Yaws has introduced Mr. RICE, the Jim Crow of the
Surry, to the playgoing public on this side of the water, in a new extravaganza, con- cocted for the nonce by LE14IAN REDS, called A Flight to America. Au audience packed to the ceiling welcomed the Yankee personater of the Nigger to the Adelphi. We had expected to see a real Negro, but the sharp features and the stage complexion quickly undeceived us. Jim Crow, whose fame Mr. Rice has extended to this quarter of the world, is a sort of Billy Waters—knock-kneed instead of wooden-legged, and a vocal not an instrumental mendicant, as Sir CHARLES WETHERELL would say. The humour of Mr. RICE'S per- formance consists solely in his capital imitation of Jim Crow's costume, figure, and manner, especially in the song that captivates the fancy of all the dustmen and butcher-boys in London. The only fan of the song lies in the grotesque dance that forms the chorus to every verse, and which is varied in divers comical ways. The audience in the gal- lery seemed well acquainted with i1 for it was only by the process of two or three Irish encores that the whole length of the ditty was drawn out. Mr. RICE'S singing is of the kind practised by Pantomime Clowns, and reminds us of VALE'S. His specimen of the Nigger patois is, we dare say, very like, for he was often unintelligible ; and the chuckling laugh, accompanied by a sort of whistle, is no doubt a correct imitation of one of Jim Crow's peculiarities : but the lack of natural humour in the actor greatly lessens the amazement. The dialogue of the piece is a tissue of wretched puns, interlarded with some Yankee phrases, which BUCKSTONE gave out with due em- phasis and gusto. The scenic effects are well managed, as they always are at the Adelphi ; and there was character and reality in some of them. For instance, that representing the deck of an American packet, and the fright and sea-sickness consequent on a squall ; the landing of the passengers on the quay at New York, where they meet with Jim Crow as one of the luggage porters ; a procession of Nig- gers in celebration of the " bobalition of slavery;" and a Nigger ball —which last was creditably dressed arid acted.
The meritorious performers were YATES, as a French dancing-mas- ter in pursuit of a runaway pupil; BUCKSTONE, as a Virginian settler; REEVE, as a single gentleman emigrating to avoid the penalty of a breach of promise of marriage ; and Mrs. STIRLING, as Miss Snow, a black belle, smitten with Jim Crow.
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