26 DECEMBER 1829, Page 9

SCENES OF THE DRURY LANE PANTOMIME.

IN the pantomime which is to be acted to-night at Drury Lane, there is a moving panorama by STANFIELD, with a private view of which we were favoured on Thursday evening. The first portion, Windsor town and castle, opens on the audience by the gradual withdrawal of the screen, in the same way as was practised at the late Bazaar in Oxford Street : the picture then moves slowly towsrds the right of the stage, disclosing in succession a portion of the river, with barges—a night landscape, with a bright starry sky—Eton College, lighted up from withina scene of bright moonshine—Windsor Castle from the Long Walk—the Royal Cottage—Virginia Water, with its numerous pa- vilions, and a splendid array of boats. There is another scene, but from the unfinished state of the machinery, it could not be shown in its place. The panorama concludes with a waterfall "of real water," about thirty feet in height. The painting is the finest thing, of the kind that has ever appeared in London. The view of Virginia -Water has a twofold merit—it is a most gorgeous picture of a most gorgeous scene, and it gives to the public from whom the realities of that fairy haunt are hidden, a correct idea of its beauty and form, as well as of its style of decoration. From the facilities that theatrical exhibitions afford of pictorial illusion, a number of little points are attended to in the panorama, which wonderfully heighten its effect. The horse that

drags the barge, in the second picture, moves his legs and head" quite like nature ;" the oars of the boats on Virginia Water sweep its sur-

face, not in appearance, but reality ; a swan on its banks picks the grass and arches her proud neck very gracefully ; the slats twinkle in the sky; the moonlight flickers on the wave, and even the dip ot thn oars is marked by the broken water of the lake. But the most inge., mous and noticeable contrivance, is in the view of the Castle and Long Walk. A cavalcade is seen in the extreme distance, crowded together in compliance with the rules of perspective : suddenly they begin to ove—their line elongates—they become gradually more distinct and large—and at last the whole gallop down the walk in rapid time, until they disappear at the foot of the picture. This part was exceed- ingly well managed. If any amendment were required, we would suggest the removal of the walk in the front scene; (the views are painted on two scenes, one below the other, which move across the staze simultaneously)—its continuity can be seen only in the centre of the house, and there for but an instant. The cascade will probably attract the young people most, and it certainly exhibits great taste in the getting up. In it there is no illusion. There is a fine break of rocks that crosses the middle of the fall, over which the water frets and dashes. The water is conveyed into a leaden trough at the bot- tom, and thence into the great sewer. We have heard that the cascade alone cost Mr. PRICE 300/.