THEATRICAL NOVELTIES.
MR. J. RUSSELL having been left with an empty theatre upon his hands, and a weekly drain for rent, &c. on his pockets, has essayed the arduous undertaking of filling the house and replenishing his purse by his own unaided exertions. The specimen he has given leaves no doubt of his ability, and gives good hope of his success. His entertainment is similar in its elan and style to those of MAritEws and Miss KELLY; with this difference, that it is prin- cipally musical, and RUSSELL has not recourse to the adventitious aids of scenery and disguises. Being a musician, too, he might even have dispensed with his pianist, and accompanied his songs himself. Indeed we think it would have been an improvement, for he would have seemed still more tae-d-tRe with us. His entertainment is entitled "The Strand-ed Actor, or Recollec- tions of Things that may or may not hare happened." The songs are by far the best as well as the most prominent p2irtion of the .budget. The monologue is a pleasant sort of recitative or intro- duction to them; and serves to connect the whole together. It is somewhat disjointed, however ; and its material is rather meagre. Some points did not tell so effectively on the first night as they should have done, and doubtless are now made to do. A fair al- lowance must be made for the novelty and difficulty of the task, and the nervousness incidental to a first attempt of this kind. RUSSELL acquitted ;himself very well indeed, under all circum- stances; and a few such receptions as that on his first night will put him quite at ease, and establish the good fellowship between him and his audience. His address was gentlemanlike ; his elo- cution free and forcible; his Irish brogue, provincial English, and broken French, all rich and humorous, without caricature; his imitation of VELLUTI very curious,:and that of old INCLEDON Of the songs, there are no fewer than fifteen ; serious and comic, new and old, English, Irish, French, and Italian. They are well written, adapted to airs of a superior class, and capi- tally sung. RUSSELL'S manly voice has sweetness as well as power; and he sings with unaffected feeling, and good taste, in the hearty and genuine manner of the best English style. All who love a "real good song," such as one delights to bear after dinner, will enjoy a great treat at the Strand Theatre. We know of no vocalist who could give DIBDIN's songs so well. He began with "True Courage;" and intends to introduce a fresh one every week—we hope he will go through them all. " Persevere I " (the Stranded Actor's own motto) "Rory 011ore," "The Roaming Mariners," "Truth, they say, lies in a well," " Port, Sherry, Claret, and Champagne," "The Englishman he very brave," "The Fid- dle-less Dancingmaster," with the two parodies, " The fine young English Gentleman," and "The slight Catarrh," were among the most effective of the others. A new national song, " Our own British Oak," and "The Roaming Mariners," are, we understand, oamposed by the Chevalier NEUKOMM.
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