The Lyceum is once more among the theatres open at
Easter, the KEELEYS having come forward to rescue it from its languishing condi- tion : Mrs. KEELEY; emulous of the success of Madame 1TESTRIS in this department, has undertaken the management ; and she opened the house, on Monday, in a smart "speech from the throne," written in couplets by Mr. A'BECRETT, which she delivered with great vivacity, to the delight of the assembled commons. Of the three novelties of the evening, the two first have only the merit of brevity : Hasty Conclusions few folks will come to ; and the Post of Honour is only secured from criti- cal attack through the irresistible comic strength with which it is main- tained by KEELEY, as a bulbous burgher—a grenadier grafted on to the stock of a gardener, whose budding valour is scarcely vigorous enough to shoot in such an exposed situation. Open Sesame is a talisman that will attract crowds to enjoy the fun of A Night with the Forty Thieves; for besides a fascinating band of feminine felons—heart, not housebreakers —there is a fairy police-force almost equally numerous, whose evolutions are enchanting. Mrs. KEELEY; as dlorgiana, pickles the thieves in their jars and cuts up their commander in capital style the "pas de tambourine and carving-knife" which she dances with her husband, is an amusing parody of the " Truandaise " danced by CARLOTTA GRISI and PERROT. KEELEY is facetiously ferocious as Kasserac ; and in a fight between him and Miss Ferannerrztaa, the exquisite captain of the Forty Thieves, he gives a ludicrous imitation of the "terrific combat"
of melodramas. The burlesque, a joint production of Messrs. G. ATEOILETT and Minx LEMON, is full of point and pleasantry ; the scenery mad costumes are handsome ; and the stage effects tastefully managed.
The Haymarket makes merry with the misfortunes of the stage. The manager's card, announcing The Drama at Home, and inviting the town to spend an Evening with Puff, drew a tolerably numerous assem- blage, who were very pleasantly entertained with the lamentations of the disconsolate Drama—personated with due dignity by Mrs. GLOVER— over the destitution of her votaries and desecration of her fanes. Puff; in the person of Mr. CHARLES MATHEWS; mesmerizes the Drama, re- calling in a magnetic sleep her palmy days again ; then, awakening the dejected dame, who accepts a home at the Haymarket, he parades be- fore her in rivalry, the heroes and heroines of the Minors and all the sights of London—the Ojibbeway Indians forming a conspicuous feature Ia the pageant of exhibitions. Miss P. HORTON, as Ariel, arriving from the Adelaide Gallery in Mr. Aloac.a. Masobes balloon, vocalizes the vicissitudes of her career very charmingly ; J. BLAND, as Punch, gives some hard hits at Puff; and altogether the subject is turned to amusing account. The gymnastic exploits of Mr. RISLEY and his son, which are at once graceful and astonishing, appropriately conclude the holyday entertainment. Mr. FARREN is to make his reappearance on Monday next : a hearty welcome awaits his return to the stage after his severe illness.
At the Princess's, the pretty fairy tale Cherry and Fair Star is the subject of a burlesque, in which the three grimacers, BEDFORD, WRIGHT, and OXBERRY, perform the principal drolleries. The puns and parodies are diverting, and the pageantry is superb.
The Wizard of the North has again got possession of the Adelphi, where be performs new wonders. By way of interlude, Mr. and Mrs. MALONE RAYMOND entertain the audience with a medley of Irish songs and stories.
Astley's reopened on Easter Monday, as usual, with a gorgeous equestrian spectacle, and those feats of horsemanship in the circle for which it is famous. Of the pageantry of the Invasion of England, or the Norman Conquest, we saw enough to appreciate the splendour of the cavalcades ; and we heard so much of the declamation of Mr. HENRY Rowena, who represents William the Conqueror, as to make us wish him to bestow his deep-tmed and powerful voice on something better than the fustian he has to deliver. Of the equestrians, the juggler on horse- back was the most pleasing and extraordinary. The audience part of the theatre has been entirely remodelled by its present proprietor, Mr. Barry ; and it is now very commodious, light, and airy. For the rest of the Minors, the Surrey and Olympic appear to have been most suc- cessful in entertaining the holyday visiters. The scenery at the Olym- pic is highly praised.
There was no Easter novelty at Drury Lane ; three more nights of M. Doenfz this week being an all-sufficient attraction. On Wednes- day, this great artist took his benefit, and last night he bade adieu to the British public. The last new ballet from Paris, entitled Lady Hen- rietta, or the Statute Fair, is to be produced on Monday, with a new danseuse, Mademoiselle LUCILLE GRAHN, as the heroine.
The French Plays were resumed last night ; Madame ALBERT per- forming in Un Secret.
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