THE BALLET.
A saw and splendid ballet, founded on BYRON'S Corsair, was a prineipal feature in the entertainmeins, provided for LAPoRTE'S benefit on Thursday. The novelty had the effect of keeping the greater part of the company till near two o'clock in the morning, to witness the grand conflagration with which it concludes ; though we doubt if all who staid felt repaid for their fatigue and exhaustion. Al.nea-r, the prodtwer, has been content to trust to superb dresses, beautiful scenery, and sonorous music, for his effects : certainly, but for the information of the pley-bill, the audience might brave remained in happy ignorance of the story. The bullet opens with an animated scene in the Pirate's Isle; where a crew as numerous mind motley as any masquerade could furnish, are danciug in the style of different nations, though not in such variety as the fashion of their costumes—we lacked it sailor's hotepipe, for in- stoner, notwithstanding there were several very English. looking tars among the party. MONTESSU, in the character of a village lass, tripped featly through a pretty rustic dance with great vivacity. fhe Corsair did not condescend to shake II foot; bur, like other great men, per- formed his office by deptii y, the sending a lusty fellow of his gang to dative the Tarantella with Medora. Medora did ma evince very ex- cessive grief when he left her : she did not so much as indulge in it disconsolate pas-setil. She was dressed in ball-mourning; but that was in compliment to the " Sailor- King." In the second act, we are introduced into the Paella's palace, a magnificent Moorish building, profusely gilded. The Perim did nothing but smoke and look at his bevy of dinteing•girls, whose incessent whirl. ing soon wearied him, and tin old pantaloon pander seized upon the favourable opportunity to tickle his toaster's tooth with a dainty bit of beauty that he had got under lock and key. Guletare appears in the beautiful shape of DUTERNAY ; and the Pecha is as much in ecstocy as so grave a personege eau be: the windings of her scarf enchain his heart, and the scintillations of her feet dazzle his brain : but, just as he is wrought up to the highest pitch of exenement, the Pirate-Dervish appears, throws aside his disguise with the rapidity of Harlequin casting his skin ; his crew arrive, followed by the Paella's guards; and the melee is ended in a jiffy by the capture of Conrad. • Gulnare, who had taken a fancy to the Pirate notwithstanding his dancing-days were past, avails herself of the impression be made on the Paeha to plead for Conrad, with 'mien
graceful eloquence of look and limb. But the story won't allow ber coaxing to succeed ; and accoolingly she takes a light to a porter to show the Pirate the door herself. He had passed at pleasant time enough in the dungeon ; havitig been entertained din ing his short nap by two splendid tableaux, introduced, as stage visions ;ire, Into reit a parr ilthesia of stone walls—sultitnlintting the death of the doss old Pacha and his own future happiness with his new inamorata in his "right little tight lw. island." l'he loving oau elope, under cover of
a vigorous assault on the palace ; the piratesa lish in—the ladies insh out ;us modent ver-ion of the rime of the Sithl III'S is reacted, red file
supplying the glow of RtoreNs colouring; awl the piece ends with a shower of smelts and a cloud of smoke, in the midst of whiell wul Is are swallowed up and turrets thrown down e•it It magical celerity, and a stupendous city ml In Mmerisr appears like a Pandemottitlin through the glare.
All these proceedings are sceom anied by a ceaseless din of music., soloed mid quick that we don't recollect whether it wit original or not. We can tell it Was by 110ClIsa, howeVer ; for there were two or three harps lit the orchestra, and ail sort. of itistrililletit: at work, includitat the concert iim, pliyed by Girt.to It EGOXin, aim it chime of bells. Many persons were too tired Co remain till the end ; and some few were.frightetted away by the i1111i'll 7/ate exposure of the persons of two principal male dancers, in their Greek co-ziette.
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