The last novelty at the Adelphi, called The Castilian Noble
and the Contrabandista, is worth sitting out, if it be only to see a superb set of Spanish scenes, painted by PITT and GORDON, from LEwts's Sketches of the Alhambra and ROBERTs.S Views of Grenada. The first scene is a tableau vivant of LEwts's picture of a Spanish Posada ;
the persons in which, of course, form part of the dramatis personm. The view of the Tower of Comares (part of the Alhambra), with the city seen below the eye, is a most powerful piece of scenic effect; only the light is like that of the sun, instead of the moon as in- tended. The interior views of the Alhambra are extremely rich and picturesque, and novel besides; and the last scene is one of the most real conflagrations that was ever seen—even at the Add- phi : the flames burst out in various parts as if the place was ac- tually all on fire. The picturesque dresses of the Contrabandistas also, make that part of the entertainment addressed to the eye most gratify-
ing,—though the Castilian noble is attired in a style that only the stage-dresser would take to be Spanish. Mrs. KEELEY, in the
character of a boy, is richly and appropriately dressed, and looks and acts extremely well. She likewise sings two plaintive songs very nicely. As for the story—since we must needs waste a few words on it is niade up of the crimes and misdemeanours of Don Alvarez, the Castilian noble; who being bent on bigamy, commits murder to prevent
his being found out ; but he is exposed, loses his estates, and is shot for a robber, by his own son, when in the act of leading on a gang of con- trabandists to plunder and burn the house of his first wife's father. Mrs. KEELEY'S powerful acting as the son, and 0. SMITH'S as a con- trabandista, are the only redeeming points in this dull catalogue of criminalities. A bolero danced by the famous triad of Adelphi athletw, BROWN, KING, and GIBSON, would have pleased us more but for the vivid recollection it awakened of the fire of the Spanish dancers, whose whole soul seemed thrown into their limbs. The
Englishmen, however, dance with grace and spirit : the surpassing elegance, lightness, and elasticity of the Spaniards, is inimitable by those who are not " native and to the manner born."
A burletta, by BCCKSTONE, is in preparation at the Adelphi. It is said that MATHEWS and YATES have let the theatre for the remainder of the season to the proprietors of the Queen's.
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