Public Amusements.

Bashaw . Fatima , accompanied by her sister , is conveyed to the Bashaw ' s Castle , and Ibrahim is vested with a high post in the house of his intended son-in-law . Selim vows vengeance upon the Bashaw , and flies to his comrades for assistance . Before the ceremony of marriage can be performed , Blue Beard is called away upon some commercial , affair of high importance : he gives the keys of the castle to Fatima , desiring her to amuse herself in viewing the magnificence of the p lace till his return , trusting her , at the same

time , with thc key to the closet , but prohibiting her on pain of death from opening it . Irene , her sister , however , feeling a strong curiosity to discover the contents of this closet , tempts her to open it . A tomb is immediatel y discovered , on the side of which stands a skeleton ; the shades of Blue Beard ' s former wives pass in succession over the tomb , and vultures hover over it , eager for their prey . Fatima and Irene are struck with horror , but are comforted by Shacabac , a slave of Blue Beard , but one who looks with horror

on his cruelty . Though the inscription on the tomb denotes that she who endangers the life of Blue Beard shall be inclosed in the sepulchre , yet if the intended victim can remove the talisman from the foot of the skeleton , her life is safe . Shacabac is too much terrified to let her know this secret . He advises her to suppress her feelings , and possibly Blue Beard may not suspect : that she has opened the door . But , unhappily , the magical key was broken , and Blue Beard must , of course , detect : her . Blue Beard returning to the castle , and demanding the key , soon discovers what has happened , and orders Fatima into the blue chamber , to prepare for immediate death . — . She begs a short time for devotion , which he grants her . She appears in a

balcony , and her sister at the top of one of the turrets , while Blue Beard is heard without , bidding Fatima prepare for death . She enquires of her sister , in great agony , whether she sees any thing . Irene answers , that she onl y sees earth and sky . Blue Beard calls again , and Fatima again enquires of her sister what she sees . Irene tells her she sees a cloud of dust on the plain . Fatima conceives hopes from this appearance ; and then Blue Beard repeats his call with more vehemence . Fatima again enquires , of her sister

what she sees , and the latter tells her that she sees a troop of horsemen galloping over the plain . Irene waves her handkerchief , in great anxiety , to quicken their speed ; and at this moment Blue Beard appears at the . balcony , and drags in Fatima . Shacabac had kept post below during this scene , in hopes of giving some aid to Fatima . Immediately after Blue Beard has dragged Fatima to execution , Selim , her lover , arrives at the head of the troop of horsemento effect : if possibleher rescue . Shacabac directs to the

, , , weakest part of the castle , and at length he and his comrades force into it . Blue Beard by this time has taken Fatima into the sepulchre , and is going to kill her with his sabre , when a part of the sepulchre opens , and . discovers . Selim , who threatens Blue Beard with death , if he executes his cruel purpose . The Bashaw despises his menaces , and has raised his sabre to destroy her , when she flies to the font of the skeleton , and seizes the talisman , which saves her . Selim then descends , and a contest ensues beeween him and the

Bashaw , in which the latter falls , and sinks with the tomb . Selim and Fatima are of course made happy , and there is a general rejoicing at the fate of the Tyrant . Such is the manner in which Mr Colman has dramatized this well-known

. story . The piece is diversified by character , and enlivened with many humorous points in the dialogue . The scenery is highly splendid . The opening scene , of a fine landscape , and the rising of the sun , is very beautiful ., The antichaii-ber , or hall , in the castle , is superb . The sepulchre , with the skeleton , the birds of prey flitting over . the tomb , and the shades of the del parted wives , form an aweful spectacle . There is also a beautiful scene of an illuminated garden with a cascade . The Music is principally composed by Kelly , and it is a strong proof of his taste , fancy , and science , as a Musician .