The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

The Grand changes its programme this evening to " Jo , " svith Miss Lydia Cosvell as the street boy . * # * We are requested to state that there is no truth svhatever in the statement that Mr . Abbey has joined Bro . Col . Mapleson in the nesv Italian opera house on the Thames Embankment .

# * * ¦ " The Double Rose , " by Mr . Boulding , will be produced to-morrosv ( Saturday ) night at the Imperial . Miss Rose Leclerq , Miss Woodville , and Mr . M . Dallas are in the cast . It svas played at a matinee at the Adelphi some time ago .

* * * On Wednesday a nesv drama called " Glad Tidings , " by Bro . J . Willing , was produced at Bro . Douglass' house , the Standard . Mr . Odell , Mr . Dacre , and Miss Amy Steinberg are the chief actors . We hear it is of the startling sort and likely to have a run in the East End .

¦ * * # To-morrosv ( Saturday ) evening * the Lyceum opens under Mr . Abbey ' s management , svhen Miss Mary Anderson , the American actress , svill make her debut in England in ' ¦ ' Ingomar . " The scenery has been painted by Mr . Craven . Mr . Barnes , Bro . J . G . Taylor , Mr . Hosvard Russell , and Mrs . Stirling are in the company .

* s * The classical concert given on Wednesday night at Covent Garden attracted another of those large audiences svhich have become the rule under the conductorship of Bro . Gwyllym Crosve . A most cordial svelcome svas accorded to Madame Patey on making her first appearance at these concerts . Next Saturday is to be a " military night , " svhen the ever popular British Army Quadrilles svill be performed .

* * # Bro . Augustus Harris announces that the contract for the sale of programmes at Drury Lane is about to expire and ss'ill not be renesved . Henceforth our national theatre will rank amongst those svhere all fees and impositions are abolished . Bro . Harris has added yet another feather to his cap . We are surprised at any first class theatre not follosving the action of Bros . Irving , Hollingshead , Bancroft , Kendal , and Harris .

* The extent to which managers o ! theatres in France are liable for articles left in their charge at their cloak rooms has just been decided in a judgment of the Paris Civil Court . A lady sued the manager of the

Vaudeville theatre for the value of her fur mantle , which svas lost by one of the attendants at that house . The manager offered 200 francs compensation , but the plaintiff insisted upon having 300 francs , the cost of the mantle when nesv , and the Court gave a verdict for this amount .

* * Bro . Henry Irving has promised to preside at the Royal General Theatrical Fund Dinner on his return from America . It svill be held at the end of May . The name of the chairman and the long notice given of the event

ought to ensure a doubly successful appeal for funds to this excellent charity . Bro . Irving has also promised that his first performance in England on his arrival from the States svill be at a faaresvell benefit for Mr . Ryder , svho retires from the stage at the age of 71 . Mr . Ryder may content himself that he svill have a goodly sum to take on the occasion .

# # # Bro . Arthur Williams on Monday goes to the Royalty to take Bro . Ashley ' s part in " The Merry Duchess . " Bro . Ashley has the _ leading gentleman's character , and has made the opera intensely popular . We do not doubt that Bro . Williams svill sustain the reputation of Bro . Sims ' s latest svork . He has lately come to the front

on several occasions , particularly as Puff in " The Critic at the Gaiety last sveek , end as Prince Sapphire in " Barbe Bleue " at the Avenue . His naturally bright manner and comic vein of humour puts life into the dullest parts . He svill be missed at the Gaiety . We regret to say that Miss Kate Munroe , one of thc principal ladies at the Royalty , has just lost her only brother by drosvning in America . Much sympathy svill be shosvn her .

On Monday the regular Gaiety company svill take possession again , minus Bro . Terry , svho is always away in the autumn , and Miss Vaughan , svho has severed her connection . Miss Vaughan prior to going svith her company in the provinces , svill have a benefit at a matinee at the Gaiety shortly . 1 " Blue Beard" svill be revived on Monday

pending a nesv burlesque svhich is being svritten for Bro . Hollingshead to suit Miss Farren by Mr . Burnand . It is to be a burlesque on Shakespeare's play , " The Tempest , " and called " Ariel . " Thc announcement ofa burlesque on our greatest poet has produced a good deal of opposition in some quarters . Mr . Burnand is ready hosvever to defend himself and asks critics to withhold their opinion until thev

have seen his svork . We are not therefore nosv , even if space allosved , going to add another drop to the already full cup of bitterness . There is no doubt if the public do not approve of the principle , that Mr . Burnand will not svrite as he has stated another burlesque-drama , as he is pleased to term it in contradistinction to hurlesnue ourft anrl simnlf * .

Blue Beard" svas taken off in the very height of its P ? P u'arity in June to make svay for the French plays , so svill doubtless be svelcomed back . Bro . Huetr , svhom sve chronicled lately as having heen raised to the Sublime degree of a Master Mason in thc Strand Lodge , has returned as acting . manager .

* •* # r T- ^ f whole of the leading characters in " Silver » ii ' na X bcen photographed by Messrs . Denenlain and oiake . From the style of photography sve should say some new process has been used to take them . 'The back ground is a neutral tint whilst the portraits are very dark

The Theatres.

and almost stand out from the cards . To many svho have been amused at a play a photograph in costume is often a pleasant svay of keeping the event in mind . There are plenty of characters and positions to choose from . There are Bro . Righton as the porter on the hoardings ; Miss Laura Linden caricaturing Miss Eastlake ,- Miss Hastings ; Miss Edith Bruce as the ssvell burglar ; and Mr . Hasvtrcy as Corker . One is as good as the other , and all excellent

likenesses . " Silver Guilt " still runs at the Strand . It will be interesting to watch its career paralled svith the drama it burlesques . As the Princess ' s has reopened most likely there svill be a greater rush to the Strand by those svho svere svaiting to see the original . Mrs . Ssvanborough has relet the Strand for

another three months , but ss * e believe she svill take it in D 'cemberfora nesv comic opera under Bro . Henderson's management . Our readers svill be pleased to knosv that Mrs . Ssvanborough is quite svell again , and that Bro . Edsvard Ssvanborough has been able to leave his mother to go abroad .

* * * Thc Alhambra svill open after rebuilding in October svith a nesv comic opera by Bro . Sims and Mr . Fred Clay . Bro . Holland has engaged the services of Miss Irene Verona , Miss Melnotti , Miss B . Brian , Miss Rosa Moncrieff , Bro . J . G . Taylor , jBro . Mervin , and Mr . Honey—son of the late popular actor—to represent some ot the characters . M . Riviere svill conduct the

orchestra . This alone ought to ensure success . We doubt not every effort svill be made to make the re-opening of the Alhambra a nesv era in its existence . We understand that all modern improvements and every comfort that science and art can supply are being introduced in the nesv house . Bro . J . G . Taylor has not been seen in London for over a year , having accompanied Mrs . Langtry to America . One may expect a good entertainment svhere Bro . Taylor takes the lead . Miss Irene Verona has also not played in comic

opera in London for more than tsvelve months . This young actress , svho has already made her name in opera and comedy , svill be the leading lady , and sve are sure svill do everything expected of her . Her voice being strong , and her intonation distinct , she svill easily be heard in this large theatre , provided the accouslic properties are correct . We mentioned some sveeks ago the names of the principal danseucses . " The White Queen " is stated to be the title of the opera , but this probably svill have to be altered , there being another piece of that name .

* * * •On Saturday last Mrs . Langtry delivered herself of the follosving oration at the Royalty Theatre , Glasgoss * , svhere she appeared as Rosalind in " As You Like It : " "I do not knosv svhether you think it presumptuous in me to address you , but I feel it svould be unfracious not to say hosv deeply sensible I am of your indness , and how much I prize the svarmth of your

reception given to me . My last tour svas an experiment . We svere strangers to each other , and I was making my first steps upon the stage . I do not feel that sve are any longer strangers , and I hope I am not svrong in thinking that you approve of my resolution to continue in the profession I have adopted . If I had knosvn hosv warmly you svould receive me I think I svould have made arrangements to stay longer svith you , but I am obliged to return next

month to America to complete the tour of the United States . I have found yet another link to bind me to Glasgosv , in the fact that the Oregon , in svhich I am to sail is nosv being built on the Clyde . I cannot close svithout expressing my deep obligation to Mr . Knapp for all the arrangements he has made for our comfort . I shall not stay asvay longer than I can possibly help , and I hope that

when 1 return j-ou svill find that I have progressed in my art , for I assure you I only desire to be svorthy of the kindness you shoss * me . " Mrs . Langtry svas constantly interrupted svith applause during her speech , especially svhen she mentioned her ties to Glasgosv by the ship and her cordial reception . It is evident from this Mrs . Langtry intends remaining on the stage , and must no longer be looked upon as an amateur . She has found the States a source of lucratvieness .

At Manchester the three theatres — Royal , Prince ' s , and Queen ' s—have been doing a fair amount of business , considering the enticing nature of the sveather to remain out rather than inside the svalls of any building . At the Royal " The Silver King" has met svith the success it deserves , and we doubt svhether a better acted drama svas ever seen in the provinces , or a company organised to do greater justice to it . Mr . E . H . Brooke , as the hero , svas

natural , svhich is saying a great deal nosv-a-days , and carried the audience svith him from first to last . Miss C . Grahame , although somesvhat too young for the svife of the "Silver King , " nevertheless played it svell , and enlisted the sympathies of the audience . AH the numerous characters in this popular drama svere well pourtrayed , whilst thc scenery and stage management were as they always are at this house . More recently Miss Wallis has

been p laying a round of her favourite characters , the novelties being "Adrienne Lecouvreur , " " Put Asunder , " and " Cymbchne . " She has been fairly svell supported by her company . This sveek Mr . and Mrs . Kendal have been drasving * crosvded houses in " Impulse , " and have been svell supported by Messrs . Cathcart , Maclean , Waring , Alexander , Mrs . Gaston Murray , Miss Dietz , Sic At the Prince's , Mr . W . Hill , an old Haymarket

favourite , has been amusing his hearers svith "Gammen , " " Crazed , " and " Peacock ' s * Holiday , " and Mrs . Langtry enchanting every one svith her "Galatea , " "Juliana , " & c . Since svhich Mr . T . F . Doyle , an old Manchester favourite , has been figuring in comedy and burlesque . In the comedy "On the Bench " this clever actor shosvs to advantage as the ness'ly created J . P ., and made one feel sorry they had ever seen him in burlesque , svhere his talent is throsvn asvay

Mr . Charles E . Stevens , another great favourite svith Manchester audiences , appeared in both comedy and burlesque and rendered valuable aid to Mr . Doyle , displaying talent of no mean order in the comedy , and svorking " hand andglove" with the worthy " entrepreneur "in the burlesque . We understand Mr . Doyle intends travelling svith his

company until December Sth , and sve heartily svish him every success he deserves . This sveek has svitnessed Henry Jarrett ' s production of " The Naiad Queen , " a dramatised version of " Lurline . " It has been splendidly mounted , svell acted , and runs six nights longer . At the Queens , Bro . J . c ' . Emerson , the courteous and enterprising manager , has produced in turn the dramas " It ' s Never too late to Mend , "

The Theatres.

"Cast Adrift , " and "The Faithful Heart , " all of svhich have been more or less successful , and svell acted by Messrs . Bracewell , Evelyn , Walton , and others .

* * # If sve svere asked to demonstrate the difference between nonsense and foolishness sve should recommend our enquirer to go to the Avenue , and see " A Bunch of Keys , and there they svould see the distinction . "A Bunch of keys is nonsense , but foolishness it is not . The authors , for the svant of a better name , have called it a musical comedy ; but they make a bit of annlno-v for

usinothis term , by saying " A Bunch of Keys " is a collection of popular incidents , intended to teach no moral in particular . It is called a comedy , because comedy is thc svord used to describe almost everything put upon the stage at present , and the authors desire to avoid the charge of eccentricity , having enough else to anssver for , svhich is perfectly true * " A Bunch of Keys" is a mixture of burlesque , comedy , pantomime , tragedy . andeverythingelseeverseenonastage .

Still , it is tunny , very , very funny . " In thc " silly season , " nosv on , it will go svell , and the Avenue is a place in svhich to while away an evening in laughter . It is essentially a character entertainment for the benefit of Mr . Willie Edouin and Mr . Powers and Miss Atherton . The story , if wc may so call it , of this screaming farce , as sve prefer to term it , arises out of a svill of a Mr . Jotham Keys , svho has died and left to three pretty nieces an hotel , but this hotel .

according to the svill , is to go thc plainest lady . Of course , neither of them will acknowledge to be the plainest , and so none will take the hotel . Littleton Snaggs , a lasvyer , who has designs on Miss Teddy , one of the neices , reads the svill , and intends her to have the inn ; he therefore omits reading the codicil svhich says that if they cannot agree as to svho is the plainest of the three , then the property shall be divided . He runs the hotel on the

American principle , having secured Grimes as porter and Teddy as cook . Mr . Edouin affords abundance of amusement in his style of running the hotel oh the American principle , which he explains in detail , but it is the reverse of complimentary to his osvn countrymen . He insists upon charging everything by dollars , svhich to one person svho asks its value he says is seven-and-tenpence , and to another one-and-sixpence ; to all he tells the same tale that the value

of a dollar varies , but he varies it to suit his osvn pocket . Rose , Mary , and Teddy are the "Bunch of Keys . " ¦ The lovers of Rose and Mary disguise themselves to svorry Snaggs . Teddy also desserts him and dresses herself as a commercial traveller , svho , according to the svill , is to decide svhich of the nieces is the plainest . By a ruse she gets the will out of Snaggs ' s safe and finds ithe codicil and so all ends happily for the young ladies . The plot of the storv

hangs on the merest thread , indeed , thc whole thing is a collection of funny spontaneous remarks and comical attitudes varied svith pretty songs , choruses , and dances . Snaggs ' s ( Mr . Edouin ' s ) explanation to Grimes ( Mr . Powers ) ot his duties as porter and svhat he has to do svhen he ( Snaggs ) rings the bell and calls out Front" cannot fail to excite the risible organs . Grimes ' s manner of carrying out the orders is very clever and helps to the

keep up constant laughter . Mr . Posver is as grotesque as ever . He and Mr . Edouin svould be a fortune to a manager for a Christmas pantomime , and svould put many of our own actors in the shade in the comic business . But whether so much "pantomime" svill go dosvn in the hot sveather remains to be proved . We think the piece might be compressed into two acts , and a mock suicide , svhich is a scene of questionable taste , be omittedaltogether . Weshall not atto

tempt give any ' of the funny expressions used , as they are endless , beginning at the commencementand continuing to the end . Miss Atherton has the principal lady ' s character , and appears in various costumes and characters . Her singing is very sweet . Miss Verona and Miss Chapman , the other tsvo of the bunch of keys , make up the musical talent ; but sve can scarcely congratulate Miss Irene Verona , after having seen her successfull y representing leading characters , in the part she has m this musical comedy . Her talents

are completely hidden and svastcd , and we are only relieved by knowing that a much more prominent and suitable part awaits her , to which she will do ample justice , at the Alhambra . Miss Victoria Reynolds , one of Mr . Edouin ' s own troupe from America , is charming as Dolly , " the domestic , who is much given to dancing . Her pretty face and graceful steps all add to the success svhich doubtless svill attend the pie ; e for a time . To any one svho wants to drive dull care away we can recommend "A Bunch of Keys . "

Ar00903

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . 6 d . for announcements not exceeding * Four Lines under this heading . ] BIRTHS . DEA-v-On the 26 th ult ., at Roysdean , Bournemouth , the wife of J . Dean , of a son . PAS <^ C 2 " u r o , J , " . . Teddington , the wife of Colonel H . G . Paske ( late 95 th Regiment ) , of a son .

MARRIAGES . RoPER-SHlTH .-On the 24 th ult ., at All Saints' Church , Norfolk-square , A . C . Roper , Esq ., of Exeter , to Alary Dorothy , daughter of the late T . Smith , Esq ., Commander of the North Star . TyRRELi .-RuST .-On the 16 th ult ., at Cromer , Norfolk , by the Rev . F . Fitch , Henry T . Tyrrell , " Surveyor to Lloyd s Register of Shipping , " Cardiff , to Mary , second daughter of the late B . Rust , of Cromer .

DEATHS . GALE . —On the 25 th ult ., at Chippenham , Bro . Samuel Gale , in the Soth year of his age ; for 52 years a member of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , of svhich he svas for 47 years an esteemed Past Master . Quiy . —On the 27 th ult ., at the Whitelands , Clapham , Surrey , T . F . Quin , Esq ., late of Bathurst , River Gambia , West Coast of Africa , aged 65 .

M . n . iME IUSSAUU ASD 1 Sox's Ex . iiniTiox . -Portr . iit Models of fn fi ? » - 'lr ° Sax ^ W . * - ;"" ' ' *" C """* - < le Cliambord , and M . VVadJington . Costly Court Dresses from the first Parisian « r "s ? s ,. Als 0 P 0 "ra ! V Mod- ' of James Carey the Informer . Captain Wc ib staken from life ) . Admission is . Extra rooms Oil . Onea irom io till 10 . —fAD . T . l * .