The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

PRINCE'S .

AMONG the number of offensive or futile plays which have been offered to a much-enduring London public we may place the " Princess George" in tho "bad eminence" of the first rank . When produced in Paris in 1871 , with the prestige of a powerful cast , including Desclee and Pearson * , it was received with questionable favour , though it possessed a fictitious interest as an appeal for

the right of divorce—a right which forms the text of many of the younger Dumas' comedies . The story , in its commencement , progress and conclusion is equally feeble and offensive . The Princess , who is of noblo family and great wealth , has married a mined spendthrift , who at tho opening of the play has jnst secured half her fortune

in order to elope with bis friend Count Terremonde's wife . However , the Princess has employed her maid to watch her husband , and on the rising of the curtain we find her receiving tho report of her confidential agent , who has watched the Prince to an hotel with his paramour . In the following scene sho charges her husband with hia

infidelity , but he contrives to lie well enough to banish her suspicions , and even persuades her to receive the Countess at her entertainment that evening . Tho Princess , again by the intervention of a servant , her husband ' s valet ( Mr . Smedley ) , learns sho is duped ; the man gives her the note with which ho had been entrusted

by his master for tho Countess Sylvanie ; then , feeling compromise is no longer possible , in the presence of the guests she commands the Countess to leave tho room . The Count entering almost immediately , she declares what she has done , and iu reply to his indignant demand for an explanation says , she can receive no

woman who comes for a rendezvous with a lover , —but will not give his name . The Count suspects a devoted young friend of his own , who has an idyllic and respectful adoration for the Countess . We presently bear a pistol shot , and for a moment hope our " Leicester - square" Prince has been " provided" for . The Princess has just

cried out in wild despair to bo saved from tbe misery of such a union , and her mother tells her nothing but death can set her free , when enter the Count , with a pistol—she , in agony , concludes her prayer for freedom has been answered , and all her old love returns . There seems nothing left for her but death . When the Prince walks

in , quite unembarrassed , the Count explains be has shot the youthful De Fondette ( Mr . Carne ) . Tho Princess falls into her husband ' s arms , and the curtain descends upon these fantastic marionettes . The play is bad , but there are situations in it wbicb might rise to very poignant interest in the hands of capable artists . Mrs . Langtry is

wholly unable to realise for a moment the tender and passionate character of the Princess ; a very beautiful and beautifully dressed piece of clever waxwork , which , however , ought to be seen in profile , for the face has no expression ; we should not look for expression from the Tnssaud handiwork . In the opening scene she attempts ,

by a great deal of hand wringing and arm waving , to imply that she is in deep distress , but she was quite unable to persuade her audience of this . She is pettish , and shrewish , and angry—as though her work had spoiled a dinner—when she is supposed to be in an agony of outraged love . Again and again a titter ran through the

house at the supposed pathetic passages , and in the great scene with her rival the mechanism and unreality of this pretty automaton became so evident that had it not been for the fine impersonation of her rival , by Miss Amy Roselle , the act would probably have closed amid general derision . Mrs . Langtry must have herself felt the

danger of the situation , for when , in answer to what she interpreted as a call , the enrtain rose , sho led on Miss Amy Roselle , and so secured the plaudits of the audience . Although a great part of the Countess ' s role has been eliminated in the version adopted by Mrs .

Langtry , it is to its exponent , Miss Roselle , that we are indebted for any interest iu this dull and depressing performance , though we must praise the quiet and able style of Victor ( Mr . Smedley ) , the Prince's Valet . As for the guests at the Prince's " at home" we could not but think of

" A party in a parlour drinking tea , All silent , ancl all damned . " Mr . Cogblan had evidently given up all thonght of struggling with the general depression . The unhappy De Fondette was so utterly insignificant that "his being provided for" by the

Count seemed to interest no one either on or off the stage . A gentleman in the gallery wondered what was to be done witb the body . The fashionable world was in full force to do hononr to this strange fetish , which would fain possess an improving soul of art , but though she commands all the spells of the great magician Worth ,

and can conjure with tho loveliest of bis inspirations , for those who seek the artist behind the fetish there is nothing . The first night crowd was gathered from mere curiosity , or perhaps a good-natured hope that the feeble amateur who had enjoyed a siiccCs de scandale at the Haymarket , had returned after many months , and their

expcriences , with powers worthy the interest which had beon excited . It is not so , and we fear tho manager of the Prince ' s will find that curiosity alone will not long suffice to fill a fashionable playhouse , though with the choicest upholstery behind tho footlights . The hisses of the first night might easily grow to bookings as tho melancholy iron curtain falls .

The Grand.

THE GRAND .

fi . HE Pantomime of " Puss in Boots , " which is now running at -1- this theatre , has one novel feat ore—the author , Mr . Joseph Tabrar , has invested it with original music . This is of a very lively kind , and suffices to give various comic and sentimental ditties a freshness . Beyond this , Mr . Tabrar has not attempted more than to

The Grand.

re-dress a number of time-honoured expedients for creating laughter . This pantomime has the merit of being capitally acted , by a strong company of comedians , all eccentric in their individual walk , and able to dance with facility and sing with spirit . The adventures of Fritz , the Miller ' s son , played by Miss Lottie Dettmar , who

afterwards becomes Marquis of Carrabas , are controlled in this instance by the Fairy Loveliness , who opposes the Demon Revilo , Fritz ' s enemy . The Fairy endows the young hero ' s cat with speech , and Puss ( Mr . Tom Fancourt ) , in the legendary pair of boots , helps his master to conquer a terrible ogre . In the development of this idea

there occurs one pretty pastoral scene , the Village of Content , with tho humours of a rustic school , and a grand spectacular set representing the King ' s Palace , in which occurs a ballet of jesters . Some magnificent scenery has been painted by Mr . W . T . Hemsley , hia Ballet and Transformation Scenes being especially beautiful . The

company is a strong one ; Mr . Witty Watty Walton , a clever comedian , leads , as a village pedagogue , and contributes a wonderful drunken scene , which brings down the house . He is well supported by Mr . George Vokes , a nimble dancer ; Mr . Joe Elvin , Mr . Edward Fawcett , ancl Mr . Prior . Miss Lottie Dettmar and Miss Nellie

Melnctte sing and dance gracefully , as the hero and the princess , whilo Miss Lillie Lingfield , as Rosie Posie , contributes a skilful skipping-rope dance . Mr . J . M . Jones leads the Harlequinade aa Clown , ancl ho is assisted by Mr . Henri Lemaire as Pantaloon , Mr . II . Lewins Policeman , Mr . Alfred Baker Sprite , Mr . R . H . Mercer

Harlequin , and Miss Amy Lucille Columbine . The Pantomime , which never flags in spirit and bustle , has scored well , and we congratulate Mr . Charles Willmott on the success he has attained . Mr . Walton announced—in a verse of his popular song , " I'm not asleep "—that his farewell benefit will take place on 3 rd of February . Doubtless his admirers will " not be asleep " on that occasion .

Henglers'

HENGLERS'

SHALL we go to Henglers' ? is a question doubtless asked afc many breakfast-tables every morning , and " Henglers '" is as concise an idea as who should say " Irving ' s . " The Henglers , senior ancl junior , revolve round a much-applauding Continent , nor fail to return in due season to their London friends . We now find them " at homo " every afternoon and evening , in their handsome and

commodious hippodrome , the finest building of the kind yet erected in London . That the public appreciate the managerial liberality was evident on our visit by the crowded audience filling pit , boxes , and amphitheatre . The house is bright with gold and white decorations , and a pretty effect is obtained by rose-tinted lamps round the

boxes . Messrs . Hengler have a fine stud of trained horses , and there is plenty of dash and daring in the riders . Fraulein Blumenfield is especially remarkable for pluck and grace in her daring leaps . The " school " horses Strathmore and Gazelle went through some very clever tricks , and Herr Blennow , their trainer , was warmly applauded .

The young folks wore especially enthusiastic for Mr . Mernman Cbirgwiu , in whom their elders recognised a touch of the dear , delightful clowns when the century was young . Mr . Hengler jun . showed his hereditary gifts with an Irish mare , evidently Celtic of spirit . Then there was some good fun with some low-comedy

donkeys , a grand military spectacle with thirteen chargers , then some clever gymnasts and a delicious bit of comic pantomime , Mr . Merriman Walker keeping his audience in convulsions of laughter whilst he in dumb show exhibits how an old gentleman proposes to catch a trout ; finds the bait , feels the bite , plays the fish , and also ,

instead of landing it , tumbles into the water—and only a whip ancl tho sawdust for properties . Then there appeared somo trained dogs , who did wonderful things inside and outside some casks . Then the fair Jenny O'Brien gave her great vaulting act over

her horse ' s back , and various other wonders of the haiite e ' cole . Then a race with ponies and monkeys , the items of the programme following fast on each other , and concluding , to the satisfaction of Mater Familias , afc the domestic hour of 10 ' 30 .

A change of programme took place at the Alhambra , on Monday last , 19 th January , when Mdlle . Garetta , described as " the exquisite Charmeuso de Pigeons ; " the celebrated Hanlou Voltas ; aud Professor Wingfield ' s troupe of trained dogs appeared . These new features ,

and other varieties , including the two Grand Ballets , " The Swans " aud " Melusine , " in which Mdlle . Sampietro and Mdlle . Palladino are engaged , gave great ; satisfaction to a large and appreciative audience .

ROVAL EAR HOSPITAL , Fi-inr STEEUT , Sono . —This useful charity held its annual general meeting in the rooms of tho institution on Tuesday , tho 13 th inst . It is one of the oldest and most deserving of special hospitals , aud during the 60 years it has be _ * n established , over 120 , 000 patients have been treated for various ear diseases

within its walls . The repoit of the surgeons , Dr . Urban Pritch . . rd , F . R . C . S ., ancl Dr . F . Mathoson , CM ., was read . From it we learn that during 18 S 4 there wero 8 , 128 out-patient attendances , at which 2 , 625 separate cases received careful treatment . These nnmbers greatly exceed any former record . Fifty patients were admitted

into the in-patient wards , all serious cases and mostly children . This new department was reported to be a very great success , although ifc had considerably added to the expenditure . Tbe accounts for 1884 wero audited and passed . The financial condition

of the ho . pital was shown to be only fairly satisfactory , as there was a considerable falling ofi'in donations , although the subscriptions had increased . A vote of thanks to surgeons , treasurer , and secretary brought the proceedings to a close .