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Public Amusements.
points are numerous ancl fanciful . The opening chorus , " Gaily pass the jocund hours , " is tuneful and joyous to a degree . The whole of ' the introduction is managed with great felicity , ancl the vehemence of the first theme is highly satisfactory . Iu this scene appears the page , Oscar , a new contralto—Miss Jessie M'Lean , a debutante who has a very sprightly ancl engaging air to sing , " Gentlemanwhat would you learn" accompanied by chorus . Miss
, , M'Lean has a charming voice , ancl will prove an acquisition to the company . The whole of the scene is here managed with dramatic skill , and the business is carried on with all the tact of an old hand . The song of Don Sallust , " My heart with rage is swelling , " is a grand song for the baritone—full of energy ancl boldness , and wes finely sung by Mr . Santley . The scena of Ruy Bias , " Ambition ' s earlgolden dreams had flown" is specially noticeable . It
y , would certainly be more marked by the audience were it nofc so soon followed by the very lovely ballad , " Beside her lattice every night , " which Mr . Harrison , as Ruy Bias , sung with infinite taste ancl feeling . This ballad is certain to achieve a great popularity . A tumultuous encore followed , which was very properly declined . The remaining features of the first act are a duet" Money I would haveold friend" written in the buffo stle
, , , y , between Don Cesar cle Bazan ancl Don Sallust ; some sparkling and characteristic Spanish dances , and the grand march , constituting the finale . Act the second introduces us to the Queen ( Miss Louisa Pyne ) in her antechamber , with her maids of honour . It commences with a quaint ancl flowing part-song , " AVe have wandered through the gardens , " and is succeeded , after some dialogue , by the aria for the
Queen , " In the stillness of night , " a plaintive strain of great beauty , which is exquisitely sung by Miss Pyne , and the instrumentation of which cannot fa l to delight ancl gratify fche professional ear . The ballad which follows , " A trusty heart to sorrow's need , " also for the Queen , is one of the plainest and most captivating melodies in the opera , and will be sure to become popular . We may cite a trio in this scene , " Beauteous lady , list my strain , " as written
with great finesse lor tlie voices ; also another ballad lor her Majestey , " Home of my youth , " ending with a brilliant bravura , " Why , then , for such loving care , " most deliciously sung by Miss Pyne . The finale , " Oh cease , fond heart , to flatter , " in one of the most effective concerted pieces in the opera . It is constructed with infinite skill and power , and exhibits , in all its changes and modifications , consummate knowledge of the vocal and orchestral resources of this theatre .
The third act commences with the concerted piece , " A happy moment for this Spain , " which is distinguished by its freshness and ease . Nearly all this act is music , ancl by many will be preferred before the other three . One ballad , " Could life ' s dark scene be changed for me , " is not only the most beautiful and striking in the opera , but one of the sweetest we have heard for many years . The duet-finale is highly dramatic and striking , the musician having found in it scope for the fullest exhibition of his powers .
The last act is the briefest of the four , but has many points of great interest . The recitative preceding the ballad , " Never on earth we meet again , " is instinct with dramatic feeling , and the ballad itself , if not so exciting as those already named , is full of sweetness and pathos . There is , perhaps , too much incident in this scene , anil the composer appears to be occasionally sacrificed to the dramatist . The long duet between the Queen and Ruy Bias , after the latter has been mortally wounded by Don Sallustthough in
, many points powerfully dramatic , was too long . Miss Susan Pyne , who made her first appearance after an absence of two or three years , made a good deal out of the small part of the Duchess d'Albevquerquo ; while Miss Thirlwall , the favourite of the past two seasons , made a most becoming Maid of Honour . Mr . St . Albyn , too , exerted himself with suet-ess as Don Cesar cle Bazan . The scenery was picturesque and splendid , and the dresses appropriate , if not striking .
On the whole , a more genuine success has not been attained for many years , ancl the lessees of the theatre are not likely to require to have to fall hack on the long list of novelties contained iu their programme until very late in the season .
DRURY LANE THEATRE . A large and enthusiastic audience assembled here on Monday evening to welcome Mr . G . V . Brooke , who made his first appearance , after an absence of eight years , in ihe character of Othello . He played with all his wonted energy , and looked remarkably well . The other characters were not supported as they should be , and tho mounting does not say much for the liberality of Mr . E . T . Smith
. Indeed , it looks as if he had so little faith in the success of Mr . Brooke that he is afraid of spending a few pounds to put the piece on the stage properly . AVe had hoped better things from him .
Public Amusements.
HAYMARKET THEATRE . The benefit of Mr . and Mrs . Charles Mathews on Saturday evening attracted to this most agreeable theatre a very numerous audience , at whose " hands , " both literally ancl figuratively , the bencjiciaires experienced an enthusiastic reception . In the course of the'evening Mr . C . Mathews came before the curtain , and with his usual grace and gaiety of manner , delivered the following address : —
" Ladies ancl Gentleman , —I told yon this evening I had something to say . So I have : bufc I am so out of breath I can scarcely say ifc . It is not a prologue , nor an epilogue , nor a last dying speech or confession . I am nofc about merely to thank you for the kind support you have accorded me—though I now do so very heartily : nor to tell you how well I have been'treated here , though I can assure you I was never more comfortable in any theatre than in that of my friend , Mr . Buckstone . ( Great applause . ) I have
come to bid j'ou farewell . That is , farewell for a short time . I am not about to go to America—no . I should rather think notnor to Australia , nor to Serh . gapatam , nor any of the colonies . But the fact is 1 am about to retire from the stage ; not that I have made my fortune , pray don't imagine that for an instant . The plain truth is I am going to have a shop of my own , going to set up in business for myself , and I am asking you to become my customers . I know this is an advertisementindeeda large poster
; , , and ought to be paid for accordingly . But everybody has said to me ,. ' Why don't you do an entertainment ? ' and at last the answer has come , ' Why shouldn't I . ' To excuse a reply of this kind I have only the old one to add , my father did so before me . ( Applause . ) If I succeed this will be my last appearance on the stage ; if not , you will see me again in my old quarters . I have only to add , Mr . and Mrs . Charles Matthews will be ' at home *
some time in November , and we shall be happy to receive all the company we can get . Thanking you for the past , let me now invito the continuance of your favours in a new form for the future . ( Continued applause . ) Though this announcement evidently took the audience by surprise , they received it with hearty favour . Mr . Edwin Booth appeared on Monday , for the first time , as
" Richard III . " This performance entirely confirmed the impression with regard to 'his talent as a dramatic artist which had been created by witnessing his Shylock . It was throughout painstaking and conscientious ; but there was no trace of the impulsiveness of genius , and the actor's lack of physical power was in this part especially detrimental . In some of the earlier scenes he played almost as lightly as if the character had belonged to the range of eccentric comedy , and in many of the later portions ofthe play he substituted spasmodic vehemence for genuine force . The general getting up of the piece was anything but creditable to the management .
ST . JAMES'S THEATRE . The successful drama of the " Isle of St . Tropez , " was revived here last evening , the part of Antoine Launay , formerly played by Mr . Emery , being filled by Mr . Geo . Vining , who acquitted himself with very marked ability , and left no reason to regret the alteration in the cast . The capital farce of " The Bengal Tiger , " in which Mr . and Mrs . Alfred Wigan were as inimitable as ever , deriving new and substantial aid from the talent of Mr . Frank Matthews , was also played ; the merry farce of "Done on Both Sides" bringing the entertainment pleasantly to a close .
The Week.
THE WEEK .
Her Majesty and family still continue at AVindsor . It is reported that the Queen will shortly pay a visit to the Duke of Newcastle , at Clumber . On Thursday H . R . H . the Prince of Wales formally opened the new library belonging to the Hon . Society of the Middle Temple , of which His Royal Highness was made a bencher , thus becoming a counsel learned in the law .
GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The health ofthe metropolis continues excellent ; though the mortality is slightly higher than last week , it is still greatly below the average mortality for the corresponding week of the last ten years , ancl the birth-rate is also hi gher . The mortality in the City is also considerably under the average . The Board of Trade returns continue to afford painful evidence of the disastrous effects of the American war upon the commerce of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Public Amusements.
points are numerous ancl fanciful . The opening chorus , " Gaily pass the jocund hours , " is tuneful and joyous to a degree . The whole of ' the introduction is managed with great felicity , ancl the vehemence of the first theme is highly satisfactory . Iu this scene appears the page , Oscar , a new contralto—Miss Jessie M'Lean , a debutante who has a very sprightly ancl engaging air to sing , " Gentlemanwhat would you learn" accompanied by chorus . Miss
, , M'Lean has a charming voice , ancl will prove an acquisition to the company . The whole of the scene is here managed with dramatic skill , and the business is carried on with all the tact of an old hand . The song of Don Sallust , " My heart with rage is swelling , " is a grand song for the baritone—full of energy ancl boldness , and wes finely sung by Mr . Santley . The scena of Ruy Bias , " Ambition ' s earlgolden dreams had flown" is specially noticeable . It
y , would certainly be more marked by the audience were it nofc so soon followed by the very lovely ballad , " Beside her lattice every night , " which Mr . Harrison , as Ruy Bias , sung with infinite taste ancl feeling . This ballad is certain to achieve a great popularity . A tumultuous encore followed , which was very properly declined . The remaining features of the first act are a duet" Money I would haveold friend" written in the buffo stle
, , , y , between Don Cesar cle Bazan ancl Don Sallust ; some sparkling and characteristic Spanish dances , and the grand march , constituting the finale . Act the second introduces us to the Queen ( Miss Louisa Pyne ) in her antechamber , with her maids of honour . It commences with a quaint ancl flowing part-song , " AVe have wandered through the gardens , " and is succeeded , after some dialogue , by the aria for the
Queen , " In the stillness of night , " a plaintive strain of great beauty , which is exquisitely sung by Miss Pyne , and the instrumentation of which cannot fa l to delight ancl gratify fche professional ear . The ballad which follows , " A trusty heart to sorrow's need , " also for the Queen , is one of the plainest and most captivating melodies in the opera , and will be sure to become popular . We may cite a trio in this scene , " Beauteous lady , list my strain , " as written
with great finesse lor tlie voices ; also another ballad lor her Majestey , " Home of my youth , " ending with a brilliant bravura , " Why , then , for such loving care , " most deliciously sung by Miss Pyne . The finale , " Oh cease , fond heart , to flatter , " in one of the most effective concerted pieces in the opera . It is constructed with infinite skill and power , and exhibits , in all its changes and modifications , consummate knowledge of the vocal and orchestral resources of this theatre .
The third act commences with the concerted piece , " A happy moment for this Spain , " which is distinguished by its freshness and ease . Nearly all this act is music , ancl by many will be preferred before the other three . One ballad , " Could life ' s dark scene be changed for me , " is not only the most beautiful and striking in the opera , but one of the sweetest we have heard for many years . The duet-finale is highly dramatic and striking , the musician having found in it scope for the fullest exhibition of his powers .
The last act is the briefest of the four , but has many points of great interest . The recitative preceding the ballad , " Never on earth we meet again , " is instinct with dramatic feeling , and the ballad itself , if not so exciting as those already named , is full of sweetness and pathos . There is , perhaps , too much incident in this scene , anil the composer appears to be occasionally sacrificed to the dramatist . The long duet between the Queen and Ruy Bias , after the latter has been mortally wounded by Don Sallustthough in
, many points powerfully dramatic , was too long . Miss Susan Pyne , who made her first appearance after an absence of two or three years , made a good deal out of the small part of the Duchess d'Albevquerquo ; while Miss Thirlwall , the favourite of the past two seasons , made a most becoming Maid of Honour . Mr . St . Albyn , too , exerted himself with suet-ess as Don Cesar cle Bazan . The scenery was picturesque and splendid , and the dresses appropriate , if not striking .
On the whole , a more genuine success has not been attained for many years , ancl the lessees of the theatre are not likely to require to have to fall hack on the long list of novelties contained iu their programme until very late in the season .
DRURY LANE THEATRE . A large and enthusiastic audience assembled here on Monday evening to welcome Mr . G . V . Brooke , who made his first appearance , after an absence of eight years , in ihe character of Othello . He played with all his wonted energy , and looked remarkably well . The other characters were not supported as they should be , and tho mounting does not say much for the liberality of Mr . E . T . Smith
. Indeed , it looks as if he had so little faith in the success of Mr . Brooke that he is afraid of spending a few pounds to put the piece on the stage properly . AVe had hoped better things from him .
Public Amusements.
HAYMARKET THEATRE . The benefit of Mr . and Mrs . Charles Mathews on Saturday evening attracted to this most agreeable theatre a very numerous audience , at whose " hands , " both literally ancl figuratively , the bencjiciaires experienced an enthusiastic reception . In the course of the'evening Mr . C . Mathews came before the curtain , and with his usual grace and gaiety of manner , delivered the following address : —
" Ladies ancl Gentleman , —I told yon this evening I had something to say . So I have : bufc I am so out of breath I can scarcely say ifc . It is not a prologue , nor an epilogue , nor a last dying speech or confession . I am nofc about merely to thank you for the kind support you have accorded me—though I now do so very heartily : nor to tell you how well I have been'treated here , though I can assure you I was never more comfortable in any theatre than in that of my friend , Mr . Buckstone . ( Great applause . ) I have
come to bid j'ou farewell . That is , farewell for a short time . I am not about to go to America—no . I should rather think notnor to Australia , nor to Serh . gapatam , nor any of the colonies . But the fact is 1 am about to retire from the stage ; not that I have made my fortune , pray don't imagine that for an instant . The plain truth is I am going to have a shop of my own , going to set up in business for myself , and I am asking you to become my customers . I know this is an advertisementindeeda large poster
; , , and ought to be paid for accordingly . But everybody has said to me ,. ' Why don't you do an entertainment ? ' and at last the answer has come , ' Why shouldn't I . ' To excuse a reply of this kind I have only the old one to add , my father did so before me . ( Applause . ) If I succeed this will be my last appearance on the stage ; if not , you will see me again in my old quarters . I have only to add , Mr . and Mrs . Charles Matthews will be ' at home *
some time in November , and we shall be happy to receive all the company we can get . Thanking you for the past , let me now invito the continuance of your favours in a new form for the future . ( Continued applause . ) Though this announcement evidently took the audience by surprise , they received it with hearty favour . Mr . Edwin Booth appeared on Monday , for the first time , as
" Richard III . " This performance entirely confirmed the impression with regard to 'his talent as a dramatic artist which had been created by witnessing his Shylock . It was throughout painstaking and conscientious ; but there was no trace of the impulsiveness of genius , and the actor's lack of physical power was in this part especially detrimental . In some of the earlier scenes he played almost as lightly as if the character had belonged to the range of eccentric comedy , and in many of the later portions ofthe play he substituted spasmodic vehemence for genuine force . The general getting up of the piece was anything but creditable to the management .
ST . JAMES'S THEATRE . The successful drama of the " Isle of St . Tropez , " was revived here last evening , the part of Antoine Launay , formerly played by Mr . Emery , being filled by Mr . Geo . Vining , who acquitted himself with very marked ability , and left no reason to regret the alteration in the cast . The capital farce of " The Bengal Tiger , " in which Mr . and Mrs . Alfred Wigan were as inimitable as ever , deriving new and substantial aid from the talent of Mr . Frank Matthews , was also played ; the merry farce of "Done on Both Sides" bringing the entertainment pleasantly to a close .
The Week.
THE WEEK .
Her Majesty and family still continue at AVindsor . It is reported that the Queen will shortly pay a visit to the Duke of Newcastle , at Clumber . On Thursday H . R . H . the Prince of Wales formally opened the new library belonging to the Hon . Society of the Middle Temple , of which His Royal Highness was made a bencher , thus becoming a counsel learned in the law .
GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The health ofthe metropolis continues excellent ; though the mortality is slightly higher than last week , it is still greatly below the average mortality for the corresponding week of the last ten years , ancl the birth-rate is also hi gher . The mortality in the City is also considerably under the average . The Board of Trade returns continue to afford painful evidence of the disastrous effects of the American war upon the commerce of