The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

"The Wreck of the Pinafore , " brought out for the first time in London on Saturday , has been received in some quarters xvith disfavour . To a certain extent xve believe this is prejudice ; and on the first evening in some parts of the house there xvere evidently some xvho xvere not bona fide condemnors . But the Press is almost of one opinion as well , and if the nexv opera should come to a

sudden termination it xx-ill carry out its title of being a wreck . What xve don't like in it is that the plot is fearfully weak , and the title and characters are the same as those in the very popular opera o f Arthur Sullivan's . But the author of the original need not take out an injunction in Chancery for infringement . Wc have said all xve knoxv of its xveakness . We xvill turn noxv to the other side .

Alany of the songs and choruses are excellent , and in keeping xvith the fame of the Opera Cotnique . In spite of a certain opposition all received applause , whilst sex-eral xvere encored , and deserved to be . But there is a xvant of connection throughout the opera . Miss Rosa Leo , as Josephine , sings as she did xvhen in the Italian Opera , and is rapidly coming into favour xvith the public . 'The chorus ,

* ' All hail ! Sir Joseph , " is particularly good . Air . Gerald Moore , as Sir Joseph Porter , sings a most amusing song , "A Nautical K . C . B ., " and throxvs much fun into his part . He cannot be said to be a fine singer , but he makes up for this by articulating his words , that every one can hear his song . His dress as an Admiral is perfection . The duet , " Alal de Aler , " also affords much amusement , as sea

sickness generally does to those xvho are not suflenng from it . The tirst act ends xvith " Very beautifully done , " and at its close all the performers xvere called before the curtain . The closing song of the second act , the "Kiss , Kiss , Chorus , " also received its rexvard by an encore . It xvill be interesting to see if the opera xvill become a xvrcck or xvill be able to xveather the storms

of the Press . VVe much regret that Bro . George Temple ( Asaph Lodge ) , xvho plays the Bo ' sun , has not had a more leading part assigned to him . Bro . Temple has for so long been connected xvith this house and has acquitted himself xvith so much satisfaction to the audiences xvho go there , that unless he is prominent he should not appear in the programme . His rich bass voice is xvell suited to the acoustic propertiesjof this theatre , and

is alxvays heard to advantage . Besides , as an actor , Bro . Temple is exceedingly popular , and xve trust in the next alteration of the programme our brother xvill again take a leading part . VVe understand in America the opera has met xvith success . VVe trust that if there be any real original merit in it , it xvill not be condemned here off hand .

Like many other things , " The Wreck of the Pinafore improves on acquaintance . On hearing it a second time xve noticed a marked improvement , and certainly a highl y appreciative audience in a fairly filled house . VVe think if the composers xvould strike out some of the symphonies , and turn the Bo ' sun ' s song into a solo , it xvould be a vast improvement and prevent its dragging .

" Cupid in Camp " is the title of a nexv txvo act comic drama by Air . G . C . Vernon , lately brought out at the Criterion , preceding Bvo . Byron ' s popular and amusing comedy " Fourteen Days . " The story takes place at Dover , and is in the days of William III ., as the officers ' uniforms shoxv . The Gox-ernor of the port , General Lake ( Mr . Denison ) , and the Colonel Lindsey ( Mr . Blakeley )

have received orders to arrest a certain Capt . Savile ( Air . Lytton Sothern ) and send him to London , and at the same time to search for Miss Helen Wentworth , and send her to France . Captain Savile is in love xvith the governor ' s daughter , Mary Clifford , and his friend , Major Murray ( Air . Astley ) , is in love xvith Miss Helen Wentworth . Captain Savile and Miss Went-aorth are both xvarned by Mrs . Davis , the landlady , that they are in

danger of being arrested and despatched to different places ; and as Helen is opposed to returning to France , and the captain is equally against being sent to London , theyagreeto change costumes ; Miss Wentworth becoming Captain Savile and the captain turns into Miss Helen . Of course they are arrested , and some complications and laughable scenes noxv take place . The captain , in his

xvoman ' s disguise , attracts the attention of the governor , and , on the other hand , Miss Wentworth as the captain behaves in a manner very singular for a lady , though the colonel does not discover the sex , as he afterwards admits xvas strange , he being a slave to female beauty . Noxv that the captain is living in the house of his lox'er , xvhom he has never seen , he reveals himself to her , and explains his

conduct and reasons for disguising himself . William III . sends orders for the release of the captives , and so ends the p lot happily . The general , of course , looks particularly foolish , for whilst being a goaler , he has paid most marked attentions to his prisoner , xvhom he has never dreamed is anything but a xvoman . The colonel severely reproaches himself for his o-. vn xvant of shrexvdness in not discovering

the deception he has been under . Miss AI . Rorke , as Miss Clifford , and Aliss Rose Saker ( a niece of Air . Chas . Wyndham ) , as Miss Wenhvorth , make their parts extremely amusing . The latter does not become vulgar or distasteful in her assumption of male attire , when she imitates the peculiarities of a gentlemen by taking snuff , xvalkinc * xvith a sivaggering cait , and using a big D noxv

and then . Mr . Lytton Sothern , too , in his xvoman ' s costume is entirely free from offensiveness . _ The ladies are amused at his manner of xvorking and kicking the train of his dress from under his feet . " Fourteen Days " still commands its popularity , but , as xve said before , this is owing more to Air . Wyndham than to the author . Bro . Byron has xvritten many more clever things than " Fourteen Days . " Air . Wyndham creates his part by the style

of acting peculiar to himself . His fussiness and readiness at all times and at any moment to invent a story and prex-aricate the truth , often tripping himself up , causes loud laughter . Air . Blakely , as Brammles , throxvs also a lot of genuine spirit in the piece , Mr . Sothern , for a young actor , bids fair to keep the family name from dying out . No theatre-goer will ever forget his sire ' s drollery . But the late Air . Sothern xvas not successful in his early years on the stage . Until he created the character of Lord Dundreary he did not command the

The Theatres.

eulogies he received the last fexv years of his life . VVe understand Air . Chas . Wyndham xvill betxveen this and the close of the year leave England for America . VVe understand "Little Aliss Alutfit" is the title of a new play to come out here on the xvithdrawal of " Fourteen Days , " xvhich has run many times fourteen . * * - £ VVe purpose giving a notice next xveek of thc new comic opera brought out at the Avenue Theatre on Saturday last . It has , xve hear , been well received .

Music

MUSIC

On Friday , the 2 nd inst ., H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh visited A'laidstone in order to be present at a meeting ' to promote the scheme for establishing a Royal College of Alusic . The toxvn , at the request of tbe mayor , had been handsomely and profusely decorated in honour of the occasion , and presented quite a gala appearance . His Royal Highness xvas accompanied by Bro . the Lord Mayor ,

Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , Bart ., G . J . W . ; the Lady Alayoress , Bro . Alderman Sir R . Hanson , Sir VV . A . Ogg , Bro . Sir S . K . Waterloxx » , ALP ., Lord Sydney , Air . Grove , Director of the proposed College , and others , and on his arrival xvas received at the station by the Alayor and Alayoress and members of the Corporation of the ancient borough . A procession xvas at once formed , the Lord Alayor and

Sheriffs in their State carriages immediately preceding that of the Royal visitor , xvho was escorted by a troop of the Queen's Oxvn Yeomanry Cavalry and a company of the West Kent Rifles . On reaching the Toxvn Hall , the Duke xvas conducted to the Council Chamber , xvhere an address of xvelcome xvas presented to His Royal Highness , after

acknowledging xvhich , resolutions of sympathy xvith the purpose of the meeting , and to raise a fund of £ 3000 to endoxv a scholarship in the proposed College for the county of Kent xvere unanimously accepted . The customary votes of thanks to the Duke for presiding over , and to the Alayor for summoning the meeting , brought the proceedings to a close .

It has since been announced that promises of subscriptions to the extent of £ 900 toivards the above Kent Scholarship Fund of £ 3000 have already been received , xvhile arrangements are being made to hold meetings in all the principal towns in the county .

The performance at the lioyal Italian Opera on Thursday evening week of an Italian adaptation of Wagner's " Lohengrin " \* ery naturally challenged comparison with that whiclx has been witnessed at Drury Lane by the German Opera , and , quite as naturally might be expected , the comparison is by no means favourable to the Italians , for very obvious reasons . The Germans are familiar xvith

every note xvritten b y their compatriot , and are better able to interpret his music . On the other hand , those xvho are most familiar xvith the Italian school of music , cannot be expected to sympathise xvith , and , as a consequence , so ably interpret the music of a German master , especially xvhen that master is none other than Wagner , The Elsa ot Aladame Albani was a masterpiece of vocalisation and

emotional acting , and , as at previous interpretations , delighted the axidience . But she alone of the cast will compare xvith her German rivals ; the other members , though they did fairly xvell , shoxving to great disadx'antage . Aladie . J . Stahl played Orfruda , Al . Syh'a , Lohengrin , Signor Cotogni Telramoudo , AL Gresse , // Re , and M . Dauphin the Herald .

But if xve cannot look upon last Thursday s performance of " Lohengrin" ias a great success , frequenters of the " Garden " must have enjoyed a wealth of pleasure in the other performances arranged for them . The evening previous Aladame Adelina Patti charmed her audience by her brilliant impersonation of Catarina in "L'Etoile du Nord ; " Aladame Valleria proving a most

successful representative of Prascoria , xvhile MM . Lestellier and Gailhard xvere found to be admirable exponents of the " roles" of Danitoviifs and Pietre respectively . On Friday , Aladame Pauline Lucca made her second appearance as Carmen , the cast being the same as xve noted last xveek . On Saturday , " II Barbiere di Siviglia " xvas given for the first time this season , xvith Aladame Adelina

Patti in the character of Rosina ; Signor Cotogni as Figaro ,- Signor De Reszke as Basilio ; and Signor Nicolini as Almaviva . The house xvas croxvded on this occasion , and Aladame Patti aroused the enthusiasm of the house by the brilliancy of her singing and the fascination of

her acting . Signor Nicohni xvas in better voice than he has been for some time past , and received well-merited applause for his rendering of the serenade and the duet xvith Figaro ( Signor Cotogni ) , xvho xvas sprightly , as usual ; the other characters , including Signor Scolara and Mdlle . Corsi , rendering efficient service .

At the German Opera , Drury I ^ ane , " Fidelio " xx-as repeated on Wednesday last , "Tannhauser" on 'Thursday , " Die Aleistersinger " on Saturday and Tuesday , the last-mentioned , by its many and great beauties , and the almost perfect manner in which the several characters are played , having a fair claim to be regarded as the chief attraction xvhich has yet been offered by Herr Franke's

company . As to Herr Richter , his ability as a conductor has never been more conspicuous than in connection xvith this particular xvork . To-night xvill be given for the first time this season " liuryanthe , " xvhen Frau Dr . Al . Peschka-Leutner xvill make her first appearance as Eglintine , xvhile Frau Sacher xvill play the title r 61 e . Yesterday ( Friday ) an extra performance of " Fidelio " xvas to take place by special desire .

* % # Bro . the I ^ ord Mayor has kindly accepted the presidency of the French Alusical Festival and Competition , xvhich has been arranged to take place at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on Tuesday and

Wednesday , the 20 th and 21 st inst . The proceedings xvill commence at noon on the former day with an inaugural ceremony , which xvill include the singing of the French and English National Hymns by the United Choral Societies , xvith accompaniments by the Instrumental Societies .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

The President and members of the Royal Academy xvere entertained at the Alansion House on Tuesday evening , at a banquet gix * en in their honour by Bro . Lord Alayor , Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , and the Lady Mayoress . There were present , in addition to the Royal Academicians and their ladies , the Archbishop of York , the French Ambassador , the Netherlands Alinister ,

Field-Alarshal Lord Strathnairn , Sir R . P . Collier , Bros . Sir T . Brassey , K . C . B ., ALP ., Sir Garnet Wolseley , and Sir VV . Seymour Fitzgerald , besides several members of Parliament , and of the Court of Aldermen . In proposing the toast of the evening , the Lord Alayor remarked that the civilization of the countryldepended on its cultivation of the arts , and it xvas gratifvinsr to knoxv that under the -co-is of

the Royal Academy painting and sculpture had flourished and still continued to flourish . With the toast xvas associated the name of Sir F . Leighton , P . R . A ., of xvhom his lordship spoke in complimentary terms , describing him as an orator , a linguist , a painter , and sculptor combined . Sir Frederick prox'ed his claim to be ranked among members of the first cf these four categories by the eloquent manner in xvliich he responded . He thanked his kind host

and hostess , both for himself and his felloiv-members , for the splendid hospitality they had received , xvhich he felt himself justified in regarding , not as of a ceremonial character , but rather as expressing the interest taken in art by the greatest municipal body in the xx * orld . The band of the Coldstream Guards played during the evening , while . Madame Marie Roze sang several solos .

The loss sustained by Birmingham in 1 S 79 through the destruction b y fire of its fine Reference Library , xvas formally repaired on Thursday last , xvhen the nexv Reference Free Libraries , xvhich occupy the site of the former building , xvere opened . The initiatory proceedings took place in the Toxvn Hall , under the presidency

ot the Alayor , and included an eloquent and most instructive address on the pleasure to be derived from literary studies by Air . Bright , ALP ., xvho said , in the course of his remarks , that he xvould rather have one comfortable room xvell stocked with books than all the decorations xvhich high art could offer . Air . Chamberlain , ALP ., was also present on the occasion . : * # % i cteatn trom blood

ne poisoning is announced of Mr . James Spence , Professor of Surgery in the Edinburgh University . The professor had recently had two toes on one of his feet amputated , but the wounds , instead of healing , became gangrenous , and death ensued .

* * # lt is reckoned that up to the present xveek no less than twenty-one millions of people have visited the South Kensington Aluseum since it xvas opened . # os < ft H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh presided at a

meeting , on Alonday evening , of the general Committee of the proposed International Fisheries Exhibition , 1 S 83 , xvhen a resolution xvas passed to the effect that , having regard to the importance of the Exhibition , application should be made to the Treasury for a grant in aid and to the Government for general recognition . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings . # # *

The subject of extending the area in the City of London which is already illuminated by the electric light was discussed at the meeting , on Tuesday , of the City Commissioners . Several motions xvere considered ; the principal one that xvas carried being to the effect that it should be referred to the Streets Committee to consider and report as to the inclusion of Bishopgate-street , and any other thoroughfare in the City of London , in any scheme of electric lighting they might recommend .

Having inspected some of the principal factories and special schools in several of the district centres of Westphalia , the Royal Commission on Technical Education visited Crefeld , xvhich produces silk goods to the annual valife of £ 2 , 000 , 0000 , and must be looked upon as a

successful rival of Macclesfield and Lyons , the chief centres of silk manufacture in England and France respectively . I he main object of the visit xvas to inspect the xveaving school . Tne members then separated , the chairman , Bro . B . Samuelson ^ ALP ., and Air . Erwin Smith returning to London .

www Under the careful supervision of Mr . Carrington , the aquarium portion of the Royal Aquarium , Westminster , has been re-arranged , and the larger tanks now contain some fine specimens of carp , perch , and other fish . # # »

On Wednesday last , at Reading , Mr . Walter , M . P ., opened a nexv Town Hall , Free Library , Reading Room , and School of Science and Art , xvhich had cost £ 0 o , ooo , and expressed his belief that noxv they had a building xvorthy of the reception of xvorks of art , private

gilts xvould be forthcoming , and supplement their efforts to increase its attractions . At the luncheon xvhich followed , Bro . Shaxv Lefevre , M . P ., who xvas present , returned thanks for the Houses of Parliament . * # *

The annual general meeting of the Surveyors ' Institution xvas held on Tuesday , at 12 Great Georgestreet , Westminster . From the report of the Council it appears that 200 neiv Felloxvs and Associates have been elected since the incorporation of the Institution by Royal Charter in August last .

* * * The Great Russian Exhibition at Moscow xvas opened , on Thursday last , by the Grand Duke Vladimir , in the presence of a large assembly , xvhich included the Metropolitan Archbishop and Prince Dolgoroukoff , both of xvhom spoke xvith satisfaction of the success xvhich had

attended a scheme initiated b y the late Czar Alexander IL The ceremony was most imposing . An overture hy Rubinstein , into xvhich xvere introduced the native airs of the different Russian populations , being received with enthusiasm } and appropriately bringing the proceedings to a close .