Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

HA . YMARKET THEATRE . After an interregnum of upwards of two months , this theatre was reopened on Monday evening under the same management and with the same company which have controlled its destinies for a long period past . To the usual troupe of artists additions have been made in the instances of Madlle . Beatrice Luechesiui , from the Odeon and the Vaudeville , Paris , and of Mr . ancl

Madame Weiss ; but it can hardly be supposed that the engagement of the two latter is more than temporary , as the performance of opera is not very likely to be the chief feature in the entertainment . The introduction , however , of the once favourite comic opera of " The Castle of Andalusia , " which Bro . Buckstone revived for his annual benefit on the closing night of the last season , and one of the leading attractions in which is to be found the songs appropriated to a bass voice , rendered the services of

Mr . Weiss unquestionably valuable . In short , no other available singer could have been found so well fitted for the part of the Captain of Banditti as this gentleman ; and his vigorous , musician-like singing of the oid-fashioned songs of "Flow , thou regal purple stream , " " On by the spur of valour goaded , " and " The Wolf , " has again brought those familiar compositions into the domain of favour and popularity . Such a production as the "Castle of Andalusia , " though full of intrinsic merit , is scarcely

within the pale of modern criticism , its character ancl construction being as ill adapted to the taste and understanding of existing playgoers as would be the " Masques and Mysteries" of more aficient date . Like all dramas of Spanish tendencies , it is

made upof intrigues and disguises , and its chief incidents consist in the fact of a Don and his servant exchanging dresses and positions for the purposes of intrigue , and in the assumption by another Don of the character of a bandit on account of some famil y grievance . In long times past these were undoubtedly the stock materials for comedies , melodramas , and operas ; and the annals of the stage tell us that they found considerable favour in the eyes of our forefathers . But theatrical habits and tastes

have greatly changed amongst us since the days of Spanish cut-throats , and saucy , intriguing servants ; ancl however ably such pieces as the " Castle of Andalusia" may be represented , a modern audience cannot quite appreciate either the tone of the dialogue or the strange complications involved in the plot . As an illustration of the works which dominated the stage in the time of our ancestors , ancl of the peculiar changes which have taken place in the popular taste regarding the spirit of

the British drama , no better instance coulcl be found than in "The Castle of Andalusia ; " and , considered in that light , it will doubtless have its share in the nightly attractions at this house . The other performances included the little ballet of * ' Bacchus and Ariadne , " and the farces of " Friend Waggles " and "A Kiss in tbe Dark ; " whilst the custom of giving tbe National Anthem on opening nihts was on this occasion

prog perly adhered to . The house was honoured by a large attendance , and the applause which often greeted the performers , and more especially Bro . Buckstone , afforded conclusive proof that the winter season has commenced under the most encouraging auspices .

STRAND THEATRE . This theatre was re-opened on Saturday evening last , when all the resources of the establishment were brought into requisition . The performances comprised the comic drama , by Mr . A . C . Troughton , of " Short and Sweet , " the burlesque extravaganza , by Mr . Byron and Mr . F . Talfourd , called " The Miller and bis Men , " and Mr . Bridgeman ' s farce of " Where's your

Wife ? " The absence of novelty in the entertainments was compensated by the energy and spirit which the artists infused into the characters they respectively played , and by the effective manner in which the chief attraction of the evening , " The Miller and his Men , " was placed upon the stage . It is not unusual to hear condemnatory remarks upon the burlesque productions of Mr . Byron and others , whose forte lies in the power of paroding the most popular melodies of the timeand twisting

y , her Majesty's English into the most tortuous of inconceivable sounds ; but , nevertheless , at certain of our theatres this class of entertainment has a potent charm for the audience ; and the Strand is perhaps , above all other places , the arena where burlesques are ezpected and realised in their fullest integrity . Amongst tbe male artists there is an abundant supply of that broadl y vocal and acrobatic talent which tend so greatly to keep

Public Amusements.

the laughter of the spectators continually in the ascendant , whilst in the troupe of ladies there is a proportionate amount of grace as well as drollery , which shows how closely they have studied to realise all those mirth-producing requirements which are the very essence of genuine burlesque . "The Miller and his Men , " is not one of the most effective pieces of the kind which have emanated from the fertile source which gave it birthbut it affords for tbe introduction of a number of

, scope characters . It must , however , be admitted that Miss" Maria Simpson—although possessed of undoubted talent—has not sufficient vocal fhysiqne for the performance of the magnanimous Grindoff . The other parts were played with much humour by Miss Ada Swanborough , Miss Eliza Johnstone , Miss Kate Carson , "Miss Fanny Hughes , Mr . Turner , Mr . T . Thorne , Mr . C . Fenton , and Mr . D . James . The two last-mentioned gentlemen as Uiher

and Golotz (" ruffians of the blackest order and deepest stage dye" ) effected a variety of pantomimical antics of the drollest description . It should be stated that , during the recess , many improvements have been made in the interior of the theatre , the most notable of which is the enlargement of the dress circle . The house was crowded in every part , and the audience were loud in their expressions of satisfaction .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

TUB COUET . —Her Majesty and the younger branches of the Royal Family continue at Balmoral , where Prince Alfred has joined the circle . The Prince and Princess of Wales are still in Denmark , but are to leave Copenhagen on Saturday for Stockholm . After a stay of three days in the Swedish capital it is expected that their Royal Highnesses will visit Paris . The

Princess Royal ( Princess Frederick William of Prussia ) has given birth to another prince . GEXEEAI HOME NEWS . —The Registrar General ' s return shows a further decline in the mortality of the London district , though still the number of deaths slightly exceeds the corrected average . Deaths from diarrhcoa fell from 180 and 132 in the

preceding weeks to 81 last week , and measles ancl whooping cough are also on the decline . Scarlatina , however , continues prevalent . No fewer than seven persons died from carriage accidents in the streets . The births were more than 50 per cent , above the deaths . Tbe weekly return of the Poor-law Board shows a further increase of 960 in the number of persons

receiving parochial relief in the 21 manufacturing unions with which the report deals . Manchester , Salford , Chorlton , Ashton , Stockport , Warrington , Saddleworth , Oldham , Bury , Burnley ,

and Blackburn contribute an aggregate increase of 1 , 240 , which is reduced to the number we have stated by a falling off to the extent of 280 in the pauperism of Liverpool , Bolton , Preston , and Rochdale . In six unions no variation has taken place . An equestrian statue of the late Prince Consort was unveiled at Halifax on Saturday last , with great ceremony . The task of presenting the memorial to the Mayor ancl Corporation of the

borough was performed by Sir F . Crossley , M . P ., and the large assemblage of spectators was afterwards addressed by Sir Charles AVood . The foundation stone of a new Exchange for Liverpool was laid on Saturday last . The principal members of the Corporation of the City of London attended Christ ' s Hospital on Wednesday morning to hear the speeches and present

prizes , according to annual custom on St . Matthew ' s Day . After Divine service in Christ Church , Newgate-street , and a sermon by Dr . AV . Iiaig Brown , the new head-master of the Charterhouse , the Lord Mayor and tbe civic dignitaries entered the hall , where the usual speeches were delivered . The orations were well received by the audience , the subjects being treated

with considerable ability by the youthful orators . Mr . Disraeli has addressed a large assembly at a dinner at Aylesbury , confining himself solely to agricultural topics . Replying to the toast