In one important particular the theatrical prospect of the coming
season is widely different from that of last year. Then, the passion for "legiti- macy" at the minor theatres seemed to be reaching its height. The care and completeness with which the standard dramas of the country were produced at Sadler's Wells were the theme of general commendation; and about a twelvemonth ago the Marylebone Theatre was opening with a splendour of decoration that surprised even the frequenters of the old establishments. The Princess's was another temple of legitimacy, based upon the star system; and the meteoric glitter of Mr. Brooke gave some- thing of importance to the little establishment of nationality at the Olympic. The two large theatres, once the fostering-houses or the prisons of the drama (according as people chose to regard them) were totally an- nihilated; and a dramatic luxuriance seemed to be bursting forth in every quarter, under the genial influence of free trade. The fact that we could see Hamlet or Othello at four theatres in one night, was a common subject of banter with the wits of the "fast" school.
"None avons change tout cola." The stagnation of trade, and the very practical nature of recent political excitement, have acted unfavour- ably on theatres generally; but in addition to these, "legitimacy" has had little private disadvantages of its own. The Marylebone, when first opened, drew crowds from the Metropolis, curious to see how the new establishment would be managed; but, curiosity once satisfied, the inhabitants of London and Westminster discovered that Paddington was too distant for an even- ing's expedition; while the immediate neighbourhood of the house was not such as to afford a solid support to any undertaking of the kind. The manager of the Princess's trusted too much to the "star system," and having engaged one or two eminent performers, showed utter indifference to all other means of attraction. The Olympic is badly placed: it not only stands in a very inconvenient and disagreeable street, but is in the midst of people who have been too long accustomed to see things done in a first-rate style to put up with a second-rate article. The splendour of Madame Vestris's management was alone sufficient to raise it to importance; and every subsequent effort to make of it a perma- nent establishment has proved abortive. The Othello of Mr. Brooke at first excited attention; but the great-voiced tragedian became less and less at- tractive in his successive characters. The recent opening of the Olympic as a vaudeville house, at the end of the "legitimate" season did not, we believe, turn out a fortunate speculation: indeed, vaudevilles require an exquisite neatness of acting and decoration, which was hardly to be ex- Petted under the circumstances. A new melodrama called The Magician, Which is now acting at this house, may perhaps prove somewhat more at- tractive, considering the few theatres that are open at the present moment. It is an ordinary sort of piece, based on the old Sicilian massacre, with considerable deviations from history; not destitute of ingeniously contrived situations, but utterly without absorbing interest. Sadler's Wells will doubtless open in a shortAime with its old "legitimate" business; but it has been closed long enough to show that legitimacy is now a doubtful Means of attraction at Islington. Altogether, save at the Haymarket, the prospects of " legitimacy " are not brilliant.
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