Under the name of Hamm Lescaut, the managers of the
Covent Garden house have at last produced something worthy of the name of ballet. The heroine of the piece seems to have rather easy notions of propriety, and she has also a devoted lover. So far there is an affinity to the celebrated ro- mance of the Abbe Proved. But here the resemblance stops; for there is not one single incident common to the ballet and the novel, and OLle might as well give the name of "Robinson Crusoe " to a tale about a gentleman living alone on a first floor in the Goswell Road, by keeping in view the solitude of the party, and leaving out other considerations. The Covent Garden Marron is apparently a grisette of the last century, much attached to her lover, (who, after Prevost, is named De Grieux,) but having no ob- jection to the attentions of a rich Marquis. Under the auspices of the
Marquis, she makes a successful &hilt as a dansense at the Grand Opera; but the jealous De Grieux, finding that the attentions of his *vat are grow- ing particular, spoils the sport by snapping a pistol at him ix the presence of the Parisian audience. Said De Grieux has already enlsjad to buy trinkets for his mistress; and now, by a military tribunal, he Aenteaced to be shot. A little misery occurs in the prison when Mano take leave of him: but the discovery that he is the son of his rival ; tidt consequent pardon, sweeps all unpleasant clouds from the horizon. -
This ballet is somewhat of the longest, and every now and then it ex- hibits a tendency to grow tedious. One might fancy the "wounded snake" to which Pope likened the Alexandrine line, feeling the influence of its wound at certain intervals. There are some men who will tell you a joke that is good in itself, and will then spoil it by sticking to it too long. So is it with Manes Lescaut. To represent the performance at the Grand Opera, an artificial proscenium is placed on the stage, and there a my- thological ballet is enacted, representing the loves of Flora and Zephyr. The Grecian temple at the back is beautifully painted; and the groups of floral nymphs, if not novel in conception, are exceedingly picturesque: but still admiration is checked by the unlucky propensity to , hang fire." The garden, in which Manon first appears, gives a very lively picture of old Paris, with its bewigged chevaliers and its quaintly-attired damsels. Than Fanny Elieler's dancing is delightful; nothing can be more playful and coquettish. Altogether, we may say that the ballet has very good points about it, and is most liberally put on the stage; but that the condensing engine is requisite.
Covent Garden also had its monster concert, some time announced for Friday afternoon. This entertainment was similar to one that Mr. Lum- ley gave at Her Majesty's Theatre two seasons ago. It consisted of Rossini's Seabed Mater, several opera airs and duets, sung by the principal members of the company, and a couple of overtures.
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