Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean have announced their benefit. for
Monday next; and they intend to signalize it by the production of the Winter's Tale, so put on the stage as to be the theatrical pageant of the season. The play-bbok, which is already published with a preface having re- ference to the. Princess's Theatre only, explains the scheme of the coming splendours. Leontes, King of Sicilia, is to be regarded as a tyrant of Syracuse ; which city, reflecting the arts and civilization of Athens, is used as the type of a classically luxurious age. Bohemia is transformed into Bithynia, not only to correct the notorious blunder about the sea- coast, but also to gain an opportunity of contrasting Greek with Asiatic peculiarities. Even "Time, as Chorus," stands archteologically rectified ; and, casting aside his scithe and hour-glass, becomes the antique Crones. Thus, the most romantic of plays will be rendered the most rigidly classical in point of decoration.
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