601 tOratrts.
Amid the dulness of the present season, Mr. Dion Boureicault's new version of Griffin's "Collegians," which was brought out at the Adelphi on Monday, as the Colleen Baum, is a striking phenomenon. The old adaptations of the same story have sufficiently faded into oblivion to allow the plot the interest of novelty, and the piece has all the variety and all the strength of situation requisite to a genuine Adolph i drama.
The Colleen Bawn has achieved a decided success, and what is more its production has been attended by a combination of histrionic excellence which is by no means usual at the present day. Mr. Dion Boureicault, who is not only the author of the piece, but likewise made his debfit as a delineator of Milesian peasant-humour, gives a very artist-like picture, marked by a great deal of shrewedness and quiet humour, while Mrs. Bourcicault (late Miss Agnes Robertson), though a star of secondary mag- nitude, has a pleasant unobtrusive style of acting, that is very well suited to the gentle nature of Lily O'Connor. The truthfulness of Mn. Falconer, as Danny Mann, the high-bred vivacity of Mrs. A. Mellon as Ann Chute, and the passionate energy of Mrs. Billington as Mrs. Orogen, furnish matter for admiration.
Sadler's Wells and the Strand Theatre, both thoroughly redecorated, are both reopened for the winter season ; the former, under Mr. Phelps, still faithful to the cause of the legitimate drama, the latter, under Miss Swanborough, still devoted to burlesque. The engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews, at the Haymarket, terminates tonight, and Miss Amy Sedgwick will reappear on Monday.
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