The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

SAVOY . ONE of the dramatic memorabilia which will mark the season was presented at tho Savoy Theatre on tho evening of the 14 th inst ., when Messrs . Gilbert and Sullivan ' s now opera , the " Mikado , " saw the foot-lights . The dark places of the Embankment were alive with mnltitudinous carriages , all wending to the new Japan . Hours before the doors opened enthusiasts sat down at the pit and gallery

doora of the beleaguered citadel . Thirty years ago no London theatre conld have hoped to bring together snch a gathering of notables as were in attendance when Sir Arthur took np his baton . The densely crowded house was hushed when the overture commenced ; it was listened to without enthusiasm : its characteristic feature is an

adaptation , greatly enropeanised , of a native air . It concluded with applause , for the composer rather than for the music . The curtain rose upon a picture , real yet unreal—the very men and women of the land of Nipou , surely no inhabitants of our own prosaic isle . We turn to the bill of the play , half expecting to find that these

wonderful folk were really come in a body from the village at Knights , bridge . They were gronped in the qnaint attitudes in which we have seen them on tea-trays and tea-pots , and when they presently sing the sparkling opening chorus , we are startled to find that they can speak English . The scene represents the court-yard of Ko-Ko ' s

Palace at Titipu . The costumes have been supplied by Liberty and Co . for the ladies , and by Wilhelm for tho gentlemen , after native authorities , and for beauty of colour and richness of fabric nothing more beautiful has been seen . The most exquisite embroidery in silk and gold thread , upon stuffs that an Eastern Snltan

might wear on feast days . The pretty girls of the chorus looked fascinating in their clinging robes , dainty sandels , and coiffeurs of jet black hair , wonderfully braided and dressed in orthodox Nipou taste . The story told is simple enongh . Ko-Ko ( Mr . George Grossmith ) holds the office of Lord High Executioner for the

town of Titipu , on condition he performs its duties at least once in ten years . There has been a plethora of virtue ; his term approaches its end , and he must find a " subject" or kill himself as a substitute . It happens that Nanki-Poo ( Mr . Lely ) , son of the Mikado , has escaped from court to avoid marriage with the " elderly . ngly "

lady chosen for him by his papa . He loves the beautiful Yum-Yum ( Miss Leonora Braham ) , and in the disguise of a minstrel woos her . He sings a very effective " minstrel lay" refrain , closing with a Dibden-like " Yo heave ho . " In the chorus the assembled multitude of lords and ladies join -with a vigour of action rather suggestive of

the deck of the Pinafore . Nanki-Poo relates how he has fallen in love with the beautiful Yum-Yum , and having heard that Ko-Ko , to whom she has been betrothed , has , through a new law against flirting , incurred the penalty of death , hurries back in the hope of finding

her free . Pish-Tush , a noble lord ( Mr . Bovill ) , informs him of the state of things , and then enters Pooh-Bah ( Mr . Barrington ) , who on all the other ministers resigninghas embodied their various offices in his own person . He informs the lover that

" This very day , From school , Yum-Yum Will wend her way , To wed the Lord High Executioner . " The song and chorus following was bright and effective , with that

factastic touch of which Sullivan is so great a master . From the opening no doubt of tbe snccess of the work had suggested itself , bnt still a chief factor in a Savoy triumph had to appear , and the audience were impatiently awaiting its Grossmith , who now entered , disguised with the shaven crown , sandalled shoon and gold

embroidered robe of Ko-Ko , the Lord Hi « h Execntioner . Mr . Grossmith's crisp incisive style told admirably , and if the role had not the opportunities of II . M . First Lord , or of Wellington Wells , it was fitted to the special gift of its exponent , and delighted applause

followed bis first song . Presently enters Yum-Yum ( Miss Braham ) , Peep-Bo ( Miss Sybil Grey ) , and Pitti-Sing ( Miss J . Bond ) . Nothing more facinating or fantastically delightful has ever been given on the stage than the delicious trio ,

" Three little maids from school are we . Each of the ladies evidently enters into the grace of the situation ; they fairly carry away their audience . The trio was thrice re-demanded . It would be impossible to praise too highly the manner in which the intention of composer and author was rendered ; nor

have these talented ladies ever seemed more to enjoy the work assigned them . It would be worth a visit to the Savoy to hear this trio . How tho story proceeds aud Yum-Yum is united to her Prince , whilst Ko-Ko escapes the doom pronounced , it is needless to say . There is a pretty fanciful duet between the lovers , and

Mr . Grossmith has a good patter song , with which , perhaps , the audience expected a little political sauce piquante , but Mr . Gilbert discreetly leaves blanks for the names of the apologetic statesmen . As the ' ' elderly-ugly" fiancee of the Troubadour Prince , Miss Brandram has some of the finest numbers allotted her , and she

rendered them with artistic finish . In Act II . there is a merry duet between Mr . Grossmith and Mr . Lely . In short , Sullivan has never produced music brighter or more dramatic . That the story has nothing of Japan in it bnt the costumes is true enongh , while the dialogue might have beep put iuto the mouths of any of the

pleasantly preposterous forbears of these youngest heirs of the Bab gens . Pei haps the Savoyards prefer the mirror held up to reflect the nature familiar to the Strand . In any case it would be unreasonable to carp at a work which will produce smiles and laughter through hundreds of nights and matinees yet to come .

The Empire.

THE EMPIRE .

GLAD tilings for our " golden yonth . " At the magnificent templo in Leicester-square there is now offered a spectacle more brilliant and costly than the London stage has seen since the days of " Babil and Bijou . " Five thousand pounds have been spent in mounting the " Lady of the Locket . " The scene opens near the

Grand Piazza , Venice , with the Ducal Palace in tho distance . A youthful and well-favoured chorus represent the population . When we think of the choruses of earlier days—which wero composed of severe matrons and loan-shanked patriarchs—we cannot praise too highly the careful drilling through which those who now fill the stage

ninst have passed . Moreover , they sing with spirit , and more like living men and women , a characteristic at one time difficult to realise . The mnsic , though possessing no marked originality , is graceful and refined , and deserves a better " book " than the words supplied by-Mr . Hamilton . Both Miss St . John and Miss Edith Brandon were

evidently suffering from the East winds , and though both won deserved applause , will certainly sing with greater effect when the evil influence to which we have referred is dispersed . The story is simple enongh . Francesca , the lovely daughter of Baron Bombazine , is betrothed to Cosmo ( Mr . Coffin ) . She , of course , prefers

another ( Mr . Braoy ) , who loves her , though he has only beheld her picture in a locket . Cosmo is devoted to the lovely Stella , a ballad singer ( Miss Brandon ) . The story carries us through the hall of tho Doge's palace , a magnificent scene , crowded with brilliant costumes , moro or less archa "! ologically correct , but all picturesque , and

as rich as brocade and cloth of gold can make them . Here there is a very fantastic ballet of Turkish slave girls , dressed in the late popular dnal garment , and wearing yashmaks of light gauze , though why Almees shonld veil their faces we know not ; perhaps they were moro bashful in the fifteenth than in the nineteenth century . Fran .

cesca consents to elope with her adorer , and to this end she is to be assisted by the son of the Doge . Here Miss St . John has a very taking chansonette , " I ' m such a pretty girl , " and that is followed by a charming quintette , " When you want to elope , " given with much spirit by Miss Brandon , Miss St . John , Mr . Braoy , Mr . Coffin ,

aud Mr . Ryley . The political allusions on the first night produced a good deal of opposition from the audience . The Venetian ballet of the last act , in the moonlit gardens of the palace , is very graceful and fantastic , recalling the triumphs of the Alhambra . The ladies represent sea-nymphs , with the colouring of brilliant marine

creatures . A dancer from La Scala , Mdlle . Zanla , as the Adriatic , won great applause . She wore a curious costume of darkest blue below , and vapoury skirts of dark blue trenched with green . Mdlle . Sismnndi made a fascinating Neptune . Mr . Coffin ' s drinking song was the success of the evening j he sang it with a spirit that merited

tbe enthusiastic applause it evoked . A good part of tho dialogue might be curtailed with advantage ; it serves no purpose but to drag out the performance to an unreasonable length . Among the crowd on the stage there is a youthful black , who may be in training for a

future Othello , but is now draped most picturesquely in a leopard skin , and enters into the humour of the situation with such evident relish that one wishes tho author had found a few lines for him . We are greatly mistaken if he is not the Moorish slave whose dagger made us shudder in the " Claudian " prologue .

Gaiety.

GAIETY .

ON Thursday , 12 th inst ., "Mazeppa , " a new three act burlesque by F . C . Bnrnand , was produced at this house , and , judging from the applanse of a large audience , it may be regarded as a success ;—to our mind , deservedly so . The dialogue is full of humour , the music bright and taking , ancl the acting excellent throughout . In this latter respect Miss E . Farren , iu the part of Casimir , an

orphan Tartar boy , bears away the palm . From start to finish she has the weight of tbe piece on her shoulders , aud splendidly she carries her burden . Her unceasing vivacity and ability cannot be adequately described—these qualities must be seen to be appreciated . Edward Terry makes the most of a comparatively unimportant part ,

and the other characters are satisfactorily represented , by Messrs . Royce and Dallas , Misses P . Broughton and Clara Jecks—the latter of whom deserves an especial word of praise for her artistic rendering of the small part of a Tartar conspirator . At the conclusion of the performance both author and actors received a hearty call before the curtain .

Princess's.

PRINCESS'S .

OF all farewells we have sorrowfnlly had reference made to , none havo been received with more regret than the announcement that on the 28 th of this month tho curtain is to fall on " Junius" for the last time . Tho magnificent scenery , the poetic elevation of the dialogue , the admirable interpretation by tho leading artists , to say

nothing of Mr . Barrett's own perfect rendering of a classic ideal , have not ensured the success the lessee had a right to expect . "The Silver King" will doubtless bo welcomed back , with all its old popularity , but for thoso who love the loftier heights of tragedy "Junius" will remain a recollection of unfading delight .

Court.

COURT .

EMILE ANGIER is to give place to Mr . Pinero , and tho hero of the Denhams , in the original made so grand a tradition by Mons . Got , and translated for us by Mr . Clayton with no leas tenderness , earnestness , and manly dignity , is to pass away . " The Denhams " is a play full of strong interest , and ah tho Court it has been

admirably staged , except in one instance , where the temptation to bid for cheap applanse forced one of tho personages grotesquely ont of drawing . It is surely well that " Die lustige person " say no more than is put down to him—or her .