The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Haymarket . —It was not at all to be wondered at that Shakespeare's delightful comedy " The Merry Wives of Windsor , " having caused considerable discussion in the artistic world when lately produced by Mr . Beerbohm Tree afc a morning performance , should be regularly initiated into the evening programme . So

far as the present generation is dramatically concerned the play may be regarded as a novelty , seeing that it has not been presented for some years , and certainly has never before been seen with such brilliant surroundings . It appears impossible for an aotor now-a-days to hit off a conception of any Shakespearian oharaoter without

evoking some hostile oriticism , bufc Mr . Beerbohm Tree may fairly be congratulated on his rendering of Sir John Falstaff , whioh character he has evidently carefully studied , and elaborated so as to bring out all its salient points . The rough good nature and deep onnning of the fat knight were well portrayed , and the soenes with Mr . Ford

afforded great amusement . Mr . Tree ' s " make up " was marvellous , while his voice was so disguised that it was only at times the worthy manager could be detected . The two " merry wives " were admirably represented by Mesdamea Rose Leclercq and H . Lindley , both of whom entered thoroughly into the humour of the play . Mrs . Tree

waa the real embodiment of sweet Anue Page , and Mrs . Edmund Phelps made an admirable MiBtress Quickly . Mr . F . H . Macklin as the jealous Ford , and Mr . F . Harrison as Page , were both capitally placed . Mr . Brookfield did all that was possible as stupid Master Slender ; Mr . F . Melliah waa a fairly satisfactory Fenton , while the

humour of Dr . Caius , Sir Hugh Evans , and Mine Host of the Garter waa restrained within proper bounds by Messrs . Kemble , Righton , and Blythe . The woodland scenery , especially that of the last act , in Windsor Park , was most beantiful , and elicited great applause ,

while the musical selections , played by an increased orchestra , under the direction of Mr . H . Clark , also deserve special mention . We can cordially recommend all students of Shakespeare to witness this representation .

Gaiety . —A special matinee was inaugurated by Miss Kate Rorke , on Tuesday , for the production of Mr . Sydney Grundy ' s play , " A Fool's Paradise . " The piece ha 3 already been produced in America , under the title of " The Mouse Trap , " but certainly its new title seems more appropriate . When the play opens we are introduced

to Phillip Selwyn , who has married an attractive young lady , after a very short acquaintance . He ia supposed to be perfectly happy , but his wife has only married him for his money . He invites to his house Lord Normantower , an old friend , and here we learn that Mrs . Selwyn was engaged to the Earl before she knew her present

husband . She now resolves to slowly poison her husband , by arsenio , administered in his medicine , and to fix her guilt on Kate Derwent , a companion , with whom Lord Normantower has fallen in love . The

doctor , Sir Peter Lund , a plain spoken old bachelor , has his suspicions , and lays a trap whioh Mrs . Selwyn readily falls into . When she finds her plans have failed , she takes the final dose of medicine herself , and dies . The actinsr of Mr . J . S . Wenman aa Sir Peter Lund cannot

be too highly spoken of , his rendering of the part being admirable . Mis 3 Kate Rorko was also seen to great advantage as Kate Derwent . One scene , where she renounces her lover , through a misunderstanding , fairly brings down the house . Miss Gertrude Kingston , as Mrs . Selwyn , was impressive and realistic , and deserved the applause which

she received . Mr . E . W . Gardiner as Lord Normantower , and Mr . H . B . Coaway as Philip Selwyn , can certainly be commended for the capital renderings they gave of their respective parts . Miss Mary

Collette and Mr . R . Saunders pleasantly disported themselves as a pair of yonthful lovers . Tho play was altogether favourably received . The principals seoured a double call after the last act , when the author also responded .

Globe . —Tho production of the " School for Scandal" being intended merely as a stop gap , pending the return of Mr . Mansfield , whose appearance as Crooked-back Richard is exciting considerable anticipation , does not call for any detailed criticism , especially as the principal personages have appeared in London previously . Miss Kate

Vanghan gives a highly refined and coquettish rendering of Lady Teazle , and ia ably supported by Mr . James Fernandez , whose Sir Peter , played on the old traditional lines , stood out in bold relief . Mr . W . H . Herbert was an excellent Charles Surface , and Mr . J . T . Sullivan was satisfactory as his hypocritical brother Joseph , while

Mr . Lionel Brough was found to be well placed as the kindly jew Moses . Mr . Harkins acted exceedingly well aa Sir Oliver , and Mr . J . Burrows deserves special mention for his impersonation of Rowley . Miss Carlotta Leclercq , Miss May Whitby , and Miss Maude White appeared respectively as Mrs . Candour , Lady Sneerwell , and

Maria , and Mr . Weedon Grossmith did good service as Backbite . The minuet at the termination of the second act was most gracefully performed and enthusiastically re-demanded . The costumes were remarkably bright and pretty , bufc unfortunately served to make the Bhady scenery still moro dingy .

A speoial matinee of a new domestic comedy , entitled " See Saw , ' by George Capel and J . Ragland Phillips , will tako place at Terry ' s Theatre , on 22 nd iusfc ., under the direction of Mr . H . T . Brickwell

The cast will include Miss Hermou and Miss Eleanore Loyshon Messrs E . Smedley Yates , A . G . Andrews , Fred Terry , W . F . Hawtrey W . Hargreaves , and Mr . Julian Cross , who will also be responsible for the stage management .

Ou account of the great success which attended tho production of " The Policeman" at Terry ' s * , ifc has been determined to repeat the performance ou Tuesday afternoon , 5 fch March and thus afford an opportunity to the vast number of persons who were unable to obtain admission on tho lasfc occasion to now witness

The Theatres, &C.

Messrs . Helmore and Phillpotfc'a Farcical Rally . The principal characters will be undertaken , as before , by Messrs . Arthur Williama , Forbes Dawson , Compton Coutfcs , the Misses Gabrielle Goldney , Lilian Millward , & c . AL FRESCO FAVRE AND FLORAL FETE . —The Grosvenor Hospital for

Women and Children ia in need of £ 15 , 000 for re-building the Institution , and to raise that sum a society show , under the direct patronage of the Princess of Wales , the Princess Christian , the Princess Beatrice , the Princess Mary Adelaide , and the Prinoesa Frederica of Hanover , has been planned , on a grand and picturesque

scale , for 29 tb , 30 th and 31 sfc May next , at the Royal Albert Hall . The ingenious idea has been bit npon of discarding the usual stage canvas and paint effects , and of building a charming country scene with the material which nature itself supplies—in shorb , a scenic em « bodiment of all that ia pretty and poetical in rnstio nature . For

example , there will be veritable corn ricks , moas-covered cottages , a practical windmill , a vinery , a rose-bower , an old caravan filled with toys for the children , & c . On the garden terrace , tableaux of the famous Watteau picturea will be represented , and there will be fruit and flower displays and competitions . Already many

diafcinguiahed ladies have promised to adopt the simple rustic costumes , whioh will be a feature of the Al Fresoo Fayre and Floral Fete , and so help to raise the much needed funds for re-building . Captain the Hon . F . C . Howard is the secretary , and may be communicated with afc the Hospital , Vincent Square , S . W .

A concert and entertainment in aid of the funds of the Royal Masonic School for Boys will be given in the Craven

Lecture Hall , Jboubert ' s Ir * lace , Wb Kegent Street ( opposite Conduit Street ) , on Friday , the 22 nd inst . The following artistes have kindly promised their services : —Mrs . Marsh , Mrs . Lewis , Mr . A . C . Bonham , Miss Lizzie Burrell ,

Mr . Pascall Taylor , Mr . Lewis , Polytechnic School Choir ( Mr . Egerton , Choir Master ) , Mr , Charles Bertram and Mdlle . Patrice , the celebrated Drawing-room Illusionists , Baby Hettie , aged 9 years ( pupil of Mdlle . Patrice ) , song

and dance . Tickets , 2 s 6 d and Is , may be obtained of Dr . Corrie Jackson , P . M . 534 , 17 Poland Street , W .

A full dress Masonio Ball , under the auspices of the Jersey Lodge , No . 2163 , in aid of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , waa held in the Manor Hall , Southall , on Monday llth inst . There was a strong list of Patrons—headed by the R . W . Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Barfc ., Prov . Grand Master Middlesex ; while the

arrangements were entrusted to the following Stewards : —Bro . W . C . Hall W . M ., Wm . Seward jun . I . P . M . Treasnrer Prov . Grand Standard Bearer Middlesex , John Tidmarsh J . W ., George Harper Secretary , T . W . Jamieson S . D ., E . J . W . Herbert J . D ., J . A . Templeman I . G ., W . A . Cocks D . C , G . A . Williama S . M . O . ' s : —Bros . S . Meoch S . W ..

W . F . Sanger S . The Band was provided by Bro . J . W . Curtia Organist , and an excellent selection of music waa made . The refreshraents , by Bro . Johnson , could nofc have been excelled ; while the Hall , kindly lent by W . F . Thomas , Esq ., CO ., was decorated with flags . Dancing was kept up with spirit and vigour until 4 a . m .

A feature of the evening was the attendance of Messrs . Fradelle and Young , mezzotint photographers , of Regent Street , and by them most of the ladies and brethren were " flashed , " by aid of fcho beautiful magnesium light securing a highly artistic and enduring art souvenir of an evening long to be remembered in the

annals of tho Jersey Lodge . Among those present were :- —¦ Bros . W . C . Hall W . M . and Mrs . Hall , William Seward jon . I . P . M . and Treasurer , S . Meech and Mrs . Meech , John Tidmarsh J . W . and Mrs . Tidmarsh , George Harper Secretary and Mrs . Harper , E . J . W . Herbert J . D ., W . A . Cocks D . C , W . F . Sanger

Steward and Mrs . Sanger , J . W . Curtis Organist and Mra . Curtis , A . J . Hanson and Miss Hanson , C . Meed and Miss Sanger , C . C . Sanger and Mrs . Sanger , H . C . Hanson and Mrs . Hanson , Pnrfurafc and Mr 8 . Purfurst , W . Reed and Misses Reed ( 2 ) , J . Passmore and Mrs . Passmore , Page Wallis , Johnson , Dennis , T . Smith , Misa E . Sinnotfc , Misa White , Mra . Drewe , & o .

The proprietors of the London Journal , following up the aeriea of successes whioh has characterised their management from the first , have done well in introducing to their readers a work from the pen of that gifted writer Clementine Montagu , entitled " The Cost of Con . quest , " which appears in No . 271 of the London Journal , to be

published on the 19 th inst ., and is one of the bast and brightest of jber productions . The plot is original and ingenious , and the secret upon which ifc is built ia well kept , the interest of the reader being excited and held unflaggingly to the end . The characters are well drawn , the incidents dramatic , the dialogue sparkling , and the writing graceful .

J . F . Smith s masterpiece , that marvollous story " Minnigrey , " ia undoubtedly one of the novels of the age . It ha 3 given harmless amu 3 oment to countless thousands , and can be read and read again with pleasure , as fresh as on the first perusal . Knowing this , the

proprietors of the London Journal have wisely determined to- submit it to the romance-reading public in volume form , and are now re . issuing ifc in penny numbers ( illustrated by Sir John Gilbert , R . A . ) , thus placing it within tho reach of all . Every lover of good fiction should become a subscriber .

TO THE DEAF . —A Person cured of Deafness and noises in the head of 23 years' standing by a simple remedy , will send a description of it I ' - to any Person Who applies to Nicuoiso ^* , 21 Bcdforcl-sq ,, London , W . C .