TIIE MINOR THEATRES.
Lurline, or the Revolt rf the Naiades, is the most brilliant and elegant spectacle that has ever been produced at the Adelphi. But it is ad- mirable as a show-piece only. The plot and dialogue are nought ; though the phraseology is superfine. It appears to be an anticipatory vet sion of the Parisian novelty, the Revolt i;f the Seraglio ; the ladies of the harem being metamorphosed into Naiads. The story is of a knight who having, like Robert the Devil, lost ail his money at play, seeks to replenish his exchequer by begging of the Naiads some of the treasures that are hidden in their subaqueous abodes. lie and his squire, a Sancho-like personage played by REEVE, excite the sympa- thies of Ludine, the Queen of the aquatic divinities, and her favourite
nymph Idex. The Naiads entertain the knight with a fete; but the refreshments are rather uninviting, consisting only of unboiled crabs and lobsters, and a few cockles and muscles, instead of rout-
cakes. Whether the fishy and watery entertainment disgusts the knight as much as it. does his squire, appeareth not: but the mortals depart as suddenly as they arrived ; and the enamoured Naiads have speedy intelligence, by their couriers the Tritons, that the knight is faithless, and about to wed a terrestrial bride. This is the signal for
• revolt—or, more properly speaking, for war : the whole bevy are quickly accoutered in glittering boddices of mail, and armed with het. mets, shields, and swords ; and, after performing sundry evolutions and dances, and trying a sham-tight to get their hands in, the Amazons ascend to earth, and storm the castle in the midst of the nuptial festivi. ties. The Naiad Queen, however, is as magnanimous as she is beau. tiful ; struck with the loveliness and innocence of the bride, she for. bears to insist on the false knight committing bigamy for her sake, and even spares his life ; while the generous revenge Idex takes upon her swain, is to cut off the fishy tail with which he had been decorated in punishment of his perfidy.
The pt tticoat chivalry made a most graceful and gallant show. The scenery is gorgeous with aquatic decorations of shells and coral; espe- cially a grand stadactical hall, and the bath with the Naiads disporting in the stream. Jolts: liEs:ve is dragged through the river ; where he flounders about like an empty butt, to the great diversion of the nymphs as well as the audience. The show concludes with a grand display of waterworks and fireworks. Mrs. Ihmr.v, and Mrs. KEELEY, who is now engaged at this theatre, were the two principal Naiads. Mrs. KEELEY sang, and Mrs. I loNEv led u graceful " balloon dance," as it is called ; that is, the dancers display pink gauze scarfs, inflated by means of wire or whalebone in lieu of wind.
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