Public Amusements.

"Hop o' my Thumb , and his Eleven Brothers ; or Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven Leagued Boots . " It is supplied by Mr . E . L . Blanchard , who has written the Drury-lane pantomimes for several years past . In the course of the performance , the most dazzling effects are produced , and the numerous and beautiful changes which appear before the transformation of the characters

is effected puzzles description . The Clowns were Messrs . H . Boleno aud C . Lauri ; Pantaloons , Messrs . W . A . Barnes and J . Morris ; Harlequins , Messrs . J . Cormack ancl S . Saville ; and Columbines , Madame Boleno and the Misses Gunniss . Senor Tuscano Avas a spirited onelegged dancer . We may further state that Mr . Beverley received a rapturous recall for the transformation-scene

; that Miss Lydia Thompson—an immense favourite at Drury-lane—was received with acclamations , ancl created a furor in a dance medley ; and that Master Percy Roselle exhibited very remarkable talent in his performance of Little Hop o' My Thumb .

HAYMARKET . It is generally pleasant to revisit the scenes of former triumphs—more pleasant , still , to re-enact them on tho old stage . Lord Dundreary is back again at the little theatre in the Haymarket , playing in two most preposterous pieces which he alone " renders bearable by his fine acting . If there be in existence anything more absurd than

the story of "Our American Cousin" it is tho plot of " David Garrick ; " but even this is distanced by tho aggregation of impossibilities in " Dundreary Married and Done For . " We arc assured that " Princess Spring Time ; or the Envoy who Stoic the King ' s Daughter , " ' is " essentially a Christmas fairy tale , and not a broad burlesque . " It is

adapted from the only fairy tale by the Countess d'Aulnoy hitherto left untouched by dramatists ; ancl though wo have no means of knowing how far Mr . Byroti hag deviated from the original , the piece , as it is put upon the stage , seems so thoroughly suited for dramatic representation , that it is a wonder it has not previously been brought forward at the footlights .

What with "David Garrick , " and "Dundreary" in his new form ; Mr . Byron ' s pieces ; Mr . Compton ' s , Miss Moore ' s , and Miss Kecley ' s acting ; and Mr . O'Connor ' s scenery , it will be hard , upon the Haymarket if it do not receive its full share of the Christinas patronage of the play going public . There are some things of which we never tire ; and good acting , such as is always to be found in Bro . Buckstone ' s company , is one of them .

ADELPHI . Bro . Webster was content to rest on his new piece of " Tho Workmen of Paris , " and the farce of " The Area Belle , " in which Bro . Toole again made his bow , for his Christmas attractions , aud they appear to have been sufficient . ST . JAMES'S .

Miss Herbert , who has just assumed the management of this favourite house , opened her Christmas entertainments on Monday evening with a new classical extravaganza , entitled " Hercules and Omphalo ; or , the Power of Love , " by Mr . Wm . Brough . The burlesque is founded upon amours of Hercules , and is , as usual , replete Avith innumerable far-fetched ,

puns . It is exceedingly well put upon the stige . The scenery is good , and the costumes exclusively classic , which give , as may bo supposed , a most novel ancl extraordinary effect to the ballot scenes .. The story is admirably worked out , although perhaps not exactly in accordance with the poets . The scenery is by Mr . Telbiu and assistantsThe dances are arranged bMr

. y . Milano , and the music composed by Mr . Wallerstein . Among the best scenic effects are the brilliant view of the Palace and Gardens of Omphale , Omphale ' s Bower , Apotheosis of Hercules and Oinphale .

Public Amusements.

LYCEUM . The performances here have been "My Wife ' s Out , " "Ruy Bias , " and a farcical Oriental extravaganza , entitled " Bear-faced Impostors . " "My Wife ' s Out" was nicely put upon the stage , and capitally acted by Messrs . Widdicombe and Charles , Miss Percy , and Miss Lavenu . " Ruy Bias" followed with the usual cast , Mr . Fechter

sustaining the princi ple part with his accustomed power and energy . The performance were brought to a close by a farcical Oriental extravaganza entitled " Bear-Faced Impostors , " certainly one of the most laughter provoking trifles that has been put upon the stage for sOme time . Brief but irresistibly fumy in its plot and materials , the acting of Mr . Widdicomb , Mr . Moreland , Mr . Garden , and Mr . Raymond has made it a most marked success .

OLYMPIC . Mr . F . 0 . Burnand is the author of an extravaganza produced at this theatre on Monday , which most deservedly met with a reception highly flattering to the author . The title of this Christmas piece is " Cupid aud Psyche ; or , as Beautiful as a Butterfly . " It is founded on the well-known story told by Apuleius ,

which the author followed with a closeness that makes the representation remarkably interesting . Of the scenery , which is by Mr . Hawes Craven , we cannot speak in adequate terms of praise , nor do justice to its splendour iu our description . The second scene represents a range of gigantic rocks , which is most effectively painted . This gradually changes to " Cupid ' s Botanical

Gardens , " one of the finest sets , perhaps , ever placed on a stage . It represents a garden of gorgeous splendour , ancl so delicately manipulated , that the entire stage appears hung with lace ancl roses . This scene elicited murmurs of admiration ancl rounds of applause . The last scone , too , the "Palace of Hymen , in Olympus , " is equally gorgeous , and should be seen to be appreciated . The piece throughout worked without a hitch , and at the conclusion Mv . Burnand was vehemently called for .

ASTLEY'S . Tho Christmas novelty here is entitled "Harlequin Jack Sprat ; or , the Three Blind Mice : Great A , Little A , and Bouncing B ; the Cat ' s in the Cupboard , and She Can't See . " We ave at onoo introduced into Tom Tidler ' s gold ancl silver grounds , where his Avorkmen are employed in digging up the precious metals that lie

scattered about in the matrix , and in piled-up heaps , in rich profusion . After which the story is carried merrily on to the close . None of the topics which excite the public attention most in the present day were passed over without giving birth to ajoko of some kind or other ; and when tho curtain fell on the last scene of all —the Palace of the Happy New Year—it was in the midst of an uproarious manifestation of approval from all parts of the house . ¦ —

STRAND . This bijou theatre has been nightly crowded , the attraction being the Christmas piece or novelty , which was an entirely new and original burlesque extravaganza by Mr . Henry J . Byron , founded on the celebrated Adelphi drama , aud entitled "The ' Grin' Bushes ; or the 'Mrs . ' Brown of the ' Missis ' -sippi . " The parody on the " Green

Bushes" is admirably sustained throughout , and the dialogue abounds ivith numberless puns and witticisms Avhich keep tho audience in continuous roars of laughter . In this instance there is nothing partaking of vulgarity in the slightest degree ; there is not au expression breathed that can offend the ears of the most fastidious . As an extravaganza it is a perfect specimen of its class , and the piece is enacted in a manner which reflects the highest credit on each performer engaged .

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IN prosperity it is the easiest thing to find a friend ; in adversity it is of all things the most difficult .