Public Amusements.

the author . We shall not endeavour , as indeed our space would not alloAv us , to enter into details , but will content ourselves by advising the brethren to go and hear it , when they will find the opera crowded ivith gems of the purest music : —Of the general performance ancl ofthe mise en scene , we can speak in terms of the highest praise . Madame Lemmens , who took the part of Marian , made her first appearance on the stage , with the exception of some small performance or performances in Brussels , and achieved quite

a triumph . Thafc Madame Lemmens would sing whatever music might be assigned to her in excellent style , was no more than ivould have heen expected , considering the reputation she has acquired as a concert-room vocalist , but no one was prepared to see such easy and natural acting as this young lady brought to bear upon her part . Madame Lemaire , to whom a good share of secouda donna work fell Avas most efficient , ancl her first song , "The hunters AA'ake , " deserved far more applause than it obtained . Mr Sims Reeves , as Robin

Hooel , ivas , throughout , the perfect artist , whether considered vocally or histrionically , and trod the boards AA'ith a freedom thafc many might envy , every step ancl gesture being a compound of th . e natural and artistic that is rarely witnessed . HOAV Mr Reeves sang the gem of the opera , " My own , my guiding star , " and IIOAV he declaimed some ofthe recitatives may he imagined . Tremendous applause burst forth at the termination of each of his songs , and an effort was made to obtain a repetition of one or two , but it was resisted .

Mr . Santley was well suited in the music of the Sheriff , anel he sang anel acted ivith a goodly amount of spirit . Mr . Parkinson ivas an efficient second tenor ; ancl Mr . George Honey was an admirable representative of the Sompnour , acting with infinite humour , anel singing the music of his part in excellent style , when the gentleman ' s short operatic career is taken into consideration . Little John and Much were carefully represented by Mr . Bartleman and Mr . Patey . The band Avas particularly good , and the direction of Mr . Charles Hallci , the neiv conductor , AVIIO is to preside over the English operas , was most commendable .

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA . Dinorah , AA'hich on its production last year , under the direction of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr . Harrison , AA-as repeated so many nights as almost to naturalise ifc , ivas revived on AVednesday last . The overture , was played hy the fine hand , under the guidance of Mr . Alfred 3 Iellon , with a precision and expression that did justice to every movement , and fully carried out the ideas of the composer . Mr . Harrison throws himself into the part of Corentino with hearty

good will , and renders the comic terror , AA'hich is the key-note , as it Avere , of the character , so demonstratively that he aids materially in making the story comprehensible , while his portion of the music is given with great care and honesty of intention . Miss Louisa Pyne ' s " Dinorah " is an assumption that would of itself place her in the very highestrank of English dramatic singers . Miss Leffler , as she gains confidence and becomes more easy on the stage , bids fair to render herself an efficient member of the companyand sang the

, pretty melody in Act IL , ivhich is gii'en to the Second Goatherd , in a pleasing and graceful manner . Mr . Chaple , AVIIO made his debut as Hciel , has not come to the London operatic stage armed ivith any previous reputation , ancl , moreover , labours under the disadvantage of succeeding old-established favourites in a difficult part—one which demands very considerable powers both of acting and singing . Mr . Chaple has an agreeable ! , but , as far as can be judged

under the disadvantages of the first appearance , not a poiverful voice , is a sound , unpretending singer , and , if not a good actor , certainly takes pains in the enunciation of his words , in the spoken dialogue , so that if he does not carry out a strong conception of character , he never fails in conveying his meaning to the audience . The applause at every striking point in the opera amounted almost to enthusiasm , and the principal performers ivere called before the curtain at the end of each act .

_ HAYMARKET . Bro . Buckstone , who is certainly one of the most energetic oi caterers for the public amusement , has just introduced to the public Mr . Brougham , formerly of the Olympic and Covent Garden theatre , ivhen under the management of Madame A estris , but who has been absent for many years , gaining fame , ancl we hope money in the United States . The piece chosen for his introduction is written by himself and entitled Romance and Realit y . It is in

five acts , though three , or even two , would have been quite enoii ' -h to clevelope the whole of the plot ifc contains . The idea upon which it turns of taming the exuberant romance of a young lady , Avho has visions of happiness connected ivith love iu a eottase , by giving her a taste of the stern realties of poverty , is nofc altogether neAv , and is carried out in this piece hy a group of characters seldom found in real life . There is the romantic young lady ( Miss Florence Haydon ) , a strong-minded elderly one ( Mrs . " AVilkins ) , a waiting-maid , ivho isanold familiar friend ( Mrs . EdwarilFitzivilliam ) , two uncle ? ( Messrs . Chippendale and Rogers ) , a fop ( Mr . AA ' . Fan-en k

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ancl an easy ancl intrusive , though good-natured , Irishman ( Mr . Brougham himself ) . All these characters are worked ivith considerable skill , and the laughter ancl sense of amusement ivhich it , without higher aims , is evidently the author ' s object to create , are provoked with success ; all the actors are ivell filled with parts ancl play their best ; the audience laugh , and are allowed no time to get dull , so rapidly clo the comic incidents succeed one another ; ancl the comedyof not of the highest classcertainly must be pronounced

, , a success , for at its conclusion the applause was loud and genuine , and Mr . Brougham ivas called before the curtain—an opprotunity which he seized to acknoAvledge the kindness of the audience in an extempore speech , evidently the expression of strong feeling . The part of the heroine is the most important one Miss Florence Haydon has assumed , and she played it ivith so much feeling ancl sensibility as more than once to call forth the applause of her audience .

LYCEUM . It is certainly somewhat of a novelty to revive a piece ivhich could only run tAvo or three nights at the time of its production , though aided by the talents of such artists as Mrs . Nisbett , the Farren ancl Charles Matthews . Yet this has taken place at this theatre , ivith Mr . Bourcicault's " Irish Heiress , " originally produced at Covent Gardenfor the purpose of introducing to an English

, audience Miss Josephine Gougenhein , ivho has made a considerable sensation on the transatlantic boards , and whose name we have beeu in the frequent habit of meeting with in the American ancl Australian papers , ivhere she has been generally designated as "Joe" or "Joey , " giving us the idea rather of the tomboy or the hoyden , than the clashing lady-like actress she appears to be . The piece has been jndiconsly curtailedirom five to three acts , anel though

far from a perfect drama , it may noiv probably have something of a run in consequence of the occasional smartness of the dialogue and the ' successful manner in ivhich the author has brought out the peculiarites of the principal character . Miss Gougeuheim appears to have many natural requisites for the effectual performance of light comedy , ivhich has had very feiv representatives since the clays of Mrs . Nesbitt . It may be doubted whether thenecessity she was under of speaking the dialogue in an Irish , accent contributed to her success ,

though she proved herself a close student of human character , and a keen observer of the eccentricities of Hibernian humour . Miss Gougenheim is graceful anel youthful in figure , has a bright , clear eye , a face full of intelligence , ancl an ease of address ivhich betokens natural advantages , assisted by careful tuition . The impression she made ivas in all respects favourable ; ancl wc have no doubt she ivill prove a valuable acquisition to our stage as an effective delineator of dashing comed The other characters were

y . carefully sustained . On Thursday last Sheridan Knowles' " Love Chase" was revived , when Miss Gougenhein undertook the part of Neighbour Constance , and by her archness , vivacity , and ladylike acting considerably added to her reputation with the audience . Mrs . ICeeley Avas an excellent AA'idoAv Green .

OLYMPIC THEATRE . After an absence of some weeks , Mr . F . Robson has made his re-appearance in his favourite character in the " Porter's Knot , " and has been received with the applause due to so established ancl general a favourite . The neat extravaganza of " Puss , " originally produced at the Princess's , has been transplanted here , and gives Miss Louise Keeley an opportunity of showing hoiv ivell and IIOAV arc-lily she can assume the habits ofthe feline race without losing those of a woman . Her acting of this part is , in its way , a perfect gem .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

. 1 . M . informs us thai at Blackpool , Lancashire , last week a person was hawking about a Avork entitled the Secrets of Masonry , ancl that tivo or three brethren bought up all lie had , ancl made a splendid bonfire . The brethren ivere certainly more zealous than wise , for Ave can imagine no surer mode of encouraging the fellow in histrade . AA ' e should think he will take an early opportunity of revisiting Blackpool . AA ' e would advise the brethren to take no notice of parties professing to sell rituals ' or works disclosing the

secrets of Masonry . If th . e hrethren treated them with contempt the trade ivould soon cease . R . R . —Ye ? . R . AA . —AVe never answer such qr . est ' oiis . J . AV . —Having served only ten months , you are not eligible for election , Liot-. vitlistKuding the death of the S . AA ' . The brethren must re-e ' ec ^ * he present Mister , or fall back upon one of the P . M . ' s .