The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Covent Garden . —The programme supplied by the management of the Promenade Concerts on Wednesday — the first half devoted to olassical music—drew a large and enthusiastic audience . The instrumental selections included Cherubini ' s "Aoacreon " overtnre ; Schubert ' s symphony in B minor , " The Unfinished ; " and

Massenet ' s prelude for strings only , " Le derni » r sommeil de la Vierge . " These were well rendered by the orchestra , nnder the baton of Mr . Gwyllym Crowe . Miss Josephine Lawrenco splendidly rendored Mendelssohn ' s pianoforte concerto in D minor ( Op . 40 ) , and a gavotte by Jnles Janotfca . Madame Antoinette Sterling sang in her

nsual brilliant sfcyle " Best , my dear , in the shadow , " and ' The Three Fishers , " and on being appealed fco again favoured with " Jnsfc a song at twilight . " Mr . Barrington ' s Foote ' s rendering of •' Nazareth " was heartily enjoyed , as also was " Hero ' s a health unto

His Majesty , " by the same vocalist . Mr . Howard Reynolds once more asserted his claim for supremacy cm the cornet , while anvmg other numbers were reminiscences of Offenbach , splendidly played by the orohestra , aud by the band of the Coldstream Guards .

Olympic . —Many years back a familiar advertisement was to be met with in the representative theatrical journal of the time ; it read somewhat in this fashion : — WANTED . —Two or three actors , who can set off the dresses that will he supplied them , and who can givo nttoranco to the lines they may be called npon to speak .

We wonder what the worthy manager who inserted this same advertisement wonld have said of some of the gentlemen who took part in the revival of " Macbeth , " afc this theatre , last week . What is the stage coming to ? is a question we often hear propounded , and if we take upon ourselves to formulate a reply upon our experience of last

week , we unequivocally say , —to the lowest depth of degradation . However , we cannot bring ourselves to the belief that matters are really as bad as they seem . We are frequently told that the stage is recruited from the government offices ; that gentlemen who hold official positions that claim their attention from 10 till 4 , or from

11 till 5 each day , find ample leisure to do all the ' study requisite now-a-days , while as regards the work their engagements may involve , the majority look upon ifc as a means of pleasant pastime . Be this as ifc may , we are utterly afc a loss to conceive what possiblp concatenation of circumstances could have arisen to make the

performance under notice , as a whole , so unsatisfactory . Ifc is now some weeks since Mrs . Conover announced her intention to place upon the Olympic stage Shakespear ' s " Macbeth , " and although ifc was generally conceded this plucky little lady had over-estimated her strength when she decided to undertake tho part of the Thane ' s

wife , there were many who gave her credit for the best intentions , and all looked forward to her being adequately supported . For ourselves , when we glancod afc the playbill and fonnd that tho stage management had been entrusted to the veteran Tom Swinbourne , that a feature was to be made of Locke ' s celebrated music , that Mr . W . C .

Levey bad been engaged to conduct , and that snch eminent singers as the Misses Jessie Mayland and Fanny Heath , Mrs . B . M . De Solla , Moasrs . Prod . Wood , Mailer , & c , & o . had been engaged , we certainly came to the conclusion that the " revival" offered special attractions . For tho role of Macbeth the services of Mr . J . H . Barnes

had been retained , and here undoubtedly the management had displayed judgment ; at the present day we can scarcely think of an actor better suited to the part . But then , as the proverb says , " One awallow does not make asnmmer , " and one actor cannob carry through the evening a Shakespearian play . The " tea-cnp and

saucer" drama undoubtedl y has banished from Ihe boards the oldfashioned school of players , and nnless more jndgment ia displayed in guaging the qualifications of those who are to " speak the speech " of our immortal bard , nothing but loss and disappointment must engue to all engaged in snch ventures . In conclusion , led us advise

Mrs . Conover to re-model her caste of characters ; let those who have displayed such palpable inefficiency bo displaced in favour of better men—surel y such are to be found—and we may yet be able to record that the production of " Macbeth , " though not a grand success , certainl y was not one of the failures of tho year .

Strand . —Tbe first ; change of programme under the present management took place on . Monday , when in place of " Garriek " Mr . Edward Cumptou revived Sheridan ' s celebrated cemrdy " The U . valg . " Altogether Mr . Compton ' s company is not so strong as when ho last visited us ; he , nevertheless , has one or two good actors

with him , and of these ho makes the most . This was evidenced ° r > Monday , for though at times tho pointed dialogue brought a Pphmse " from a full house , tho piece generall y was not sent 'dung fast enough . Mr . Edward Compton—following his line of business- —selected Bob Aero ? , and met with considerable applause for

his assumption of tho character . Ho worked hard throughout , and thoroughl y merited the commendation bestowed on him . Mr . Lewis "all ia an actor that can always bo relied on to make the most out of ; » iy part ho may bo entrusted with , and his Sir Anthony Absolute is fl capital piece of workthough somewhat lacking in the physical

, foico needful to properly illustrate the bluff nod tempestuous old K' ^ tlornan . Mr . Sydney Valentino wns nneqna ] to Captain Absolute ; ^ i part reqniri' 3 a finished lig ht comedian to piny it properly . "Ir . Percy F . Marshall cauuofc beast ot having done much for '

; 'i- Lucius O'Trisirer . but the Mrs . Malanrop of Miss Elinor ; ' !•Lucius O'Trigger , but the Mrs . Malaprop of Miss Elinor | 'jekm was capital—although this lady lucks tho necessary voice . '•' -1 * 3 Dora Vivian displays some comedy power as Lydia Langni . sh , but J httlo more brightness would have been acceptable . Miss Margaret

'wvy was pleasing as Jrdia Melville , but Mr . C . Blakiston was "wnewhnt stiff as Faulkland . Other parts were well filled by Messrs . Ll ! , is . Dodsworth , Sydney Paxton , and Miys Alice Barton . In conclusion we may add , that Mr . Compton ' s company has only to 'vorf ; closer together fco make " The Rivals" a sncce 3 a , At tho Union

The Theatres, &C.

the principal artistes received a oall before tha curtain , a special one being given for Mr . Compton . Surrey . —Mr . George Conquest is essentially one of the old school , and the policy he is carrying ont as lessee of this popular theatre is undoubtedly a sound one . Mr . Conquest has secured a

good " all-round " company , and he believe * in supplying vari' fcy for those who may patronize his establishment . Daring the current week the attraction offered has been the Princess ' s Drama of " Hoodman Blind ; " this popular piece has be ^ n capitally staged , and > bo prin . cipal characters have found most capable reprosentat . iv 8 in Messrs .

T . P . Nye ( Jack Yenlotfc ) , B . Gurney ( Mark Lezz > rd ) . C . Crnikshanlc ( Kridge ) , and G . Conqnest jnn . ( Chibblns ) . Mrs . Bnnn ^ tt played carefully and gracefully as Nance , but we were a little disappoints with her in her scenes as Jess . The death scene , however , was ve y

effective , and this made amends for any slight d ^ ficiencv tba . t might have been apparent . MI ' Jenny L"e ably supno' - ' ad Mr . Conqnest in the lighter scenes of the play . On Monday , the Drury Lane Drama " Plnck " will be presented .

Prince S Hall . —Mr . Charles Daval , a very amusing enterfcainer , has starred for anofcher season in London , for which he has se l ected the Prince ' s Hall . Piccadilly , instead of the S * . James ' s Hall . Although several of Mr . Duval ' s characters are familiar to ns , they are , nevertheless , just as refreshing as heretofore . Always amusing

and never vulgar , this gentleman ' s entertainment is one that erery . body can witness . His cb . « v » os of costume are c ' -vrwd ont with surprising rapidity , and he keeps tho interest of hia audience well

sustained dnring the time ha occupies the stage . Between the first and second parts the Count and Conntess Mairri , with the Baron E . Magri , hold a reception , and these clever little folks thoroughl y amuse and interest their audiences .

Pickpockets At Theatres.

PICKPOCKETS AT THEATRES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —The other evening , after witnessing fche performance afc one of onr West End theatres , a lady was robbed of her pnrse while procuring her " wi-aps " from the cloak-room . The room in question was cruelly small , and as a consequence there was a crush . Daring this crash the purse referred to wa 3 stolen . On

discovery being made , it transpired that two other Iadie 3 had snsrained loss—in one case an umbrella , in the other a brooch . My lady friend is pretty sure who was the thief on this occasion , and she thus describes her : " a well-dressed , tall woman . " Doubtless this same woman will pay other theatres a visit , I therefore trust you will insprt this communication , so that playgoers may bo on their guard .

rr , " •I am , Dear Sir , yours faithfully , W . M . F

4 th September 1886 .

Madame Worrell will give her annual Evening Coicert on Monday , 4 th October , at the Brixton Hall , Acrelane , near Brixton Church . The following artistes have promised to assist : —M ss Bertha Moore , Miss Eihel Winn ,

Madame Florence Winn , and Miss Frances Hipwell ; Bro . H . Guy and Mr . Chas . Chii ' e- ' ; Bros . Fredlc . H . Cozens , F'anlclin Olive and J . Bndd . Harp , Miss Mary Chafc'erton ; Volin , Miss Anna Lang ; Pianoforte , Madame Emily Tate . Conductors . Bio . Turle Lcc and Mr . Walter

Hedgcock . Doors open at half-past seven . Commence at ¦ i ght o ' clock . Ticket 5 : —3 s , 2 s , and Is each—may be obtained of Madame Worrell , 52 Kuovvle-roarl , Brixfconroad .

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