28 DECEMBER 1839, Page 11

Of the Drury Lane Harlequin Jack Sheppard,or the Blossom of

Tyburn Tree, we can only speak by report : it seems to have been successful, and there is no lack of "tricks and transformations," whatever their merit may be. The overture, by BLIASON, a medley of airs from the Beggar's Opera, unites all suffrages in its favour; and the only objection to the burlesque of Jack Sheppard is that the satire is too mild. A transparent portrait. of Mr. AINSWORTH is introduced in the course of the piece ; and the flash songs that BEDFORD has made so popular are parodied, while OXBERRY caricatures Mrs. KEELEY'S performance of

the hero. The comic masks are capital here too, as at Covent Garden. The harlequinade in this instance is said to be better than the introduc-

tion. Tire allusions are mostly political; but 3Ignesiv the Weather Prophet comes in for his share of ridicule with the Premier and Ex- Chancellor of the Exchequer. Nor is the Eccaleobion forgot ; and the "Blowing up of the Royal George " produces an effective explosion at least. There is a high-flying " voltigeur," too ; and a whole "family" of grotesque dancers, from infant to papa, who with cocoa-nut castanets execute a Nigger dance with ludicrous effect. nianstrAnn's diorama of Oriental scenery,—including the Russian fleet, a lovely valley in Circassin, an Indian defile, the Salt Desert, the encampment of the British troops, and Sir John Keane's brilliant exploit the capture of Ghuznee,—is unanimously praised : and knowing MARSHALL'S clever- ness, we little question the justness of the culogium. The whole con- cludes with the change of Buckingham Palace into the Temple of Hymen : a previous transformation of tire "Queen's Arms" to the Temple of Charity was still more complimentary, and quite as suc- cessful a piece of stage mechanism. The dancing of Harlequin and Columbine, and the teats of Clown and Pantaloon, appear to be of the- average modern merit.