Tim T HEATRES.
THE St. James's has at last found a lessee, in Mr. Hoorm ; who comes from it good school, (the Olympie,) and whose managerial tact is shown in providing "a forest of wild animals," to propitiate the Royal patron- age for a theatre named after the Court and in the immediate vicinity of the Palace. A menagerie is now become an essential appendage to a fashionable place of amusement ; and we expect to hear that I.:twins has engaged a troop of dancing-dogs or "a wilderness of monkies," in addition to his corps de ballet, for her Majesty's Theatre— biped puppies in pea-jackets will not do instead, for all the hair on their faces.
File playbill gave a list of beasts that would have done credit to a tra- velling caravan ; but though in the main the announcement was ful- filled, the full tale of animals did not wear in the den—the rest, ire may suppose, were hidden in the recesses of the "forest ;" or perhaps the King of Prussia (whose patronage the creatures are said to have been honoured with) could not be prevailed on to part with his pets even for the gratification of his fair cousin of England. However, there stood a noble lion, (though shut up in a corner by himself,) a lioness, a couple of Bengal tigers, and a panther roaming about the den that occupied the whole width of the stage ; while a black tiger and a leopard were placed on a ledge above. Into this den M. TAUDEVIN en- tered, dressed a la VAN A MBURGIt, and armed with a horsewhip; he proceeded to fondle the tigers and open their jaws, putting his face in- to the mouth of one, and made the lioness jump through a hoop, and leap over his back, alternately caressing and beating them, very much after the fashion of VAN A alBURGIL though not in so deliberate and effective a manner ; he coquetted a little with the black tiger on the shelf, and kissed the lion through the bars, but nothing more. Then followed the sight which has so fascinated the Royal taste as to have drawn the Queen a second time to enjoy it—being the fifth time her Majesty has been to see the Lions at Drury Lane ; and we must say, (however vulgar it may be deemed to differ from a Queenly penchant,) that it was a most disgusting exhibition. M. TAUDEVIN did not enter the den during the repast, for fear he should be honoured by a preference ; but he pitch- forked into it huge lumps of raw flesh, which the animals devoured as naturally as a cat would a "bunch of lights," and as quietly, except- ing the observance common to man and animals, of The good alit role—the simple plan,
That they should take who hare the power, And they should keep who can."
Whether the beasts did not growl sufficiently, or their number fell short of due stated in the advertisement, or M. TAunevis did not play his part so well as Vex A mutton, we know not ; but the applause was very moderate, and not unmingled with some hisses. We heard a scep- tic:it person insinuate that the beasts belonged to WOMBWELL'S locomo- tive menagerie; and that M. Teunevix could not pronounce his own name, though he was proficient in the vulgar tongue, besides being more at home in a velveteen jacket than the costume of a ROD= soldier, whieh he wore with the air of' a scene-shifter.
the human actors—for the quadrupeds have not yet driven their biped rivals entirely off the stage—we hope to have a better opportu- nity of speaking than was afforded on the opening night ; when the pieces (tiimpson and Cu. excepted) had as little smartness ae novelty to recommend them. Mrs. Gi.oven, 'Mrs. Booren, Miss T curls,
i■lrs. P. MATHEWS, and MISS INIoanAuNT, -with DOWrON, WRENCH, Moen; himself, T. F. MATHEWS, and others, make up a little com- pany that might be made effective if employed to better advantage than ia such frivolous inanities as The Widow and Lore among (ho Buses. Three new pieces are announced for Monday.
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