Another Aladdin of the burlesque species has started into life
and popularity at the Lyceum. No sooner did the shutting of the Princess's convert its Wonderful Lamp into a dark lantern, than another is produced at the Lyceum, superbly mounted, and burning brightly with the spirit of fun. Mr. A'Becuca-r's "new light," however, though it no longer shines in Oxford Street, is not extinguished, but enlivves with its broad glare of merriment the laughing audiences of the New Strand. The Aladdin of the Lyceum is Mrs. KEELEY : and a light-hearted, light-heeled, light-fingered little fellow she makes, in her Chinese costume—which she becomes remarkably well: we doubt if a Tartar face ever lit up so gleefully; but then she has the "wonderful lamp" in her eye. KEELEY, as the Magician, first assumes the guise of Herr DOBLER', but soon dons the cabalistic cap and gown : a comical sort of a Conjuror he makes, as ever was seen ; though there is not much scope for his peculiar humour. F. narrnEws, as the great Kham of Tartary, with flaming visage and candle-wick moustaches, burns fiercely with impas tience, as becomes "the brother of the San"; Mr. WIGAN, as the choleric rival of Aladdin, wears a copper countenance convertible to verdi. gris with jealousy, and portentous blood-red trousers ; and Mr. CotLIEU, as the Black Mute, tosses and tumbles about like a bottle of India rubber filled with laughing-gas. Miss WOOLGAR, the Princess, has little else to do but display a sumptuous dress, and sing her share of the parodied duets and trios with which the rhyming dialogue is interspersed: Jokes and smart allusions point every couplet, and puns in profusion provoke laughter throughout. The scenic pageantry is showy, and often tasteful in its splendour, and the stage-effects are capitally contrived: the enchanted palace of Aladdin fairly soars out of sight, and descends again as if from the clouds ; and the manceavres of a corps of Amazons guarding the Princess are performed with admirable precision. In short, the burlesque spectacle rivals in gorgeousness the romantic one which has been travestied.
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