The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

St . James ' s . —That successful writer of plays , Mr . Arthur W . Pinei'o , has once more managed to writes comedy , not only extremely funny but original . " Tho Hobby-Horse , " in three acts was produced for the first time last Saturday , at tho above theatre . The author has conceived his play in a spirit of c nsiderable brightness , and

except one or two situations it wonld class well with such pieces as " The Magistrate . " However , several of the situations are amusing and the audience watches the progress of the play with eagerness . The characters are natural , while the clearness of the plot cannot bo questioned . Each scono is well worked out , while the family

complications iu the last act cause considerable amusement . Still Mr . Pinero has—to our thinking—made a mistake in not providing a wife for the disappointed . Rev . Noel Brice , who after proposing to a lady , whom he thinks single , proves to be married . The author , perhaps , lies under the impros . ion that orce the heart be lost it

cannot be regained . An outline of tin plot must suffice to enable our readers to form an opinion of" Tho Hobby-Horse . " Mr . Spencer Jermyn , an elderly sputing gentleman , well known on tho turf , has married a buxom young lady of quite a different disposition to himself . He is a jolly , racy squire , a man of the world ; she a religious ,

philanthropic lady with a rooted aversion to the turf . Having a farm , for which ho is unable to find a tenant , Jermyn's great desire is to turn this farm into a home for decayed jockeys . His wife , on the other hand , is anxious to utilize this _ amo house for a child ' s home—her great aim being lo pick up waifs aud strays , care for them ,

bring them up , and give them a start in life . A governess named Moxon is visiting at Mr . Jermyn ' s , with whom Mr . Pinching , solicitor to Mr . Jermyn , has fallen in love . This Miss Moxon has obtained a situation in London , as companion to Bertha , a niece of the Rev . Noel Brice , who is curate in charge of one of the poorest districts in

London , and whose life is spent in ministering to the spiritual and bodily wants of young and old . Miss Moxon is loth to leave the residence of Mr . Jermyn , because she would then be separated from her affianced lover . She therefore persuades Mrs . Jermyn to accept the situation in her stead , her persuasive powers being bused upon

the . set that a wide and exceptional opportunity would be offered for exercising the lad y ' s long hoped for wish of rescuing poor children from the gutters and alleys . JMr . Jermyn happens to be going to London by the same train as his wife , and fortunately ho has promised to escort a Mrs . Landon , a widow lady , to the station .

Mrs . Jermyn takes the place of this widow , and to escape detection puts on the widows' weeds . Singularly enough her husband does not recognise her . She afc length reaches the residence of the Rev . Noel Brice and in due course enters upon her philanthropic labours . However , the dirty alleys and decomposed

cabbages soon disgust her , and sho becomes tired of her self-imposed work . In the house wil h this clergymen is staying a Mr . Tom Clark . This youth happens to bo the sou of Mr . Jermyn ; he , having quarrelled with his father , Las loft home , to go into the wide wide world . The curate falls in love with tho so-called Miss Moxon , and

is encouraged in his suit by Torn Clark , who has fallen in love with tho curate ' s niece . Meamvhile , Mr Jermyn has advertised for a chaplain for his home for decayed jockeys . Tho Itav . Noel Brico sees this advprtispmenf , and induces Mis- ; Moxon to answer it for him . He is about to propose marriage to her , when Jermyn himself

arrives , with Fmchmg , who is on tho scent for Jermyn a son . Naturally Mrs . Jermyn makes good her escape , and tho Rov . Noel Brico accepts tho position of Warden of the Home . Torn Clark returns home , as ul . o docs Mrs . Jermyn , and now the general mix up respecting Miss Moxon and Mrs . Jonnyu is considered .

Eventuall y both Mr . and Mrs . Jermyn give up their hobbies , Mr . Pinching pairs off with Miss Moxon , Tom Clark with Bertha , while the clergyman , as we havo before intimated , is left in tho cold . Several parts received good interpretation from the artistes eugaged , foremost is Mr . Hare , as Mr . Spencer Jermyn . A comedian ,

in every sense of the word is Mr . Hare , and in his present part he scores excellently . Always within tho lines of reality , this gentleman gave a faithful representation of an English sportsman , more especially in tbe last act , where he finds his wife is the loading spirit in the tale he is about to hear recounted . Mr . Spencer Jermyn will rank with the

best of Mr . Hare ' s previons efforts . Mrs . Kendal , as Mrs . Jermyn , was not so successful . This lady hns read the author ' s meaning in a wrong light , instead of making tho wife an easy going individual sho has made her rather of a sober disposition . Nevertheless , she acted well , and will undoubted I v do better when she gets a grasp of

the character . Mr . Herbert W .-ti ing g . ivc a natural rendering of the part of the Rev . Noel Brice , while Mr . Mackintosh depicted to the life a whining broken down jockey . Mr . Fuller Meliish was capital as tho happy and in . petti ; , ui youth , Tom Cl . rk , and Mr . C . W . Somerset did the beat , possible with the part of Pitichiog . Mrs . 13 .

Tree , fresh from tho Province * with well-earned laurels in "Jim the Penman , " made a capital Miss Moxon , while Mry . Gaston Murray gave a life-liko portrait of a pompous clergyman '; , wife . " The Hobby Horse " is capitally staged , and deserves to became as p . pular as Mr . Pinero ' s pieces have hitherto been .

Strand . —Oo Monday Sheridan ' s immort'il comedy , " Tho Sch . o ! for Scandal , " was produce' by Mr . Edward Compton for tho firu time during his v . re . ent stay at this theatre . The success secured by Mr . Compto'i ' s company was thoroughly deserved : the several characters — with ono or two exceptions — were in the hands o !

atli . UB th .-roughly suited to the parts . _ _ .: interesting fouuiro «¦ . '!? the introduction of Miss Angela For ; ton ns L ' . dy Teazle . This lady , who he . a pleasing countenance and good delivery , gave a capital rendering of the pait . In tho scenes where she quarrels with her husband . Miss Feutou was very successful , aa al _ u was sho in the

The Theatres, &C.

screen scene . On the whole Miss Fonton ' s Lady Teazle was capital , and we can congratulate this lady on her assumption of the part . The Charles Surface , of Mr . Edward Compton is another capital piece of acting j certainly tho best character wo havo seen this gentleman in this season . He is never boisterous , over humorous and jovial .

Mr . L-v ' s Ball—an excellent representative of the old school—was a capital Sir Peter . Mr . Sy dney Valentino , as Joseph Surface , was best in the scene with Lady Teazle . Mr . Chas . Dodsworth , Mr . Svduey Paxton , Mr . Percy F . Marshall , and Mr . T . B . Appleby made effective their several parts . Miss Dora Vivian was the Lady

Sueerwoll , Miss Elinor Aickin the Mrs . Candour , while Miss Margaret Terry was a pleasing Mnria . This young lady has considerably improved since we last witnessed her performance , and we shall doubtless bo able to record further progress at a later date . Altogether' tho pro-rent revival is satisfactory , and we think Mr . Compton will add to his already well-recognized popularity .

Mohawk Minstrels . —Tho hold which for thirteen years the Mohawk Minstrels have had upon the affections of the north metropolitan public M never shown with greater force than on the recur , en . o of the annual benefits of the proprietors . On these occasions tho public muster iu great numbers , and the music halls send their best

available talent to swell the always abundant list of specialities . On Wednesday , when Mr . Harry Hunter , to whom the troupe owes much for hundreds of lyrics ho has from time to time added to their repertoire , took his annud benefit , there was no exception to tho usual oidor of things ; and although a cloud bung over the assembly , owing

to a sad event of which wo shall speak presently , there was as closely packed an audience as wo havo over seen in tho spacious annexe to the Agricultural Hall . To amuse these Mr . Hunter had prepared a special programme , containing amongst other things 20 new songs , grave and humorous , from his own prolific pen . These

wore given iu a new " first part , " which , however , for the convenience of the variety artistes , was given at the latter end of the evening , and we mart say of them afc once that in very few instances did they fall below the average of Mr . Hunter's compositions , being lively when humorous , and poetic when dealing with the more

sympathetic school of lyrics . Prominent amongst them may be mentioned a p-etty ballad , " She thought she might as well , " to music by Mr . Warwick Williams , tho conductor , and effectively sung by Mr . Charles Garland , an agreeable tenor ; and a well-pointed ditty , " Heart , are trumps , " romusic by Mr . "W . Redmond , which was

quaintly sung by Little Thomas . A very strong contingent of musichall performers contribute d th « ir specialities in the first part of the evening . The Toriknta Japanese Troupe wont through their enrions acrobatic performance ; and some astonishing horizontal bar performers , Mezzetti , Onzelln , and Mezzetti , accomplished some uew and

truly -wonderful fe it . on three b : irs . Chirgwin , the quaint negro performer , gave his droll entertainment , and Messrs . Harry Randall and Arthur Oerii' -y sang fanny songs , the latter being especially good in a iopica ! dit ' y entitled "Tremendous . " Lieutenant Travis , a -very clover ventriloquist , caused much niii"h by animating a

number of automata , and Mr . G . Medley imitated the eomiqtu . s ot the imi 3 c balls wi : h soma fidclky . A hit was made by two children , called "The Infant Mashers , " their singing being unobtrusive and intelligent ' . Mr . C . lian Koit'iun , cornet soloist , Mr . Johnny Dtnvers and Mr . Walter Howard each contributed to tho amusement

of tho audi-iice , tho last , with a funny nonsense song , by tho b-nefieisire , e-dlod " Wlrm th ' sun shines bright on a moonlight nh-hf . " In the eera ' . e of the . veiling Mr . Hunter , who acts as interlocutor to the troupe , addressed the audience , aud made nu indirect

allusion to a cituiim . tauce which had occurred , and which appeared to havo become generally known amongst tho audience . This was tho sudden dea' h , on Wednesday morning , of the chief proprietor aud popular "bones " of the troupe , Mr . James Francis . It appears that on Tuts , day Mr . Francis attended an evening partv in celebration of

the birthday of his only son , and tho following day proceeded to a Turkish bath , where , ia the hot room , ho was observed to stagger and fall . He was picked up in an insensible condition , and s _ medical man was immediately sent for , but on his arrival Mr . Francis was found to bo dead , apparently from an attack of apjplcxy . D . coasol , iu addition to bis connection with tho

Mohawk Minstre . lM , wsi-t senior partner in the firm of Francis Brothers and Diy , the well-known music publishers of Oxford-street . It is a curious circumstance in connection with this fatality that two months ago tho death of Mr . Francis wns widely rumoured at a time when he was in the apparent enjoyment of excellent health . He was only 4 ( 5 years of acre . —Daily Chronicle .

j N . ovelt , y . — " Outwitted , " a new ihi" -o act drama , is announced foriJlh November , at this theatre The piece is from tho ;> en of a wo ! l . keuv : i literary lady , and will be produced under tho superintendence of Mr . Edwin Drew .

in consequence of the meeting of tho Metropolitan Council , T . L ( W . Bro . Ho : ay Venn W . M ) , summoned for Friday , 2 _> . h inst ., ( . lushing somewhat with other meetings , fit v . hieh til - majorit y of the members were obliged to no pre . se : i ' , tho r > ¦ im-dii p l ' iil Muster obtained a dispensation

' ¦ o p . * tir / uK ! t ' . e Coined till Monday , 8 : h November , when ill . > Council v , ill mraifc ai , 8 A . Hud Lion Square , afc five o ' clock in tho ; : !'! crjio-. K ! . TI J L . gathering will be held mi dor iho anlliority of fho Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degree ;* , Eng l find and Wales , & c , of which M . W . Bro . llev . Canon Portal , M . A ., P . G . M . M . M ., ia the Grand Master ,