The Theatres.

I the agony which thus transforms this brightest and gentlest of English maidens into a wild creature , defiant and at bay . Mr . Terriss , who in the earlier scenes was somewhat wanting in the lightness and p leasantness which should mark a Don Jnan of the period , and moreover had rather tho air of an antique Roman than

the pretty fellow and particular friond of the demireps and madames of Ranelogh . Bat Mr . Terriss cannot help being in earnest , aud when his opportunity came—tho quarrel with Bnrchell , who had tracked him and Olivia to the inn—the rage of the insulted fine gentleman had a splendid ring of reality in it . Tho part is a disagreeable one ,

and though Mr . Terriss fails to g ive it any extraneous charm , he always displays refinement of bearing that leads us to hope he is not quite beyond reclamation . The Vicar was at his very best in the splendid scene where the broken-hearted father finds his Olivia crushed bvher wrongs . The feminine gentleness of his caresses .

broken for an instant by an endeavour to assert tbe severe dignity of tho outraged parent ; but at the sight of his child ' s forlorn contrition , there is nothing but pitying love left in his full heart . The home-coming was very touching in the cold light of the winter night—snow on the trees and housetops ; still , beantifnl and

poetic as the background is , we prefer tho original and more simple arrangement , where thelrstact takes p lace in the Vicarage parlour . Now the garden is slowly tnrned into the parlour , ar . d though the pathos of the way-worn , heart-sore wanderer is felt acutely , surely it is not well conceived for the old Vicar to compose himself

to sleep on the sofa whilst Olivia lights tho fire , before his anxious wife and Sophia have learned the news . When at length they appear , tho reconciliation between the poor outcast , Olivia and her mother is exquisitely brought abont ; the gentle Vicar seems clothed for a moment with apostolic dignity , when he bids his wife remember the

duty of forgiveness . Mr . Burrhell , who has contrived that the supposed false marriage shall be a valid one , now appears in his true character of the elder Thornhill , and brings tho tardy penitent to beg forgiveness from his outraged wife . Olivia ' s shudder and cry of horror at tho proposal was terribly

eloquent , but Christmas morning breaks , and once'more the scene changes to the garden , lighted by the kindly sun . We feel the squire ' s remorse will be met with tender commiseration ; the church

bells ring out , aud tbe curtain falls upon the promise of a happy future . We predict a happy future for the play at its present home . On the first night the waits were very long , and this trial of patience was aggravated by the unnecessary loudness of Mr . Meredith Ball's musicians .

Her Majesty ' s . —Wo are glad once more to seo at " Her Majesty ' s " the pensive fac / tde li ghted up for festive intent , and still better pleased that tho much-talked-of spectacular ballet " Excelsior " merits the success it enjoyed in Paris . It goes with a spirit , humour and dashing dramatic effect , and one can scarcely realize it has no

spoken dialogue . It is the fashion to declare male dancing a thing hateful and effeminate , but surely virility is not tho quality lacking in a Highland fling or Hungarian sword dance , and in "Excelsior " the men dance with snch fun , as it were possessed by the very demon of the art , that tho feminine graces of the ladies are enhanced ,

and the dramatic intention of dancing seems to find expression . The much-vaunted scenery is good , while the tronpe in its entirety is far and away the best wo have ever seen on tho English boards . The story of the ballet lies in the efforts of the spirit of Light and Progress to circumvent the Demon of Darkness , the latter splendidly

impersonated by Sig . Montanara ; his pantomime is wonderful for its force and fury ; by the way he wears blonde hair and monstacho , while every one else has black or dark brown . It is rather refreshing to see two or three hundred coryphees and not one yellowhaired wi g among them . The prima ballerina , Adelina Rossi , is the

impersonation of grace and harmony , a symphony without sound . Each of her dances was loudly applanded , but especially enthusiastic became the house over her exquisite bayadere dance , with Indian tarabock accompaniment ; lovely she looked as the browntinted daughter of the sun , while quaint and delightful were the

Ji' tie black boys , with their native instruments . Recalls occurred again an \ again , daring and after each act . It is long since such rpsonant p ^ ndits have been heard within these walls . At the same time it is to oe regretted the management has not more effectually advertised

their season . We think also that in so largo a theatre popular prices wonld have proved more snccessful . The music i 3 of no little merit , and is admirably rendered by an orchestra of some sixty performers .

St . James ' s . —It is consoling for the feeble and superannuated minority still finding delight in a play neither studied from 'Arrynoi from Fagin , to find "The Qneen ' s Shilling" still flourishing at St . James's . It has reached its 50 th night with nnwaning popularity .

Mrs . Kendal is still delightful as the wilful heroine , while Mr . Hare and Mr . Kendal are at their best in their respective parts . If only Mrs . Murray would tone her treatment of tbe strong-minded lady militant , the cast would be one of the most perfect we have seen for a long time .

Haymarket . —The announcement of the last change of programme at the "littlo house in the market" rather startled its habitues . " Robinsou est mort . Vive Slmkuspear ! " It was not , however , Shakespear of tbe last folio or first quarto , but the Garriek version— "Taming the Shrew , " reduced to th" dimensions of a one .

act farce . Let us be thankful for Shakespear , —even so ! Mr . * . Bernard Beere , as Kate , looks br-r loveliest , and plays with the spirit and distinction which ever charaet ' rivw her . We cannot quite believe this queenly dame is to be broken to harness by mere whincracking , pbite-ssma-diing , and the general rowdyism of a ragamuffin

Petmchio . It may on the fault ot the scrambling version used , which gives so littb-scope for detail of characterization ; bnt we remember when Ed win Booth played Petruchio it was with such high-bred linmonr , MK . 1 I gallant deference , that in the taming process one could believe the fair patient was not so much subdued b y the masterful violence of her spouse as by tho fascination of the true lover

The Theatres.

sparkling through the carnival masquerade . Mr . Forbes Robertson usually plays with refinement ; we cannot but believe he will per . ceive how greatly his present impersonation will gain by eli ninatioa of needless bluster and violence . Petruchio is a gentleman of birth and fortune , and an Italian gentleman ; in his wildost pranks the

gallantuomo should be evident . Mr . Kemble might , perhaps , be complimented as an eager aspirant to the honours of farcical comedy . That a soldier and man of tbe world should have snch a henchman as Mr . Kemblo's Grumio is even beyond a Garriek gospel . Of the rest of the cast it is needless to speak . The costumes are in excellent

taste . " Sweethearts" is tho second item on tho bill . Mrs . Bancroft plays with all the pretty coquetry of her earliest impersonation at the Prince of Wales Theatre , in the first act ; whilst in the " thirty years later " of the second , her art is still more tender , more delicate , and as full of pathos as iu her younger day . Mr . Bancroft , as the

egotistical old Indian , to our mind realises perfection . For this , one of Gilbert's brightest and least cynical gifts , playgoers will be gratefnl ; tho treat here awaiting them should alone be sufficient to ensnre fnll houses ; but "Sweethearts" is followed by Buckstone ' s " Good for Nothing , " and here Mrs . Bancroft once more commands

our tears and laughter . She has the taste to keep her poor little " Nan " out of the sordid rags and dirt some actresses delight to disguise her in , and the transformation at the end seems all the more probable . Mr . Brook field plays with self-restraint and realism as Charley . Mr . Kemble , as Tom Dibbles , might have been excellent had he left out half his business and two-thirds of his rhetoric .

Grand . —Mr . Edward Terry and a strong company from the Gaiety have been drawing full houses during tho week . In "The Rocket" Mr . Tony with his n 3 ual briskness plays the part of Chevalier Walkenshaw , while Miss Broughton distinguishes herself as Florence . Mr . Royce ( Lord Leadenhall ) , Mr . Tyndal ( Joslya

Hammersmith ) , Mr . Stephenson ( John Mable ) , Miss Maria Jones ( Lady Hammersmith ) , all score well . "The Rocket "is followed by the burlesque , " Robbing Roy . " Mr . Terry as Roy , Miss Clara Jecks Francis Osbaldistone , Mr . Rovce the Dougal Creature , Miss P . Broughton Diana Vernon . Islingtoniaus will doubtless embrace the opportunity of supporting these popular favourites .

The Picture G-alleries . —To those who seek abstraction from the perversity of nature in the sweet calm realms of art , those we counsel to pay a visit to that most pleasant of realms of enchantment opened by the "Sesame" shilling , the French Gallery , Pall Mall . Tho present exhibition has a magnificent work , No . 52 , it is by a

yonng Servian painter , his third exhibited picture . For brilliancy of colour and intense dramatic characterisation it wonld hold a place of honour in any gallery . It shows us a blind old minstrel , surrounded by the picturesque wild Servian peasants , who listen with rapt attention to . the " words of gold . " Thero is an oxquisite bit of

sunshine and colour in No . 46 , three fair damsels diseasing the merits of a canvas in the ahsence of the artist . No . 10 , a Meissonier , shews exquisite finish and dramatic feeling . No . 9 , a delightful episode of cynic humour . A Knight , bearing important despatches , has songhfc shelter within a Dominican cloister . He has

received such hospitable entertainment that he has fallen asleep , and now the good monks are busy reading his papers . The short-sighted brother greedily devonrs their contents , while the air of triumphant virtue in the abbot , who sits at the table with the empty wine flask , tells tho story with wonderful force . Tho picture has tho qniet

harmony of Meine ' s colonriug , well known to his admirers . Heifner has a delicious Italian moonlight , recalling that exquisite picture we used to enjoy at the Lyceum in tho earlior Belmont . Works by Professor Miiller , Windmaier , Gerome , Israels , Klecginsky ,

Andrintti , Selv . vchingcv , and a dozen more names of European fame are gathered within Mr . Wallis ' s hospitable walls . The Exhibits may be described as an epitome of European Art . Some of the best of each important nationality are there .

Crystal Palace . —The Saturday evening Illuminated Fetes , which proved so delightful a feature of the Crystal Palace summer attractions last year , will be recommenced to-day , the 6 th instant . It need hardly be remarked how naturally tho beautiful grounds , with thoir charmingly grouped trees and shrubs , their grassy lawns

and slopes , their terraces , statuary , lakes and fountains , lend tbemselves to the purposes of illumination ; and these features have been well treated by Mes-ra . C . T . Brock and Co ., who contract with the Company for the lighting up of the various spots in the grounds deemed most picturesque and suitable for pleasing effects of light

and shade . To the thousands of gracefully festooned Venetian lamps aud Chiuese lanterns , as employed last summer , will bo added this year a now feature , in the shape of electric light , which will illuminate tho walks and terraces by moans of many large arc Iamp 3 at carefully studied elevations . The band of the Scot Guards , the

Loudon Vocal Union , and the Company ' s Military Band will supply appropriate promenade music ; and nothing but , fino vveath-r will be needed to make these fetes the most enjoyable alfresco entertainments of the season . It may be added that the price of admissiou on Saturdays being now reduced to one shilling ( with but one exception at present ) , these fetes will be within the reach of all classes .

With the assent of Mr . Irving , his dinner committee , who had a surplus of £ 55 15 s in their hands , have ariven . £ -J 0 to the Actors' Benevolent Fund . and fifteen guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

HOII . OWAT ' Pir . T . 3 . —Though go-T . lhealth is preferable to high honour , how regardless people often nro of the former , how covetous of the latter ! >' anv suffer their strength to drain away ere maturity is reache I , through ign ^ ranco ot the faeiliiy afforded by the-e ncoinparable pills nf checking the first untoward symptom- ' of derangement , and reiri-ta'itig order without interfering in tho leas :, with thoir pleasure or pursui s . To the yonng'especially it is important to maintain the liiffhst digestive effiric cy , without which the growth's stunted , the museles become lax , the frame feehle , and the mind slothtul . Tho removal of indigestion by these Pills is . so easy that none save the most thoughtless would permit it to sap the springs of life .