The theatres, the Lyceum excepted, are all, as usual at
Christ- was, in the full swing of that compound of beautiful scenery and silly writing which it is the custom to call a " pantomime." Except a water scene at the Princess's, nothing very original seems to have been attempted, and the "authors" have drawn ex- elusively on the old sources, Drury Lane founding its nonsense on Sinbad ; the Opera House on the Seven Champions ; the Hay- market on King Arthur; the Princess's on the Nursery Rhymes— a good idea ; the Adelphi on Fortunatus, altered ; and the Strand on Orpheus' Descent into Hell. It is,, perhaps, necessary to choose subjects with which the Boxing-night public is acquainted, or this range might surely be widened. There should be an idea or two in Vathek, and if Mr. Beverley would read any translation of the Edda, he would find there a series of Northern scenes well worthy of his skill. Valhalla, with ice for floor, snow for roof, stalactites for decoration, and a crevasse for prospect ought to look well, and Surtur's descent is " practicable " on the stage, and should bring half London. Would not Kehama, by the way, make a subject? at Indra's hall built by the Elements" would make at all events a striking picture.
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