The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Dniry Lane . —The national theatre opened its doors for the autumn season lasfc Saturday , when there was produced , on a most elaborate scale , a grand spectacular comedy drama , " Pleasure , " in six acts , by Messrs . Paul Meritt and Augustus Harris . The authors have based their ideas upon well-worn and time-honoured lines , with

nothing especially striking to the beholder . The piece is weak and commonplace , and if it had not been for the magnificent tableaux provided by Mr . Harris , it would have been received with anything but favour . As it was , the verdict on Saturday was a doubtful one , and the authors could scarcely compliment themselves

npon it . When the piece opens we are shown a very striking picture at Oxford , with the Sheldonian Theatre in the background . Here we meet Jack Lovel , an undergraduate , who has been promised a living by a rich relation if he can obtain his B . A . degree . This he has , however , failed to do , and , of course , is greatly disappointed

when he learns that the living will be bestowed elsewhere . Foremost amongst those to console wifch Jack is a lady he is engaged to , named Jessie Newland . Jack has saved her life ; they fall in love , and naturally an engagement arises . Another reason why Jack should marry Jessie , —he has seduced her . After a time , Major

Randolph Lovel , Jack's cousin , arrives with fche news thafc several of Jack ' s relations have been drowned , thus leaving him heir to a peerage . Naturally he is overjoyed ; likewise is Randolph , for Jack is the only person now between him and the estates . If Jack can be made fco give up Jessie , it is Randolph's hope he will take fco drink ,

and by this means kill himself . Jack now makes up his mind to marry Jessie , but when he is told by Randolph thafc she is the cast-off mistress of a foreign Prince , and of other undergraduates , he resolves to desert her . This he does , and Randolph proposes fchafc Jack and he shall go to Monte Carlo and Nice to spend a holiday .

From this point we mighfc truly say the story is afc an end , for nothing now occurs which makes any material difference to the piece . We see Jack taking a prominent part in fche battle of flowers , and , later on , he taunts Jessie—who has come to Monte Carlo , hoping she may induce Jack to marry her , He calls on

Heaven to punish him if he has done Jessie any wrong . No sooner is this said , than the walls of his apartment seem to crack , and with a tremendous crash tbe whole of the building falls in , burying Jack with the debris . This is the great scene of the piece . Mr . Harris has attempted many marvellous tableaux , bnt haa never

realised one more naturally than thafc under notice . Ifc is a masterpiece of stage mechanism , and the manager certainly deserved the call given him on Saturday . Jack is rescued and returns to England , where , much to tbe discomfiture of Randolph and a rascally land steward , he marries Jessie . The last act is

so absurdly short thafc we doubfc if many of those who see the piece will understand how all the difficulties are cleared up . However , the lasfc act is not the only one that needs alteration . Mr . Harris has mounted the piece most lavishly , the battle of flowers is very realistic : fche views of Monte Carlo are also excellent , and Mr .

H . Emden , the painter , deserves great praise . Mr . Edward Gardiner worked bard over the part of Jack Lovel , but it was anything bufc a pleasant one , inasmuch as no one could tolerate the behaviour of such a man . Mr . Edward Sass scarcely displayed sufficient confidence as Major Randolph Lovel ; he will do better . Mr . Liouel Rignold was

amusing as a soap proprietor , while Mr . Victor Stevens was at times very effective as the land steward . As is usual at Drury Lane , the burden of tbe comic business falls to the lot of Mr . Harry Nicholls .

The present piece is nofc rn exception , and , as a friend of Jack ' s , Mr . Nicholls was very amusing . He was ably backed by Miss Fanny Brough , who is always amusing . Mr . Percy Lyndal , as the foreign prince , was all that could be desired , while Mr . James O'Brien was

amusing as a servant . Miss Alma Murray , as Jessie , had some very unpleasant lines to speak ; notwithstanding , this lady came well to the fore and scored a success . Her acting was both powerful and pathetic , while her lighter moments were happily conceived . The Misses Lilly Miska , Jenny Dawson , and Millicenfc Mild may were good as leading personages at Monte Carlo .

Comedy . — Seldom does ifc happen thafc so thoroughly enjoyable a piece as that produced here lasfc Tuesday comes under notice ; 8 till , when ifc does come , ifc is the more welcome . The piece in question is a farcical comedy by Messrs . George Manville Fenn and J . H . D' . rnlpy , entitled " The Barrister . " The farce is brimming with fun ,

and contains some good quips and amnsing situations , rendered the "Jore acceptable by essentially novel treatment ; fche authors , therefore , deserve the more praise . To give an outline of the piece would ° e to spoil the enjoyment of those of our readers who may wish to see ifc j still we may say fche fun is caused by a young barrister , who

having late afc night befriended a young lady , takes her bag & ud leaves his own in mistake . His bag contains the brief for an Important law suit , which the barrister hopes to make a name with , ^ he hunt for the bag , and consequent scenes of jealousy between two or three couples , lead to some excellent situations , which were

heartil y enjoyed . The difficult part of the barrister was undertaken » y Mr . J . H . Darnley , who went through his task better than was ex pected . This youthful actor showed greafc promise , and but for hia anxiet y for the success of the piece , which he clearly displayed , his representation would have been better . As it wasit wonld have

, done credit to many older members of his profession . Mr . Fred Jjlervin waa amusing as a Major , while Mr . Walter Everard cleverly " ¦ spl ayed the eccentricities of a jealous lover . Mr . W . Chessman received a good reception as the barrister's clerk , and Mr . Stephen

Jeffrey was seen to equal advantage as his servant . Mr . Prince Miller went in for a copy of Mr . Penley , while Mr . Milton was c ^ P'tal as a fop . Miss Helen Leyton , as the barrister's wife , was . active , while Miss Susie Vaughan displayed nerve as the young B ( 'y with the wrong bag . Miss Maggie Hunt and Miss Agnes Verity

The Theatres, &C.

showed promise , while Miss Maude Merrill made a capital servant . The authors were enthusfcically summoned afc fche conclusion . A better two hours' amusement at the present time we know not of # Gaiety . — " Fun on fche Bristol" waa revived afc this house on Monday , before a good audience . Since we last saw it in London

the musical comedy has been revised and re-arranged , with a result that it contains bufc little of the old material . Nevertheless , fche part of the Widow O'Brien , yet affords Mr . John F . Sheridan plenty of opportunities . Mr . Sheridan has played thia character over 2 , 000 times , and from what we saw last Monday tbe impersonation

has gained rather than lost by continued representation . Miss May Livingston still maintains her old parts of Dora McAliski and the Black Slavey . This lady is full of merriment , and sings some negro songs in good style . Miss Edith Vane gives one or two ballads well , while serviceable aid is rendered by Messrs . E . C . Dunbar , Fred Darrell ,

Mark Kinghorne , James E . Manning , and Thos . E . Somers . If fche concert given on board tbe " Bristol" wan curtailed ifc would be better . In this scene Mr . Sheridan makes up capitally as a tramp ; but fche St . Felix Sisters are not up to the Gaiety mark . A good laugh is still to be secured from the piece , and we recommend oar readers to renew its acquaintance .

Grand . —On Monday Mr . G . H . Macdermotfc produced , for fche first fcime in London , his so-called new and original drama " Racing . " Wifch some good ideas , though perhaps not elaborated so well as might be , Mr . Maodermott has written a drama that will , doubtless , bfcome popular in the provinces . It is somewhat thin in construction ,

but has some good situations . The moral fco be learned from fche drama is one we cannot recommend ; notwithstanding that betting has ruined more than one of the characters , they do nofc seem to repent , and they tell ns that racing is the best sport thafc can be indulged in . The sfcory deals with how Theresa Truman has married

Count de Beauville ; he getting tired of her , employs a man named Binks to drown her . This fche latter thinks he has done , but Theresa is rescued and returns to her home , where she , with her father ' s consent disguises herself as her twin brother . How Beauville tries to marry a young lady named Mavis ; how Theresa rides the winner

of the Derby , by thafc means ruining the Duke and securing a fortune for Mavis and her lover ; and how , in the end , Binks helps to bring Beauville to justice , we must leave our readers to imagine . Aa Theresa , Miss Fanny Leslie has one of those characters she delights in . In her portrayal of a boy this lady has perhaps no equal .

Miss Leslie , thongh lacking fche power fco show emotion afc all times , in the race course scene , where she sings and dances , thoroughly delighted her audience . In this scene Mr . G . H . Maodermott sings two songs , while fcho drolleries of Messrs . Dermott and Doyle are intensely amusing . Mr . Bassetfc

Roe , as Binks , is by far the best representative engaged . He ia powerful , but when driven into a corner shows the cowardice of a brandy drinking villain perfecfc'y . His acting in fche third and fourth acts was the best ; his confession being most powerfully rendered . Mr . Cyril Maude gave a capital outline of the

swell ; Mr . G . B . Phillips was well fitted with the part of Daddy Truman , while Mr . F . Robson was capital as a broken-down jockey . Miss Amy McNeill was sympathetic and winning as Mavis . We are glad to note this young lady is taking great pains with the different

parts wifch which she is entrusted . Her grasp of character is invariably sound . Messrs . Henry Bagge , Julius Knighfc , A . E . Drinkwater , and J . E Daniels were equal to what was required of them . " Racing " will be continued afc fche Grand during nexfc week .

Crystal Palace . —On Saturday lasfc , fcho final performance of the grand open air ballet " The Sculptor ' s Vision" was given . This ballet , arranged by Madame Katti Lanner , and produced under tbe directorship of Mr . Oscar Barrett , has been a decided success ever since it was introduced . At the conclusion of fche performance ,

Madame Lanner and Mr . Barrett were called , and met a welldeserved reception . The vocal portion of the ballet was sung by Mr . Stedman ' s well known choir , under his direction , the effect being

very satisfactory . Mr . Stedman is certainly to be commended for the manner he has trained his youngsters . The grounds were brilliantly and tastefully illuminated , and a novel display of aquatic fireworks concluded a most enjoyable evening ' s amusement .

The Dangers Of The Streets.

THE DANGERS OF THE STREETS .

fJIHIS ( Friday ) morning a daring robbery was committed in -L Mnriel-streefc , an open and mnch frequented thoroughfare leading out of the Caledonian-road , Islington . Mr . Morgan , proprietor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , was proceeding to his office , about ten o'clock , v . hen he was pounced upon by two rough-looking fellows , one of whom grabbed at his watch and chain . The tug was so

violent thafc the chain was broken , and the pendant portion and locket were left behind . The thieves decamped , and Mr . Morgan , being in a feeble state of health , was powerless to resist or fco follow fchem . The watch was a valuable lever , and had been in the owner ' s possession over 20 years . Fortunately , the miscreants did not proceed to

further violence , so fchafc Mr . Morgan s purse was nofc stolen . It is notorious that the public streets of Islington and Pentonville swarm with idlers and loafers , always on the look-out for plunder , and that it is scarcely safo for invalids or ladies to walk alone , even in broad daylight . The matter is in the hands of fche police , who are instituting inquiries .

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