The announcement of an opera under the title of Red
Riding-hood, composed by a lady, Mrs. G. A'BECKET, attracted us to the Princess's Theatre on Monday; and, unmindful of the circumstance of its having been performed at the Surrey Theatre, we felt some curiosity as to the manner in which the nursery-tale had been dramatized, and the nature of the wily wolf's vocal simulation of old granny's endearments. Alas for Mother Bunch! her Fairy chronicle has been scandalously garbled by the dramatist ; who, however, in justice to his impartiality, it must be said, has made equal havoc with common sense. The he- roine wore a "red riding-hood"—at least a few inches of red stuff hung from her shoulders, carefully exposing the bust to the pelting storm, as village maidens on the stage always do ; and though it would not protect her from wet and cold, it had a magic power to shield her from harm : there was no bed-ridden grandmother to eat cheesecakes, and no wolf to gobble up the little maid ; but instead of the vulpine de- vourer, a gay deceiver of the Don Juan order—a proud lord, nicknamed the " Wolf," but more akin to the Giraffe in figure and action—stalked about in disguise, luring stray beauties to his castle. The music consists of reminiscences of modern Italian operas ; the instrumentation being of a more original character than the airs, though less pleasing. Mrs. ALBAN CROFT made her first appearance here as Red Riding- hood : she has certainly not improved either in acting or singing, since her debut at one of the great houses—rather the reverse. Mr. WEISS has a fine bass voice, if he did but know how to use it ; and in his speech and carriage there is abundant room for improvement. Mr. BURDINI, a tenor, has likewise capabilities for cultivation : he sings with feeling, though not with effect. OXBERRY laboured hard to be comical in a nondescript part and costume to match ; but he was not so successful in making merriment as a mysterious hermit, who had no in- tention to be comical. A pretty divertissement followed, in which Ma- dame MELANIE Duvsl. danced well, though she is wanting in grace.
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