The condition of the drama in the northern suburb of
London should not be overlooked by any one who would estimate the theatrical Full. leetions of the English public in the middle of the nineteenth century. Indeed, while the taste for Shaksperian plays has to say the most of It, been vacillating in the metropolis, properly so Called, Pentonville and
the neighbouring district have in this respect been constant, apparently be. yond the power of change. For a period, approaching twenty years,
Mr. Phelps has maintained Sadlers Wells as a home for the poetical
drama and Shakspere is just as popular now, as when he first com- menced his successful experiment. Henry V., after a considerable inter_ val, is again revived, and is again recommended to public notice, partly by the acting of the manager himself in the principal character, y by the pains bestowed on the decorations, a new painter named C. also
distinguishing himself by his illustration of the events of Harfieur and Agincourt. Still, with all the veneration felt by the north London public for the name of Shakspere, it has been found difficult, if not
impossible to extend the ordinary repertory of actingiolays. With praise_
worthy zeal, Mr. Phelps, in the course of different seasons, rescued from obscurity, All's Well that End's Well, Measure for Measure, the Comedy of Errors, _Love's Labour Lost, Temon of Athens, and even the primitive _Pericles, securing for all these an efficient representation, but they have been regarded as cdriosities, rather than as permanent attractions, and the public generally falls back upon Hamlet, Othello, and Lear, as works not to be superseded. Henry Y., however, pregnant as it is with his- torical interest, and abounding, as it does, in life, bustle, and effective speeches, is always received with favour, when the fascinations of spec- tacle are superadded to the charms of poetry. It was one of the most striking revivals during Mr. Macready's management of Covent Garden, and at the fashionable end of the town its production by Mr. Charles Kean is anticipated as one of the most important events of the year 1859. Nor does there seem any great chance that Mr. Phelps's "legitimate" supremacy in the northern district will meet serious opposition. At the National Standard in Shoreditch, which, distant as it is, extends its at- tractive power over the same section of the population, the chief actors from all parts of the town (including Mr. Phelps himself) are lathe habit of starring " ; but as they are successively selected from all the departments of the profession, the theatre changes its character with every fresh engagement, so that, while it is rendered tragic by Mr. Phelps or Miss Glyn, it becomes operatic during the visits of Mr. Sims Reeves. The Grecian Saloon has within the last few weeks been con- verted into a regular theatre, and a very pretty edifice it is; but the performances are for the most part confined to melodrama and ballet, and, altogether, its manager appeals rather to the amusement-seekers of the town than to the patrons of histrionic art, serious or comic., How- ever, the very fact that three theatres of different attributes are all making themselves conspicuous in a remote district of London strikingly illustrates the modern decentralization of the drama.
Mr. Falc.oner, whose good fortune as a manager has resulted from his success, as the author of _Extremes closed the Lyceum on Saturday night, promising to reopen at Christmas, with a company strengthened by the accession of Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, and their daughter, Miss Louisa, who, well known as a vocal actress in North Britain, has never accepted a per- manent engagement in London, though her occasional performances here, as an assistant to amateurs, have been received with the warmest ap- probation. Mrs. Charles Young, who distinguished herself so creditably last year, is also to join the Lyceum Company as soon as her present engage- ment at Sealers Wells is concluded.
The tragedy of Macbeth, famed in the annals of the Princess's Theatre as the first play that was honoured with an antiquarian fly-leaf, will be revived on Monday next, with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean as the Thane and his wife, and with all the appropriate decorations of preceding seasons. Great pains, it is said, have been taken to secure an effective execution of the witch-music, commonly ascribed to Lock, which, though discarded from Pentonville, on the grounds that the words with which it is 5550- elated are not by Shakspeare, is still deemed indispensable at the West end. Ring John is not to be withdrawn, but is to be played alternately with Macbeth.
PARISIAN THEATRICALS.
A new romantic drama, by MM. Alphonse Brot and Charles Le- maitre (son of the celebrated Frederic), has been produced at the Gaitk, with the title La Narniere des Saute:. The idea of the piece is not re- markable for novelty.. Madame de Faverolles, a.lady united to a man of rank, and rejoicing in a grown-up son and daughter, who are about to marry into another noble family, is terribly annoyed in the midst of her happiness, by the discovery that she has involuntarily been guilty of bigamy. In early youth, to save the life of her father, she consented W marry Simon Thibaut, one of the creatures of Robespierre, but contrived to escape as soon as the nuptual ceremony was over. Hearing that her detested spouse was dead, and keeping her marriage a secret, she wedded the Count de Faverolles, but now Simon makes his appearance, an& &e- mends a menial situation at the château, which the unhappy lady, who recognizes him is forced to grant. Taking advantage of his position, be begins to make love to the wife of his youth, and when repulsed with contumely, revenges himself by pushing the Count into a marsh (la Marniire des Sautes), and assuming his title, the Countess not daring to expose the imposture for fear of revealing her own bigamy at the same time. The Count is saved from suffocation, but though he may strip Simon of his assumed rank, he cannot quash the proof of the first marriage until a combat, in which the second husband kills the first/ buries the secret for ever.
A new comedy in five acts, by MM. Scribe and H. Boissieuxof which, we hope, to speak more particularly, has been produced With success at the Gymnase. It is called Lee Time Navin.
Mademoiselle Emma Livry, a young dancer, respecting whom titer have been high expectations, has made a brilliant debut at the Opera, In the revived ballet, la Sylphide.
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