , and retire with speed . The business goes on . II o good Mvy distributes hanpinpss and pnjg ^ parts . A harlequinade of average merit ™ " ™*~ Sad we are homo to bed , thank heaven , in good time At tho Ltchum , Madamb Oei-kstu has &PP 1 Ie < J all nortasto and energy to tho elaboration of a pantoriimo extravagantIn Mr . Francis TalfourdM

      best / manner . 'King Tkrushbeard , alias Hafiz ,: is jthe name of the monarch at whose court the scene is laid . We have no more space than to say that the author has embroidered the German tale in bis usual glittering style , and Mr . "William Calcott has produced a transformation scene worthy of all the encomiums lavished on the similar works at the larger establishments . We are in duty bound to advise our readers that , in the opinion of many judges , this is the tableau of the season . It is , indeed , a beautiful one . . Glees , Madrigals , axd English Ditties . —Oa Monday morning and evening next , the first of the series of this truly national and characteristic entertainment , will be given at the Dudley Gallery , Egyptian Hall , by the London Glee and Madrigal Union , under the direction o f Mr . Land , and under the auspices of Mr . Mitchell , of 1 , Bond-street . The performance will be repeated for a fortnight only during the Christmas season every evening , and on Monday , Wednesday , and Friday afternoon .

      Untitled Article

      Rumoured total Change of the French Ministry . —The second edition of the Mommy Chronicle has a letter from their own correspondent , W "A " great excitement reigns in our political circles . Many rumours are attont , ami the result has been a decided [ baissa at the Bourse . 1 must rotate to you what these rumours are , praying you to benr > " }" «« they arc but on dits , and must be taken with « ueresovve A total ministerial cliiuiga is to he mnile . Count WalewBki elves up , so says rumour , the porUolio ot the Foreiiii Office . Ho will bu replaced by Count do Per-JiSny now Ambassador at t / ie Court ,, f iSt . _ James ' s . S * fe Pereigny is still here . His not returning to his noat "In London gives a soinblnnce of truth to the rumour ! I hive . fust recapitulated . All tho other nSStoSA w 5 i « . Prtaee Napoleon retimes the Ministry of Algeria . ..

      Untitled Article

      nrn Bun : THJ 5 great MBEL Cask . —Tl j ii * trial week however , Mr . JDonfs man found It out , and I wna

      lull Indemnity .

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      ' §} ' 0 £ l £ f I * l . 2 ) fi '

      Untitled Article

      ? : . . " ¦ " THE LEADER" OFFICE , Friday Evening , Dec . 30 th ;

      Untitled Article

      THE PAMPHLET . - A telegram from Paris states that the Council of Ministers has resolved upon not giving any official denial to the pamphlet " The Pope and the Congress . " As the Moniteur , the only official organ of the French Government , has not mentioned the pamphlet , its publication is to be considered as a home affair { affaire interieure ) , which the foreign powers . could not notice in their diplomatic intercourse with France . A telegram from Rome , of yesterday ' s date , says : — " To-day Cardinal Ahtoiielli had a long interview with the Duke de Grainmont . The French Ambassador has received by a courier , who left Paris on the 24 th inst ., some explanation destined to reassure the Holy bee on the object and bearing of the pamphlet , ' Le Pape et le Contrres . ' " Tile correspondent of the Globe says : —" Thepamphlet" is still the absorbing topic , and oytr ; j 0 , 000 copies have c-one off , a feat which- np British brochure ( unless it be the ComhiU Magazine ) can now-a-clays accomplish . All over Germany the views it puts fprward have njet general concurrence , the Allgemeinc Zeitung being ? emphatic in approval . Not the ghost of a disavowal has appeared in the Moniteur . It is pretty well known in Uiplomacv here that the Spanish Cabinet will not separate from that of France , but pursue a joint action m all questions before Congress . Ilence Austria will find no backer save Naples ; and , from recent Vienna intelligence , slie has given up all hope of reiroposing her Dukes on Italy . January , 18 U 0 , will bo the date oi a new life for thnt peninsula .

      Untitled Article

      ffip . 510 . C&EG . 31 , * 35 & ] T ^ Hte LEAtD 1 B 3 a . 1415

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 31, 1859, page 1415, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2327/page/11/