The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

To-night witnesses the production of M . Planquette ' s " Rip Van Winkle , " at the Comedy Theatre . Miss Violet Cameron and Bro . Lionel Brough will be the chief characters .

* * « Mr . Charles Reade will shortly produce , at the Adelphi , a new p lay written by himself , entitled " Love and Money . " Miss Amy Roselle , we hear , will take a part in it . Mr . Reade also becomes manager of this theatre . Miss Fanny Leslie , who is now playing here in " Drink , " will , we understand , go to the Grand Theatre , Leeds , at Christmas , for the pantomime .

* The Globe next week opens under the lesseeship of Mrs . Bernard Beere , with a play by the Poet Laureate , "The Promise of May . " Mr . Kelly will be the stagemanager and an actor , whilst Mr . Abud will continue as manager in the front of the house .

* * * The Olympic has been taken by Miss Genevieve Ward , who will in January bring out " Forget me not , " in which she will play Stephanie for the 718 th time . Mrs . Leigh Murray and Mr . VV . H . Vernon have also been engaged . Mr . Vernon is always a satisfactory player whatever he puts his hand to .

Tom Taylor ' s comedy , "The Overland Route , " played at the Haymarket on Saturday last , was originally produced , in i 860 , at this house by the late Mr . Buckstone . Mr . Charles Matthews was then Tom Dexter , and Mr . Compton Sir Solomon Fraser . It was again brought out in 1 S 73 , Mr . Buckstone retaining his old part , and Mrs .

Kendal playing Mrs . Sebright . Since then , we believe we are not wrong in stating , it has not been seen in London . Bro . and Mrs . Bancroft have reproduced it with great care and most lavish expenditure . The house , too , has been redecorated and made still more a place of luxury and refinement . " The Overland Route , " it has been well said , was made to fit , as a tailor makes a coat . It cannot be deemed

a play , in the strict sense , for it has no beginning , middle , nor ending , yet many of the play-going public will thank the present lessees of the Haymarket for reproducing it . Many of us were not born in 1 S 60 , and what has delighted our forefathers will delight us ; at any rate , we want to see if it will not . The writer must rank among those who is not able to compare the caste of i 860 with that of 1 SS 2 .

His mother and the author were school-children together in those days . Tom Taylor displayed a taste for acting . Two of the acts of " The Overland Route " are supposed to take place on board the P and O Simoom , and the third on a desert island , on which the ship is wrecked . Those who have made the voyage from Southampton to India will be able to appreciate the accuracy of the representation of

the ship on the stage .. Tom Dexter , as played by Bro . Bancroft , is the central figure of the piece . He has taken a steerage passage home after a not very prosperous career in India . The ship ' s doctor falls ill , and Dexter being a medical man , amongst other things , takes his duty , and finds many of the pasengers anxious to be his friend now he is in a better position . He falls in love with the daughter

of Mr . Colepepper , ex-commissioner of the Badgeryfore District . His love 'is returned . On this little affair the plot mainly hangs . A Captain Clavering is also in love with the demoiselle . Mrs . Sebright ( Mrs . Bancroft ) is a charming widow—what widow is not charming ? She is not a widow , but assumes that character to carry on a flirtation with more propriety with old Colepepper , who is a

widower , and with Sir Solomon Fraser , an ex-resident at several of the courts of Indian Princes , who is rich and haughty . Mrs . Sebright gives herself out as a widow for another reason , which is that to inflict humiliation on her rival Mrs . Lovibond , who believes herself to be a widow , through not having seen Lovibond for some years , and encourages the attentions of a Major McTurk in a marked

degree . But her husband is not so far removed as perhaps she could wirh , for he is on board the Simoom , and in the very next cabin , confined to his berth with an attack of ' malde mer , " On Mr . Lovibond are the eyes of a detective , who takes him to be a swindler named Downer , he having purchased the berth and taken the name of this malefactor . A good deal of amusement is naturally caused b

y this mixing up of characters , and by Mrs . Lovibond discovering her long-lost husband worn down with sea-sickness and with a gash in his throat caused by an attempt at shaving in the rolling ship . Mrs . John Wood and Mr . David James , respectively play Mr . and Mrs . Lovibond . 'he first act takes place on the deck , and the second in the saloon of the ship . The third in the desert island in the

Red Sea . Bro . Bancroft , as Dexter , plays with his usual food humour . The doctor always turns up at the right moment and does the right thing . When Mrs . Sebright juris too much with her admirers Dexter draws her attention to her having a husband . When Clavering , his rival , becomes offensive , Dexter brings to his memory a certain gambling transaction in which he did not play a bright

Part ; this shuts him up . Of course Mrs . Bancroft , as the charming widow , is charming . She flirts and makes no 'ecret ot it , but shows withal a kindness of heart . This is Effectively displayed in the wreck scene on the island . Miss tilbury , as Mary Colepepper , shows great promise tor a young actress . Mr . Brookfield ' s Colepepper is particularly [ J ? 0 " . He disnlavs much originality , onlv in keeoine with

nis recent performance in " Odette , " as the versatile and « -witted waiter at the gaming house . Sir Solomon hV ' r' B-sno P > > s wel 1 executed also ; chiefly in the j * stact does he cause amusement by his drollery . Mr . u £ > Mr - Stewart Dawson , Miss Daly , Miss Phillips , and y . Smedley are amongst some of the rest of the

charac-° > a " well p layed , but for whom we have not sufficient - Pace to particularise . The Lascar sailors and ayahs call L r mention , so strikingly do they resemble the reality on T ° d a P and O boat . The scenery is painted by Mr . log « ^ * Hann , as usual . Mr . Brookfield ' s mono-* vith ' 7 ' " ' ear-y Seven , " preceded the comedy , but met Jet fj a -- E ° f success . The author is also the TOr « Probabl y owing to being alone on the stage , and its

The Theatres.

first appearance , he seemed somewhat nervous in his own farce . Its plot is easily explained . A young bachelor , engaged to be married to a country lass , has met a professioeal beauty , a Mrs . Shillingworth , who has many charms . He is to entertain her at dinner in his chambers , and whilst dressing turns over in his mind the qualities of the two ladies . He finds a letter from his young lady , announcing that she and her mother have started for London

unexpectedly on business , and will call on him at seven—the very time he expects Mrs . Shillingviorth . He succeeds in putting the latter off , and just as he has done so , the mother and daughter arrive , and finding a dinner prepared , congratulate him on his forethought , thinking it is on their behalf . Probably before this appears in type the monologue will go better than it did the first night . Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , with their two sons , visited the theatre on Monday night .

Music

MUSIC

Mr . George Watt ' s eighth series of Philharmonic , Concerts was commenced , on Wednesday last , in the Dome Royal Pavilion , Brighton . The building was completely filled , and the programme gave every satisfaction .

* * l'Yiday next , the 20 th inst ., being the anniversary of the death of the great English musical composer , Mr . VV . Balfe , the tablet that has been placed to his memory in Westminster Abbey will be unveiled . The interesting ceremony is timed for three o ' clock after the usual afternoon service .

# * * On Thursday evening last a meeting was held at Cardiff , for the purpose of starting a guarantee fund in connection with the Welsh National Eisteddfod , which will take place next year in that town .

* A meeting of the General Hospital Committee , Birmingham , was held on Friday last , when Mr . Jaffray handed over a cheque for £ 4000 , being part proceeds of the recent musical festival . Mr . Jaffray remarked that the accounts were not yet closed , but his belief was that a further considerable sum of money would find its way into the coffers of the charity . . * * *

The Royal Albert Hall Choral Society ' s season will open on the 1 st November , when Gounod ' s * ' Redemption " will be given for the first time in London under the personal direction of the composer .

On Monday evening the Opera Comique was the scene of an experiment , the success of which is , however , very far from being assured . A ladies' orchestra , though a recognised institution in Vienna and the large cities on both sides of the Danube , is so complete a novelty to the English public , that something above the averarre

order of musical excellence will be needed in order to secure its establishment here . Still , Miss Lila Clay is to be congratulated on the boldness of her venture , and if the performance on Monday was of very unequal merit , enough was done to show that a ladies' orchestra may yet find for itself a home in London , if not under the protecting aegis of the Lord Chamberlain , at all events , at one of our numerous

music halls . The stage of the Opera Comique , when the curtain rose on the evening in question , presented just . such an appearance as travellers associate with the stage erected in a Vienna beer-garden . In front were rows of ladies in different coloured costumes , behind was the orchestra of harps , tambourines , and timbrels , Miss Lila Clay occupying a central position at a piano , and conducting her band with

much skill . I he programme , however , was stronger than would be required by a Viennese audience , and had about it something of the negro minstrel troupe , with its cornerwomen and interlocutor , & c . However , the sentimental songs and the glees were remarkably good , conspicuous among those who contributed to this part of the novel

entertainment being Miss Alice Aynsley Cook , who sang "Dreaming " with much expression . Miss Emma D'Auban distinguished . herself in the comic portion of the performance . The second part consisted of an operetta , entitled " On Condition , " by Mr . Robert Reece and Mr . Meyer Lutz ; but here the result , notwithstanding the efforts of Miss Edith Vane and Miss Cook , was decidedly equivocal .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

1 he prizes won during the last session by the students of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain were distributed on Wednesday evening last , by the president , Mr . Michael Carbeighe , the Pereira medal , which is the blue ribbon of pharmacy , being awarded to Mr .

Frederick William Short . Professors Redwood , Bentley , and Attfield reported most favourably of the work done by the several classes ; and Mr . Ince , F . L . S . F . C . S ., spoke in terms of great eulogium of a school which , though it had not existed for half a century , could already boast of a Pereira , a Todd , a Thompson , and a Fownes .

* The School of Art Wood Carving , which is held at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , in connection with the City and Guilds of London Institute , for the advancement of Technical education has re-opened . There are several free studentships in both the day and evening classes vacant , the funds of which are provided for by the aforesaid City and Guilds of London Institute .

# # # On Thursday last , the Lord Mayor , G . J . W ., distributed the prizes at the recent Exhibition of Turnery , to the successful competitors in the different classes . Mr . Holtzapfel spoke in high terms of the improve-

Science And Art.

ment shown in the quality of the wood turning exhibited , and Bro . Horace Jones , G . S . of VV ., city architect , bore his testimony to the excellence of the work done in stone . Mr . Thomas Macdonald , Mr . William Banks , and Mr . John Brown , the first prize-takers in wood , stone , and

precious stones respectively , having made the customary declarations on accepting the freedom of the Company , a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress , for the part they had taken in the proceedings .

Bro . 1-Iaikes , M . P ., on Friday last , in the Guildhall , Preston , distributed the prizes and certificates won at the recent Oxford Local Examination , and in doing so , laid stress on the importance of a good classical education .

* * - * The experiment the Clerkenwell Vestry made on Friday week with a view to lighting Pentonville-hill with incandescent lamps turned out very satisfactory . There were eighty-two lamps , and the power generator was a 50-horse-power engine , the effect being brilliant .

# * * The Rev . Benjamin | o \ vett , M . A ., Master of Balliol College , and Regius of Greek in the University of Oxford , has been appointed Vice-Chancellor in succession to Dr . Evans , Master of Pembroke College . Mr . Jowett has nominated as his Pro Vice-Chancellors the Dean of Christchurch , the Master of Pembroke , Rev . Mark Pattison , Rector of Lincoln , and Rev . Dr . Bellamy , President of St . John ' s .

* * * The following has been chosen by the Statistical Society as the subject of the Essay for the annual competition for the "Howard Medal" for 1 SS 3 , namely , "The best Exposition of the Experiences and Opinions of John Howard on the Preservation and Improvement of the

Health of the Inmates of Schools , Prisons , Workhouses , Hospitals , and other Public Institutions , as far as Health is Affected by Structural Arrangements relating to Supplies of Air and Water , Drainage , & c" The essays must be sent in on or before the 30 th June next , and the winner of the medal will receive , in addition , a sum of £ 20 .

The Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists of Ghent have resolved on holding an International Horticultural Conference in that city in April , 18 S 3 . * * # On Monday evening- a . large and influential

meeting was held in the Town Hall , Great Yarmouth , for the purpose of supporting the International Fisheries Exhibition of 1 SS 3 . The Mayor presided , and among those who took part in the proceedings were Mr . E . Birkbeck , M . P ., Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Exhibition , and Sir E . Lacon , Bart ., M . P .

* « = * Archaiologists will be in raptures over the discovery recently made in the neighbourhood of Poitiers , where an entirely Gallo-Roman town has been unearthed . Already a temple measuring 114 yards long by seventy yards broad , baths covering two hectares , a theatre with a

stage ninety yards deep , streets , houses , and other buildings , covering altogether seven hectares , have been brought to view , and the excavations are being continued , disclosing more edifices , sculpture in good preservation , sup posed to be of the second century , and a number of iron , bronze , and other articles .

* * «< The expedition despatched by the United States for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus , and consisting of Professor Newcombe , Lieutenant Cary , Ensign Holcombe , and Mr . Ulke , left Plymouth on Friday last , in theJUnion Company's steamer Durban , for the Cape of

Good Hope . 1 he Astronomer-Royal at the Cape has pro . mised to collect all possible information as to the best station for the Americans to occupy , and it is considered probable they will establish themselves at Beaufort , about 300 miles from Cape Town , as there is almost invariably a clear sky in that neighbourhood .

» No less than 1911 medals and coins , of the estimated value of £ 1000 , have been lately abstracted from the Grenoble Museum , the robbery having , it is said , been effected in a most ingenious manner .

* * * The scheme which Sir Joseph Bazalgette has submitted to the Metropolitan Board of . Works , for connecting London north and south of the Thames below bridge by means of a bridge , or otherwi se , contains three chief proposals , namely : ( 1 ) , The erection of a high-level bridge between Little Tower-hill and Bermondsey , eighty-five feet

above Trinity high water mark , at an estimated cost of £ 1 , 000 , 000 ; ( 2 ); A tunnel between Shadwell and Rotherhithe ; ( 3 ) , A tunnel between Blackwall and Greenwich . The total cost of the three means of communication is set down at £ 5 , , 000 , which could be borrowed at 3 J per

cent , and paid off in sixty years at an annual expenditure ° f £ 207 , 660 by means of an additional rate of i-Jd . in the pound . Or as he suggests , the coal and wine duties , which expire in July , iSSS , might he renewed for a further term , the amount they produce annually being £ 285 , 000 , or considerably more than the sum required .

* * * The formal opening of the newly-founded Selwyn College , Cambridge , and the installation of its Master , the Hon . and Rev . A . T . Lyttelton , late Fellow of Trinity College , took place on Tuesday . Among those who took part in the ceremony were the Bishops of Ely , Oxford , Winchester , Lichfield , and Chichester , Earl Powis , Lord High

Steward ot the University , the Masters of Christ ' s , Clare , and Corpus , the Provost of King's , and Professors Kirkpatrick and Cayley . A luncheon followed , at which the Master presided . The College , which is named in honour of the late Bishop Selywn , is already complete to the extent of sixty-four sets of rooms , and there are already entered half that number of students .

The Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Scotch reformatory and industrial schools reached Aberdeen on Tuesday , and visited the several institutions concerned .