The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — Opera Comique . —Adapting such a novel as Mr . F . C . Philips ' "As in a Looking Glass" for the stage was certainly the last thing one might have expected ; still this was the task undertaken by Mr . F . C . Grove ; the result giving a play thoroughly interesting

from start to finish ; yet , we are compelled to add , with a somewhat unwholesome flavour . This mistake is caused by one character—Lena Despard—the centre of attraction throughout . In the first three acts this woman is nothing better than an adventuress , Beeking whom she may devour , while in the last aot she calls for all

the sympathy stage heroines are entitled to . Mr . Grove has set himself a difficult task , and has successfully accomplished it . Lena Despard , a divorced wife , has associated herself with a certain Jack Fortinbras . That , later on , she should desire to get rid of Fortinbras is only natural ; with this object in view she plots that

Algernon Balfour shall marry her . There is , however , an obstacle in the way ; Balfour is engaged to a Miss Vyse . Lena , however , resolves to carry out her wish , to which end she makes the acquaintance of Miss Vyse , whom she leads to bolieve that her lover is false , and by this means the engagement is broken off . Then

Lena's turn comes ; she sympathises with Balfour , who in return proposes for her hand . Balfour takes Lena to Balfour Castle , where Jack turns up , to know what Lena is " going to stand on the job . " She refuses , and Jack threatens to tell Balfour , by whom the threat is partly overheard . To save her lover Lena takes a dose of

poison , from which she eventually dies . The character of Lena wants a finished actress to interpret it , and certain is it Mrs . Bernard Beere has capacity . Her happy and thoughtless display in the first part is ably delineated , while the death scene is rendered in so natural a way that if anything

is wrong it is that it is too realistic . Mrs . Beere has thoroughly grasped the character , and we may without hesitation chronicle a best on record for her . The support given her is fair . The Balfour of Mr . Bucklaw was earnest , if uot impressive . Mr . Herbert Standing had but little to do as Jack Fortinbras . The best

drawn male character wss Count Paul Dromirofr . M . Marius gave a capital rendening of this character . Miss Eva Sothern made the most of the easily deceived Miss Vyse , and Miss Maud Williamson was a fair Lady Darner . Messrs . A . M . Denison , A . Marcel ,

Compton Contis , H . Deane , H . W . Brnme , and the Misses Ashford and Marie Wynter all rendered able support . That "As in a Looking Glass " is a success we feel assured , and it should run at least to the end of the present season .

Alhambra . —Another of those charming ballets so popular at this house has lately been produced . When we state that Mons . J . Hansen is it 3 inventor , while M . Jacobi has composed the music , it goes almost without saying it worthily upholds the traditions of the Alhambra . Mons . Hansen has dropped on a happy

idea for his latest work , which he calls " Nadia , " the scene of action being in Russia . The ballet has been arranged in two tableanx , the first represents a rustic interior , where a wedding is about to take place . The bride , however , is attended by a kind of Mephistopheles , who so charms her , by his performance on a musical instrument ,

that in the end she allows this mysterious being to lead her to a stalactite cave in the silver mines . Here , however , he loses his power , and when the bride ' s lover comes to the cave she at once consents to retnrn to ber native village . From this outline it will be seen Mons . Hansen has based his ballet on a substantial idea

one that can easily be followed . But what matters whether the idea be interesting or no , so long as there are pretty dresses , graceful dancing , and tasteful groupings . That all these are provided in " Nadia " we can assure our readers . L . Besche has not failed to avail himself of the opportunity afforded for designing

the dresses , which have been manufactured by M . and Mdme . Alias , in their best style , and the grouping , in the last tableau shows them to the greatest advantage . In reference to the music , which we have already stated is by Jacobi , it does not strike us as being so tuneful as some of this composer's previous

efforts . Mdlle . Palladino has returned to the Alhambra , again to be received with the plaudits she certainly deserves . Her dancing is of the highest order . We may especially mention the pizzicato and variation in the first , and the variation valse in the second

tableau . Mdlle . Palladino receives capital support from Mdlles . Cormani and Marie . That "Nadia" has started on a long and successful career we cannot doubt , and we congratulate all concerned on their success .

THIS Society has opened its summer exhibition with some good work . Indeed , it is , altogether , an interesting exhibition . There are but few non-exhibitors amongst its 557 members . To those who are not well acquainted with this Institution , so valuable to young and rising artists , it may not be out of place to mention

THE 19 TH CENTURY ART SOCIETY .

that the rooms are admirably adapted to their purpose ; the terms of membership are most reasonable , and for eight months in the year the galleries are open to the public . The figure subjects are not numerous , but amongst the most noticeable are the following , " Ready for Church" ( 143 ) , by

E . Dixon ; an old country datne , with prayer book in her hand , carefull y and strongly painted ; J . M . Bowkett ' s "A Happy Family " ( 167 ) , a pretty child with cat and kittens ; " Far from the madding crowd , " by Edgar Anderson , a venerable bead in profile ; a careful

stud y ; but Mr . Anderson ' s best work is in another gallery , Mabel ( ° 51 ) , a highly finished vignetto in red chalk . Herman Schrniechen's " Portrait of the Artist ' s Mother" ( 275 ) , F . W . Hayes '" Portrait S . H . " ( 259 ) , are careful pieces of work ; and " Sweet rival of the gems she sold " ( 223 ) , by T . K . Pelham—a Spanish girl with a basket

The Theatres, &C.

of flowers , is admirable for its mellow and harmonious treatment . Amongst the sea pieces Mr . G . S . Walters' " Sunset on the Maas , Holland " ( 16 ) , is strikingly beautiful in its rich atmosphere , and with the artist ' s customary finish in details . "A ground-swell , after a gale" ( 240 ) , by Walter J . Shaw , for real living water , so to speak ,

is a masterpiece of painting ; lovely in its transparency . " Autumn Mellow : Thomasiu Pass , Goatland , Whitby " ( 159 ) , occupies the post of hononr in the principal gallery , and deservedly so , as it , for breadth , solid treatment , tho preservation of distances and atmosphere , possesses all the true qualities of landscape . " Fishing

Hut on the Tow . North Devon" ( 101 ) , by A . Bevan Collier ; "The Bulwarks of Old England , " by Douglas Adams ( 101 ) , and " At Shere , Surrey " ( 369 ) , by Georges Marks , deserve attention—the latter for its indication of repose . To be critical , the greens are a little too green . There are several pretty flower paintings ,

but " Koses ( 51 ) , by Sophie Marr , i 8 the best . For its humour — " A Skeleton at the Feast" ( 84 ) , by Arthur C . Dodd shonld not be passed by . The subject—two dogs and a cat looking at a bowl of milk , all disconcerted by a large spider hanging directly over the

tempting fluid . Space provents our noticing the exhibition more fully , but young artists will do well to visit it , and compare notes between mature and immature work ; and the public will be glad to know that the catalogue is useful in more senses than one , inasmuch as it gives the prices of the pictures .

We have been requested to direct attention to an error that crept info the advertisement of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex , iu our last week's issue . It was there stated the time the trains leave Baker Street for Harrow would be 9 and 49 minutes past each hour ; this should have been 29 and 59 minutes past each hour .

THE REIGN OF SOLOMON . —Solomon died about the year 975 B . C ., according to the received chronology , and was buried in Jerusalem . His age was not more than fifty-eight ( chough he is described in the Bible as old ); but he had reigned as long as his father—viz ., forty years . Though not distinguished by any very striking vicissitudes ,

so far as external facts are concernhd , the rule of Solomon had been weighty with moral teaching . Beginning with signal prosperity , and passing onward and npward to the zeoith of magnificence , it closed amid gathering clouds , and under the shadow of impending change . Solomon had tasted the utmost sweetness of fortune ; he did not

live to taste its utmost bitterness ; but he apprehended to the very root that inexpressible melaucholy and despair which lie at the bottom of all pleasures in excess , of all associations that are unsanctified by love , and all power that is unwarranted by the good it does . Dominion had been his , and hononr , and success , and knowledge

beyond the lore of other men ; he had seen the pomp of regality as only the potentates of the East can see it ; and the exaltation of religious triumph had lifted him for a season into the loftiest air that human pride or humbleness can bre . ithe . Yet , in

the latter clays of his lite ( if the book of Ecolesiastes be really his ) , he discovered that all was vexation of spirit , to no worthy end—that all was vanity beneith the sun which lit him to an unregarded grave . — Cassett ' s Illustrated Universal Uistoru .

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