Of the other novelties we can only give a brief
account, de- rived from the reports of others; for though we looked in at the newly-opened theatre, the FITZROY (late the Queen's), we could not stay to see out the performances. The new company Mcittges some clever actors. CHARLES MASON and Miss M ASPN are the hero and heroine of a domestic tAgedy called the Templer, full of dishgreeable incidents, whose gratuitousness and absurdity cer- tainly tend to mitigate their painful effect. We will not do the actors in it the injustice to form an opinion of their talents fisna such an exhibition. In comedians the company is rich : among them are Miss CRISP, a handsome young lady, who sings agree- ably ; Mrs. BRINDALL, a very lively and lady-like actress; Mrs. MANDERS, a smart abigailand her husband, whose broad, low humour, enraptures the galleries, and sets the whole house in a roar; little OXBERRY, who proves himself a worthy scion of the old stock; MITCHELL, a capital low comedian ; Messrs. PARR and PERRY, who evince considerable capabilities; and others of less name.
The pantomime at the Fitzroy, written by the funny editor of Fig,aro in London, is described as being the best in point or authorship ; being full of political and popular allusions, as a pan- tomime should be. The Manager seems deteirained to deserve encouragement ; and the regulations by which.cloaks, &c. are taken care of, and play- billa distributed to the visitors of the boxes, gratis, is a proof of it. ,Even the shilling paid for securing places is allowed in the price of admission, which is three shillings instead of four; and the box-keepers will {lot accept any gratuity, much less 'demand it as at some, and expect it as at all other theatres.
The grand equestrian spectii0e of St. George and the Dragon, at .t.,PaiRit LANE, IS as splendid as the dramatic part is dull. Du- CROW, as St. George, mounted on a white horse, who is as good an actor as his rider, engages the Dragon in capital style. And there is a tiiumplial procession of cavalry and cars, drawn by ponies and zebras, which groups on the stage, forming a gorgeous tableau. Then there is a diorama by STANFIELD, exhibiting two or three magnificent views of Memp!:!s, and one of the cataracts of the Ganges' which one account states to be our old friend of Niagara with a new face. The machinery did not work well on the first night, bttt that is a defect easily remedied.
The COVENT GARDEN pantomime, as a scene for the display of the marvels of the nursery rhymes in which Mother Hubbard and her Dog are the principal actors, is described as being well enough; but the harlequinade is as bad as bad can be, and was rewarded • with some hisses. It is a medley of all sorts of personages : Venus rises from the sea; Cupid, in the shape of Miss POOLE, descends on a butterfly ; "four-and-twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie, whistle in concert ; Miss POOLE beats the drum ; and Ogre PAYNE is the king of a tribe of flat heads, with faces like enor- mous pancakes. This too has its diorama, by GRIEVE, represent- ing the adventures of Captain Ross.
The scenery of' all the pantomimes is spoken of as being good, and almost every one has its moving views.
The ADELPHI pantomime of Harlequin Margery Daw, "or the Saucy Slut and the See-saw," has plenty of thumps and bumps and jumps, and some extraordinary tumbling and posturing. Practical jokes abound; and the Clowns thieve at a prodigious rate. The Lowther Bazaar, a gin-shop. and the wax-work exhi- bition, are the principal scenes of their licentious larcenies. The apparition of some gigantic poultry, and the throwing of the sign of a civet-cat into the pit, from whence it is presently whisked up through the ceiling, afford great amusement. Those who like to enjoy a genuine row, without sharing in its consequences, should visit the Adelphi pantomime.
The VICTORIA has for the subject of its introduction the story of Guy Earl of Warwick and the Dun Cow. The scenery is de- scribed as beautiful, and alone worth going to see. Warwick Castle, Shakspeare's house at Stratford-on-Avon, and St. Paul's from Ludgate Hill, are among the most striking. We have often bad occasion to praise the scenery at this theatre. Here too is some extraordinary posturing, by two Polanders.
SADLER'S WELLS has a polyorama, painted in a superior style; and its tricks are said to be clever. The &utast has a moving panorama of scenes from BYRON'S works, cleverly executed—we suppose from the Landscape Illustrations. And the PAVILION, Whitechapel, has a marinorama, a series of scenes of NAPIER'S Victor In short, the Pantomime of old is extinct. All is "inexplicable dumb-show and noise." The scenery alone constitutes the chief attraction. Harlequin is a mere jumper, Clown a pugilist, and the lean and slippered Pantaloon is become a wrestler and posture- master: if you are made to laugh, it is by the force of blows alone. Nought remains of the harlequinade but dislocations and dioramas.
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