Cie Viratrr5.

The new comedy by Mr. Tom Taylor, with which Mr. Alfred .Wigan inaugurated his management of the St. James's Theatre on Monday last, has proved-highly and deservedly successful. It epnibines, to a certain extent, the peculiarities of Still Waters Run Deep, with those of the Overland Route, showing,' on the one' hand,- the-defeat of an unprincipled

adventurer by a shrewd and daring woman of the world, who would

save a female Mead from his clutches, Mid- on the other, the details of Anglo-Indian life. during a residence at a station "up at the hills." As

tjae adirentrireris in officer in the army, who plucks "Griffins," besides attempting to cajole rich widows, and his adversary is the wife of his colonel, and, moreover, one of those military ladies, who watch over the

interests of juvenile Warriors, the-. main 'Plot is thoroughly in keeping

with therpettyincidentswhich are intended to illustrate a particular kind Of existence. Withtheire accessories, however, Mr. Taylor has been less than usuallyfelicitous, while the scenes in which the principal characters are concerned may he ranked among the most powerfar which he has yet created, the trial of skill between the two antagonists being sus-

tained with undiminishing vigour, to the end: The mere Opportunity of seeing the .adanixtble eating of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan in two cha- racters so well suited to their genius, is alone' sufficient to render the piece attractive. Ia short, Up at the Hills is likely to remain for some

time the leading piece of the day. " Something like permanent good fortune May also be predicted for a shert domestic drama, which has been produced at the Strand, and is Much More subatantial than the generality of pieces 'commonlybrought out at that lively little theatre. Joe Spurritt, a superannuated post- boy, extremely vulgar in language, hut snseeptible of acute grief at the supposed seduction of his granddaughter, is just such a character as Mr.

Robson might have played at the Olympic, that is to say, an almost gro- tesque individual, with -a good deal of what is called "heart" in his un-

cultivated nature. It is sustained by Mr. J. Rogers, commonly known as an extravagant low comedian, who in this instance rises far above his ordinary level, and' willprobably make a strong impression on the Lon-

don Public. The pieoe is entitled, The Post-boy, and is written by Mr. Craven, who has never-before achieved a Work of such importance. Thus theatre, author, and rector, all attain 'promotion.

At Drury Lane, there -is a comedy entitled, The Bachelor's Wife, which shows how a Cmlebs, who is a perfect monster, while teaching

his friends to rule their wives proves the most henpecked of mortals as -.,soon as be becomes a ,Benedict. The piece is well conceived and well abted, the principal part being sustained by Mr. Charles Mathews; but

having been .written in. America, it should haye undergone an English revision previous to its production on the London stage. The dramatist, to be successful, requires the technical proficiency of the playwright, and American works 0. theatrical art bear a strong resemblance to the most ricketty of Mississippi steam-boats.

During the past week, some novelty in equestrian performances has attracted attention to Astley's Amphitheatre. Mr. Newsome and his wife (a Frenchwoman) have each exhibited the paces and accomplishments of a beautiful horse. Mr: Newsome, with his " Napoleon," and Madame Newsome, with "Brunette," did verygraceful things—things that would be wonderful if we were not all familiar with what Rarey can make a horse do, by gentleness and perseverance. Mr. Newsome rides as well as any one Weever saw in a circus, and he sings songs while standing on the horse's back and going round at a great rate in a style that takes away one's breath to see, but is agreeable enough to hear. The Lock- hart family are evidently born acrobats. Their performances, especially

that of a little treaturearpparently about nine years old, are among the best things of the kind., "Young Charles Dacrow " made his debat here. this week, and-was perfectly successful. His energy, pluck, and graceful agility are not given. him for nothing; he ought to be the A 1 of the Amphitheatre some day.

We takelhis 'opportunity of noticing the Robin _Hood,- which has been on this stage a few weeks. The opera, which probably suggested, does

mot throw it intatheishade. • London has room for both at once, since

each is good of its sort. Fitzbalrs play is well adapted to the audience of Astley's ; it is listened to with great attention, varied by "immense

applause." Friar Tuck is, perhaps, the best person represented, being as farcical as he is meant to be—no small merit in the actor. Mr. Prit- chard looks remarkably well as Robin Hood, and though his tragic acting is a little overdone, he does not " tear a passion to tatters" so completely as our ancient friend of the legitimate drama, Mr. George Bennett. Mr. Pritchard is probably trying to suit his audience. Children and other unsophisticated persons like the ruder forms of art the best. Their taste

is quite whOleaome, though it is not very refined. Miss Rebecca Isaacs, in Allan a Dale, sings with taste and feeling, and, what is also to be laighly.valuiditli:a -eery good voice. But why does not Allan it Dale ihrg sonie'ef the old songs attributed to him ? NO one could prosecute Mr. Fitzball friFiiiffingement of copyright, except through "a medium."

The Shervioad -Farest scenery is good, and the running about of live deer -is no Atrial' addition to its 'beauty in the eyes of the spectators. The merry-making at the triple marriage efIttabin, Scarlet, and Allan it Dale

was Verreffe&ive, from the groat number of persons. on the stage, the geed- dancing (the morvis-dancing especially), and the various .aeces- 'Bari* aniong which "a dragon" did his part-to perfection: The coup- d'ccil of the stag-e, when the fun was at its height, was very picturesque.