The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

PBINCE'S .

" TXTORTH makes the man , " sang Alexander Pope ; but Worth » » fails to make an artist , even with so pretty a lay figure as Mrs . Langtry offers the great man millinor . " The School for Scandal , " produced on Tuesday night at the Prince's , dragged its alow length along from eight o'clook till midnight . Sumptuous

mtonors , Chippendalo furniture , and splendid costumes , changed at every opportunity , showed lavish outlay in mounting the play , but though stalls and dress circle felt a feeble enthusiasm for these things , they poorly compensated the tedium of the dreary waits entailed . Mrs . Laugtry as Lady Teazle is pleasing in tho light

comedy scones ; she is the graceful lady of fashion without aid from histrionic art ; but she does not indicate beneath the acquired social veneer tho high-spirited , true-hearted country girl , who never really bolongs to the clique of the Candours and Backbites . Thon , in tho groat screen scene , whero Miss Litton or Miss Ada

Cavendish showed us , not the rage of the humiliated lady of fashion , but the heart agony of a true woman , degraded in her own eyes , Mrs . Langtry sorely fails to grasp the situation . She hides her face when we should read on it tho story of tho awakening from a dream of folly ; and when , abashed and

solf-convicted , we should soo how this honest-hearted country girl will emerge out of tho desperate entanglement to win back happiness aud her husband ' s love , Mrs . Langtry makes a heavy tragedy exit , and fails to awaken sympathy in tho audience for the personage sho represents . Much expectation had been excited by the cast , but

though Mr . Farren gave us Sir Peter with all tho delicate refinement and finish of which , perhaps , he alone possesses , at the presont day , the secret , and Mr . Coghlan made an excellent Charle 3 , dashing and volatile , there was much disappointment iu store as regards the Joseph Surface of Mr . Beerbohm Tree . The plausible , high-bred ,

fascinating man of the world , who hoodwinks alike clear witted Lady Teazle and his cynical associates , is certainly not realised . A Sunday-school teacher could nob bo taken iu by such an embryonic scoundrel ; still we will hazard no final judgment . A very finished and effective Joseph is quite within this clever actor ' s grasp .

Mrs . Arthur Stirling played carefully , but without tho breadth and unction which should make Mrs . Candour one of the most delightful figures on tho stage . We trust the play , after the first night , will run closer , and that on a second visit the charms of the deep fautcuils will not be so tempting for an occasional nap .

St. James's.

ST . JAMES'S .

IT is not a wholly pleasant duty to record this latest version of " As yon like it . " The management of the St . James's have assuredly spared neither thought , toil , nor cost to make the production a success , but we fear , unless more vigorous life and good brisk out of door spirit be imparted , thore must be disappointment for all concerned .

St . James ' s boasfc 3 one of the best companies in London , and in Mrs . Kendal surely one ofL the fairest , as she is undoubtedly among the most gifted artists who honour the stage . The park aud tho forest scenery is exquisite . Surely such grass , such mossy stems and umbrageous boughs have never been lighted by artificial sunlight

before , nor the sweet lyrics of Shakspearo sung to such sylvan accompaniment of babbling brooklet . The costumes are careful studies of the fantastic period chosen . Wo seem to see a dozen pictures by Mabnse or Schwartz made living men and women . The Meiningeu management would have nothing to teach this St . James '

crowd as to naturalness of action . The scene at the wrestling match is one of the most brilliant and effective we have ever witnessed . Groups form and reform under tho spreading boughs of grand old cedars on one side of the stage , —though it is difficult to believe this is a stage and not a stately sun-lighted park . On the other rises tho massive

carved stono front of tho ancient chateau . A pretty quaint group is produced by the steeple capped nurse and her young charges , who come into the balcony to enjoy the festival . Mr . Kendal in this scene—as in the precediug one with his " wicked brother" Oliverwas at his best , manly aud self-possessed . He looked Orlando to

the life j handsome , graceful and young , as Orlando should be ; but where the idyllic and ideal lover should be shown us Mr . Kendal evidently felt ill at ease . With the iutention of giving dignity to the part , he abdicates those pleasant gifts of true comedy he possesses , and instead of the fascinating brilliant youth who should justify

Rosalind ' s sudden passion we have a most staid and serious—might we not say , tedious—young man . We hope , however , with the greater case that will come , will follow mors familiarity . Mr . Kendal has yet to do his best , and assuredly it will then be a very pleasant interpretation . For tho Rosalind of Mrs . Kendal , tho stuge has

rarely seen a brighter , a more refined , or one more charming in every way . The Madge Robertson of earlier days has come back to U 3 , with all the girlish chatm and sweetness of old , and with the added power of years of study . The arclmes 3 and pre : ty petulance of the scene where Rosalind

would make Orlaucio woo her under her feigned name was simply charming , whilst hev sinking of the enckoo song awoke the house to enthusiasm . Mrs . Kendal has undoubtedly achieved an artistic trinmph , and if she could inspire her coadjutor ; , with her own spirit the revival would ba a delight for months to come . There is ,

however , a generally subdued tone—all semis set in a minor key—a "weight of melancholy weighs on all tho dramatis parsonic , except in the case of the fair Celia , admirably portrayed by Miss Linda IJietz , who shines forth with a sprightlinoss and winsomenesti quite charming . The debutaute , Miss Lea , also makes the meek Audrey one of the chief successes of the night . She is " enough " Audrey , rustic

St. James's.

and awkward , with a pleasant bright wit under hot * rusticity . Mr . Hare as Touchstone : —To this representation wo all looked forward as an opportunity for this gifted actor , and we are sure Mr . Haro is as little satisfied as those who would so willingly praise him . Mr . Vezin lends his high-bred manner and perfect elocution to Jacques

once more , but tho noble melancholy of the " Seven Ages " seemed to lack somethiug , spoken as it was among thoso well-dressed , banished lords , who evidently were not enjoying thoir forest pic-nic . Mr .

Cellier ' s music for the songs is doubtless graceful , but how can we praise that which has robbed us of thoso sweet old tunes we older folks must over associate with the sweetest lyrics Shakespear has given us ?

The Princess's.

THE PRINCESS'S .

" TTAMLET " at tho Princess ' s has attained and passed its ban . -l-X dredth night , with tho popularity its first representation evoked in no degreo lessoned . Tho fifth act closed on the 5 th February for the hundredth time , amid plaudits even more enthusiastic than those that generally groet the gifted actor and generous manager , who was ovidently compollod , in spite of himself , to

respond to tho demand for a speech . Happily custom and warning experience has taught Mr . Barrett that though tho critical audience with whom one almost seoms to clasp hands in the excitement of thoso great waves of emotion and applause may be warmly sympathetic , the hand-clasp and the responsivo pulse must be wanting in

tho " morning paper , and therefore , in Mr . Barrett s own words , "it is canny to say nowt . " At tho samo time he gracefully acknowlodged tho favour that had rewarded the work done by hira and hia company ; he also pronounced the good augury that in two other theatres Shakespear had found welcome . Doubtless never has

Hamlet excited higher interest or given occasion for more con . troversy . Mr . Barrett can show good justification for his reading , in the essentially living , suffering , sympathetic embodiment he has given us . There is this charm in the play , that each ac ' or may give us a new Hamlet , and vet each , bo true . Tho character , like a faceted

diamond , shows this or that colour as the light falls on it . One of the great charms of the present revival has been the restoration of tho king to his proper importance in tho play . Tho voluptuous " smiling villain , " whose crimes are as much due to passion for the Queen as for greed of power , has in Mr .

Wil-Iard a fine embodiment , and time has much refined and given finish to the portraiture . Miss Eastlake , who playa Ophelia with much care , is in danger of greatly elaborating the final scene , and making the very realism of her madness destructive to the grace and dignity which should ever distinguish tragedy from

melodrama . The stately beanty of Miss Leighton is of great value in her presentment of the queen ; we see a woman of whom Claudius declares , Gertrude "lives but in his ( Hamlet ' s ) looks "—and , as the queen , we scarcely feel the mother . There is a grim earnestness in Mr . George Barrett's gravedigger , which keeps the part well within

the prevailing minor key ; it is exceedingly fine , and with true touch of comedy in its rendering . Though lovers of Shakespeare must regret they bid farewell to Macready ' s " Sweet Prince , " we believe Mr ,

Barrett s judgment will again secure a great success in tho new "Brutus , " for which theatregoers are now impatiently looking forward . Not at the Princesses need tho manager fear " thore is no money bid for argument , unless tho poet and Iho player wont to cuffs on the question . "

A special meeting of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland will be held on Monday next , IGth inst ., at tho Freemasons' Hall , Hal ford Street , Leicester , when the Lodgo of the Golden Fleece , No . 2081 ,

will be constituted and dedicated in ancient form . The Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened afc 3 ' 15 p . m ., and after the calling over of the Provincial roll and the transaction of other formal business the new Lodse will be

consecrated . The W . M . designate having been installedj he will proceed to invest his Officers , invite propositions , and then close the Lodge . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master—Bro . S . S . Partridge—will then call attention to

the forthcoming election of Grand 'treasurer of England , and will move " That the Provincial Grand Lodge heartily approves the candidature of a Provincial Brother for the office , and recommends W . Bro . John Woodall Woodall P . M .,

P . P . S . G . W . North and East Yorkshire , to the support of the brethren of the Province . " Any other business regularl y brought before the Provincial Grand Lodge will be transacted , and then Prov . Grand Lodge will be closed . A

banquet will be served at the Hall afc half past five , and as a large attendance is expected , an early notification is requested from any brother intending to be present . The

price of the tickets for dinner and dessert are 5 s 6 d each . The attendance of brethren of other Provinces is invited by the Provincial Grand Lodoro .

We are asked to state that the ballots for Life Gove'nors hi the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution foraged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , in which Bro . S ' mn ^ on J . Byng , 424 S . C . and P . M . 002 is Steward , will take p' = u : e ¦ it Bro . MeekUm ' s , Alwyne Castle , St . PaulV- * o * d . Highbury , on Friday evening , 20 th February , at nine o ' clook .