Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

OLYMPIC THEATEE . The representation of" Twelfth Night" on these boards must bo considered a purely experimental essay , testing the genera ! ability of a company collected for a very different purpose , and probably only undertaken for the sake of ascertaining hoiv far the playgoing public would

accompany a management diverging so unexpectedly from the path originally indicated . The comedy of "Twelfth Night , " with its fable full of fancy , and its dialogue replete with pleasantry and poetry , may be acknowledged as the most likely selection from the works of the dramatist to suit the frequenters of the theatre , whilst

the strongly marked characters of the play are such as might seem best suited to the capacity of the performers . It must , however , bo doubted whether a change of this kind in tbe nature of the performances will receive that sustained approval from tho patrons of tho theatre -which would vindicate the prudence of the management in thus deviating from the course oriinalllaid downB

g y . y doubling the parts of Viola and Sebastian , Miss Kate Terry venders , of course , more complete the remarkable similarity of face , figure , and dress which is supposed to exist between tho sister and her twin brother ; but the result is evidently bewildering to those who are not thoroughly conversant with the text , aud little is gained bthis mode of heling the illusion compared ivith what

y p is lost by tho perplexity in which it involves the majority of the spectators . To the actress , however , this dual impersonation affords the opportunity of displaying a greater variety of emotion , and the deep feeling with which Sebastian refers to the loss of his sister , and the earnestness of his encounter with the swaggering Sir Tob afterwards were points of the performance

y which the audience evidently would have been sorry to lose . Miss Terry ' s Viola , as would bo expected from snch _ an accomplished actress , has been thoughtfully studied , and is gracefully personated . Every word and look are made to bear their duo significance , and tho

mingled gaiety and sadness of tho character are exhibited in well contrasted light and shade . Recognised as a clever and highly intelligent performance , it ivas warmly applauded by the auditory , and it cannot be said that the frequent compliments bestowed were wholly undeserved . Something more , however , than a slight mantle , is requisite to assist the eye to distinguish the

difference beoivecn the brother and the disguised sister ; and _ the introduction of a mute representative Sebastian in the last scene , when the two meet for the first time , involves some not altogether defensible mutilation of the text . Miss Lydia Foote presents a lively Maria ; but Miss A . JBoweving lacked one rather essential qaulification for the effective assumption of the youthful

Countess Olivia . Vivacious enough , but not sufficiently Shakspearian , was the Clown , personified by Miss E . Farren , who closed tho comedy with the quaint epilogue song ; and the roystering Sir Toby Belch , played with hearty humour by Mr . H . Soutar , aud tho fatuous Sir Andrew Agueaheeh , carefully enacted by Mr . Horace "Wigan , maintained the merriment which those

wonderful examples of the comic genius of the poet never fail to excite when fairly p laced before us . Mr . G . Vincent is not exactly tho Malvolio old playgoers would identify as corresponding with the impressions left in their earlier days of theatrical life ; but he bad the decided merit of ori g inality , and gave an additional proof of a general intention to beat out a new track through the comed

y , without paying any attention to the footprints left by a histrionic generation . Miss Kate Terry was again warmly greeted at the fall of the curtain , and the principal characters crossed the stage two and two , in accordance with an absurd modern custom .

The Crystal Palace.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE .

HANDEL FESTIVAL . The musical arrangements for the Great Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace may now be said to be complete . The country chorus , selected from tho chief provincial societies and the cathedral choirs , havo all been engaged for several weeks past ; and the superintendents of the Sacred Harmonic Society have been recently occupied

in tours of inspection in the various provincial districts . The trials which have been made show tho existence of a much greater degree of efficiency than on any similar previous occasion . The instrumentalists have also all been engaged ; these include nearly tho entire bands of both tho Italian Opera companies , and the most talented English and foreign performers available . Some idea

of the extent of the orchestra may bo formed when it is stated that there will be upwards of ' 1-00 performers on stringed instruments alone , including 75 double basses . As already announced , there will be a grand rehearsal on Friday , the 23 rd inst . This will include both solos and choruses , and the pieces selected will present great varietas well as popularitythe object being to make

y , the rehearsal day an epitome of the three days of the festival . The first day of the festival will be Monday , the 26 th , tho "Messiah ; " tho second , on Wednesday , the 28 th , will comprise a selection from Handel ' s best known and most popular works ; and the third , on Friday , the 30 th , will bo " Israel in Egypt . " The selection on the 28 th will present many attractive

features . Amongst other pieces it will comprise a selection from " Saul , " commencing with " How excellent , " and including the chorus , with Carillon's accompaniment "Welcome , welcome , mighty king , " tho chorus , "Envy , eldest born of hell , " ( which created so much sensation at the last Festival ) and the famous "Dead March . " This day's performance will also include the Nightingale Chorus from " Solomon , " " May no rash intruder , " and as tho 28 th inst . is the anniversary of her Majesty ' s

Coronation , the great anthem " Zadok the Priest , " written for the coronation of George II . in 1727 , will be appropriately introduced . A selection from "Judas Maccabasus" will also be given , concluding with the popular chorus , " See the conquering hero comes . " Mdlle . Adelina Pafcti will sing "Let the bright seraphim " ( trumpet obligate , Mr . Harper ) , and "From mighty

kings . " Besides " Sound an alarm ! " Mr . Sims Eeevcs will sing the groat song in Joshua , and Madame Sainton-Dolby , Mr . Santley , and other well known artistes , will take part in this and the other performances . It will thus bo seen that the solo department at this Festival will be of an unusually high order . Towards the close of tho last season at the Crystal

Palace some experiments were made on the Great Orchestra , which resulted in the construction of a concave front , thus bringing the principal vocalists more under the centre of tho roof . This has been found to be attended with such beneficial results at the Opera Concerts , that it will be adhered to iu the forthcoming Festival . In addition to this , large screens will be placed on

each side of the great transept , transforming . the transept into a complete concert hall . These additions and alterations , together with the throwing back of the corner galleries , will , it is confidently anticipated , afford to the entire audience , however numerous , a much better opportunity of hearing the principal vocalists to advantage than heretofore .

The Shakespeare House , which for the last twelve months lias excited so much interest , will be removed , ancl raised seats placed at the end of the great transept . These seats will be exceedingly eligible , both as to sight and sound . They are lettered S and S S . In the gallery above them a Eoyal box is being placed iu the centre , and on cither side thereof a series of smaller private boxes , which , being in the best possible position for appreciating the great musical effect , will possess the advantage of communicating with the outer corridor over-