The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

" Odette" lias long been promised for the Haymarket , and was brought out on Tuesday , the 25 th ult . In the first act , which more properly should be called a prelude , we have one of those domestic convulsions from which even English homes are not free . In Paris is a lovely wife ; in London a dutiful and loving husband , who is away on business . Lady Henry Trevene ( Odette ) , the wife of Lord Henry Trevene ( Bro . Bancroft ) , isa character , whom

we are thankful to say , are rarely to be found in England . Her personal attractions , no doubt , are great , and she allows them to get the better of her , and plays the false wife . She encourages the lions of society to her house . One night , Philip Eden ( . Mr . Conway ) , an attache of the Embassy , and John Stratford ( Mr . Cecil ) accompany my lady home . Lady Henry asks Eden to send a telegram to her husbandin which are the lying words , " Hope to see you

, soon back ; it is miserable without you . " The two bid adieu . Lady Henry , before retiring to rest , cautiously unlocks a door leading into the garden , which Lord Trevene has g iven orders is never to be unfastened . The servants have all retired , when Lord Henry suddenly comes homea day before he is expected—and meets Eden taking the telegram . He enquires lovingly for his wife and child . He is almost beside himself at again embracing them , but

before he can do so the side door is gently opened , and in the dark a figure of a man glides in , who is Prince Troubitskay ( Air ' . Smedley ); he steals towards Lady Henry ' s apartment . The husband , not knowing who he is or his business , springs upon him ; there is a struggle ; he then sees the Prince ' s object , and challenges him to a duel , and turns him out . Lord Henry has his brother Arthur ( Air . Carne ) with him , and though almost out of his senses at

this awful and sudden revelation , collects himself , and at once decides what to do . He calls for the nurse , and bids her at once bring his child , Eva , and putitin Lord Arthur ' s room . Not a minute too soon . Trie folding door opens . Lord Henry secretes himself behind it . Odette enters by it , and in the dark feels her way , expecting to meet the prince , but falls into her husband ' s arms , and fondles him with sentences meant for her wrongful lover . A light is

brought , and a scene occurs . At first she denies her guilt , but seeing there are witnesses , she admits all , and assumes the defiant , injured air . Her husband , broken-hearted , orders her then and there to quit his house . But she must first get her child to take with her . Though not respecting her husband , she loves her child . She enters the room , and finds the child gone . On her knees she begs for it , but to no purpose . She draws herself up in a defiant and cruel

attitude , and hurls out the word " Ladle . " On this the curtain falls . Fifteen years are supposed to have passed , and the scenes now change to Nice . Eva has been brought up to believe her mother was drowned at Nice . Eden has married , and is spending the honeymoon at the carnival . The partiJS all meet . Eva has found a lover in the person of Lord Shandon ( Air . Cooper ) . Lord Henry wishes his daughter to see the carnival , and engages a window with

Eden and his wife . Lady Henry has become an adventuress , and is hard up , and wanders about from one gay city to another , and is now at Nice with an American quack doctor and a widow of an alderman , who has been let in when he married her , but has left her his money . This person , Lady Walker , is impersonated by Airs . Bancroft , and , it is needless to say , is done we 1 . Lord Shandon ' s family will not hear ot the marriage with Eva , unless

Odette ceases to hold her husband ' s name . Lord Henry , when he turned his wife from his home , Would not be divorced , as he believed what God . has joined man cannot put asunder , and therefore prevents her , as well as himself , marrying again . The bad woman ' s turn now comes fur revenge . Lord Henry learning his wife is in Nice , must unwillingly have an interview with her , and offers her more money it she will give up his name , but refuses her pravet

to see her daughter , lor , with all her badness , she yet has a mother ' s love . Now she sees her opportunity for revenge for the wrong done to her , from her way of looking at it . 'Then she says , " If I am dead to my daughter , my daughter is dead to me . I have no daughter , " and retuses to change her name , even at the risk of marring Eta ' s happiness . But Lord Henry knowing Lord Shandon cannot marry without this is done ,

atlast consents to his wife seeing her daughter in his presence , and without disclosing their relationship . And here occurs an amusing scene . Eva having been struck at the heart , asks Mrs . Eden ( Miss Aleasor ) , how she came to be married ; if Philips proposed to her or she to Philips , and many other such questions . Mrs . Eden replies she supposes she did like other girls , " she led him up to it . " " He remarked he likes blue eyes and fair hair" —which she

Possessed— " then I knew what was coining , and I felt we were in for it . " Eva , after this conversation meets Lord Shandon , and at once attacks him , by asking him what sort of eyes and hair he admires most , and when he replies that hke her own , she asks him if he loves her , and exclaims , ' Well 1 suppose we are in for it . " This scene fairly brought the house down , but we can hardly believe in these days , there are to be found any such unsophisticated young

ladies . 'The fourth act opens with a woman in black coining to the house , whom Lord Henry introduces to Eva as"her mother ' s friend . " Lord Henry Trevene is as firm and sad as ever . We believe in the French play in this scene not a dry eye is to be seen , but at the Haymarket we did not observe the audience so affected . She approaches her daughter , the kiss on the maiden ' s brow , " } v touch of the hand , display that there is a maternal love still living . Her agony as she sits by her child ' s side ,

for"juuen to touch her , and yet yearning to embrace her , is yery touching and fully justifies the production of the piece . jjnsi secures Eva ' s happiness . Eva speaks to her of her dead mother and how her father has brought her up to love . cr . memory , to play the same music she played , and cnerish anything that was once her mother ' s . Odette gets

k , irl to play her favourite piece . And here she can carcel y repress her emotion , and no wonder . One would jjiniosl : think that everything is to come right and that the leart-broken mother would be received back by " « husband . But not so . Lord Henry is immovable . s lie said , when he drove her away seventeen years ago , •<- innocent must suffer with the guilty , so he has to drink

The Theatres.

the cup to the bitter dregs , as has his wife . No atonement can be made for her sin in this world . After affectionate embraces , which frighten Eva , the curtain falls , the black figure moves slowly away , to drag out her weary existence in the world , and Eva is not told she has been embracing her mother . As a stage representation , we are not sure that it would not be better to conclude by the husband

forgiving the wife and receiving her back , though for the sake of society we could not recommend such action in real life . We cannot speak too highly of Aladame Modjeska . Her representation of Odette is almost faultless . Bro . Bancroft , as Lord Henry Treverue , has ventured en a part quite outside his usual role , but it is evident he has given it careful study . Airs . Bancroft , always a favourite , is not on the stage nearly enough . She plays a vcry shady character ,

but lightens up the whole house . Miss C . Grahame's Eva is at times stagey and stiff , but on the whole is well played . Air . Pinero , a London tradesman , and Aliss Wade as his wife , act with much humour . Mr . Conway , as Eden , and Mr . Cecil , as the cynical John Stratford , could not be better . There are several other characters introduced , to whom we have not space to allude . It is unnecessary to say that the piece is mounted in " Haymarket " style , and is at once handsome and artistic .

Bro . G . R . Sims , wc are glad lo learn , lias so far recovered from his recent indisposition as to finish his play "Romany Rye , " to be produced at the Piincess ' s 1 heatre shortly . Bro . Sims last year attached himself to a party of gipsies , so as to faithfuly learn their habits and customs . Bro . Edwin Boolli is expected in London about the ioth inst .

Music.

MUSIC .

Madame Albani made her first appearance this season on Saturday evening last as Violctta in "La'Traviata , " the welcome accorded to this talented vocalist being of the most enthusiastic character . Her rendering of the part was marked by extreme grace and intelligence , while her vocalisation was most brilliant . Si < rnnr Fr .-innlli nlnuml

Alfredo , and Signor Cotogni Giorgio , the baton being wielded , with his accustomed skill and judgment , by AL Dupont . The performance was honoured with the presence of the Queen of the Netherlands , their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Wales , the Duchess of Edinburgh , and the Princess of Saxe-Coburg Gotha .

* On Monday evening "'Les Huguenots" was repeated . On Tuesday was produced Meyerbeer ' s opera of " Dinorah , " with Aladame Sembrich in the title ttile ; Aladame Trebelli taking the part of Un Caprajo ; Signor Cotogni that of Hoel ; and Signor Frapolli as Corentino . Verdi ' s " Aida " was to be given on Thursday ; and this ( Saturday ) evening Aladame Albani makes her second appearance as Marghcrita in " Fauste Margherita . "

The career of that most excellent institution , the Sacred Harmonic Society , was brought to a close on Friday last , after an existence of fifty years . Handel ' s oratorio of " Solomon " was chosen fcr the occasion , and the performance throughout was admirable . The soloists , whose names wc gave last week , acquitted themselves well ; the choruses were given very effectively—that of " the

Nightingale being , as usual , encored—while nothing could have been better than the playing of the band . The National Anthem closed the proceedings . But what especially marked the occasion was the reappearance , for the lirst time since his illness , of Bro . Sir Michael Costa , to whom it is no mere conventional expression to say that a most enthusiastic welcome , which must have been extremely gratifying to the recipient , was accorded .

w * •& Thursday evening was fixed for the concert to be given at Grosvenor House ( by the kind permission of the Duke of Westminster ) in aid of the fund for the Relief of Irish Ladies in Distress . Among those to take part in it were Aladame Antoinette Sterling , Viscountess Folkestone , Air . Cusins , Lady Agneta Aljntagu , Aliss Cavendish Bentinck , Air . Charles Halle , and Aladame Norman-Neruda . & vi &

Messrs . Jones and Barber deserve the utnios - credit for the excellence of the "Grand Opening Alusica Festival " which was held at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday . These gentlemen have spared neither pains nor expense in their endeavour to cater well , and in this instance they have scored a success , which we hope and believe will turn out most remunerative . Indeed , there

can be slight question about this , if the standard of excellence which marked the festival of last Saturday is maintained throughout the season , as we anticipate will be the case , judging from the programme announced for to-day ( Saturday)—a grand ballad concert , with such artistes as Aliss Alary Davies , Air . Edward Lloyd , and Air . Thurley Beale . Last Saturday the leading vocalists were Aladame Christine Nilsson , who achieved a brilliant triumph in the

solo and chorus , " Inllammatus et accensus , " in Rossini ' s '' Stabat Alater ; " Aladame Antoinette Sterling , Air . Edward Lloyd , and Signor Foli . A quartette , in which the last three mentioned were joined by Aliss Patti Winter was much applauded . 'The first part of the performance , consisted of Air . William Carter ' s sacred cantata of " Placida , the Christian Martyr , " which , both vocally and instrumentally , was a great success .

# * * Mr . Kniest Ilensley ' s Concert , on Tuesday , in the 'Town Hall , Kensington , was g iven , as announced , in aid of the funds of the " People ' s Entertainment Society . " It was under the patronage of H . R . H . the Princess Alary of Cambridge , Duchess of Teck , and Viscountess Folkestone .

Music.

I lie performance of " The Merchant of Venice " at St . George ' s Hall in aid of Alessrs . Novello and Ewer's Assistants ' ^ Provident Fund , was both interesting and successful . The music which was introduced into the play was written by Air . Arthur Sullivan for the production of the play at the Prince ' s 'Theatre , Manchester , in September , 1 S 71 , and consists of an introduction , a bourrcea

gro-, tesque dance , a valsc , a melodrama showing the lligh ' t of Jessica , and a finale . A small but efficient band , conducted by i . Ir . Berthold Tours , played this music extremely well . In the play itself the characters , with the exception of ' .. , "' "" C-AHss Emily Cross ) was sustained by amateurs . Ihc march , composed by Al . Gounod expressly for the Loyal marriage of Thursday last , was also given .

Madame iNilsson has arranged to give a concert in St . James ' s Hall , on the 23 rd June , in aid of the restoration of the English Church in Paris , and Her Majesty the Queen has graciously consented to become patron of it . 1 lie season of German opera will commence on Thursday the iSth inst ., with the performance of Lohengrin .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

Rarely has the anniversary banquet of the Royal Academy at Burlington House been held under such brilliant auspices as it was on Saturday last , when the President , Sir Frederick Leighton , was supported on his right by the King of the Netherlands , the Duke of Edinburgh , the Grand Duke of Alecklcnburgh-Strelitz , the Prince of Waldeck-Pvrmont , the Duke of Camhrideriv Vrmrr . run ,.

the Duke of 'Teck , and the hereditary Prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont ; and on his left by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt , the Duke of Connaught , Prince Philipof Saxe-Coburg Gotha , Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the hereditary Prince of Bentheim , the Netherlands Minister , and Air . Lowell , the United States Minister . There were also present the Archbishop of Canterbury , the Lord Chancellor , the D . ikp nf Hrafinn H , »

Duke of Richmond and Gordon , Bro . the Earl of Shaftesbury , Earl Cairns , Bro . Earl of Carnarvon , Bro . Earl Granville , Bro . the Earl of Alount Edgcumbe , P . G . AI . Cornwall ; Bro . Viscount Powerscourt , Bro ~ . Viscount Sherbrooke , the Lord Chief Justice , Bro . Sir J . AI'Garel Hogg , Bart ., M . P ., Bro . Sir P . Cunliffe Owen , & c . The customary toasts , with the addition of "The Health of the King of the Netherlands , " were Given and honoured . IW M „ . Part

of Granville , in the absence of the Premier , replying for " Her . Majesty ' s Ministers ; " the Duke of Cambridge for " I he Army ; " the Earl of Northbrook for " The Navy ; " the Duke of Edinburgh for " The Reserve Forces •" Alessrs . VV . Spottiswoode and Lowell for " Science a ' nd Literature ; " Bro . the Lord Alayor for " The City of London ; " and the Lord Chief Justice for " The Guests . "

# # * Turning from the banquet to the exhibition , though there are seventeen hundred works of all classes , the great bulk of which are paintings and drawings , the general display is below the average . 'There are pictures S , , ? . »' , ller , 'li . - he examples sent by Sir F . Leighton , P . K . A ., Mr . Ahllais , R . A ., Air . Pettie , R . A .. and others of

our leading artists being among the number . It is , of course , early days yet to notice the most prominent works mail the eleven galleriesat Burlington House , but we may note a few in our present number ; such , for instance , as "Wedded" ( 71 ) , by the President , which is one of the chief attractions of the Gallery I . His " Phryne at Eleusis " ( 30 ) , in Gallery III ., is also vcrv line : and thr-r *

is , by the same artist , a " Design for a portion of a proposed Decoration of St . Paul ' s ( 1244 ) , which , with the model of Air . Poyntcr , R . A ., for a similar purpose ( 1133 ) , is sure to find many admirers . Air . Alillais sends a superb "Portrait of Cardinal Newman , "which is worthy to compare with some of the portraits by the great Italian Masters ; while his " Portrait of the Princess Alarie of Edinburgh , " painted for Her Alaiestv the Oueen . is hardlv in anv rp ? nr

.,-f-inferior . Other examples by the same artist are his "Mrs . Budgett" ( 505 ) , "Sir Henry Thompson" ( 127 ) , "Airs . James Stern' ( 29 ) , " Dorothy Thorpe " ( 43 ) , and "Daniel lhwaites , Esq . " ( 553 . Air . Pettie has contributed two very effective pictures in his " Dream of Eugene Aram" ( iS ) , and the "Dukeof Alonmouth ' s Interview with James 11 . " ( -so ) . Mr . Hook is renresented bv " CisHr

Building" ( 123 ) , " Caller Herrin , " and "Devon Harvest Cart" ( 30 S ); Air . V . Prinsep , by the "Death of Siward the Strong" ( 55 S ) , and "At the Golden Gate " ( 1 G 3 ); Air . M . Stone by " II y en a toujours un Autre " ( 5 ) , which has been bought by the Academicians with the Chantrey Fund ; and Air . H . Aloore b y "A Breezy Day in the Channel" ( 345 ) ., " Evening , coast of France" ( 354 ) , and " Winter and Rough Weather " ( 557 ) . We shall continue our remarks next week .

fc W * F In the Grosvenor Gallery , whose ' summcr exhibition opened on Alonday , ate contributions by Sir F . Leighton , P . R . A ., Air . Alma Tadema , R . A ., Air . K . Halswelle , R . S . A ., Air . G . IT . Boughton , A . R . A ., Air . Watts , R . A ., Air . Crane , Air . Burne Jones , Air . J . M . Whistler , and nthnr iur . ll l .-nr ,, „ r , n , ; nu » M ,. \\ r „ .. „ 1 ¦ lu uiiiLi 1 nil tilL & iiiia

* —• -.-...... ...,... j . . j . . » . sent four portraits , of which the best are those of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ( 63 ) , and Cardinal Manning ( iGij ) . Air . Alma Tadema contributes Ludwig Barnay as Alark Antony ( 55 ) , Hans Richter ( 59 ) , both finely executed portraits , " A lord ] Dance " ( 60 ) and " Early Affections " ' ( 54 ) . Air . G . II . Boughton , A . R . A . ' s " The Weedcrs of the 1 ayement" ( 45 ) is charming in colours and contains in the old spa r : * nfrlr in .... ^ .. llnn , . . : .. £ ~ l . — —* ultwm 1 ii ut umidiiei

„ , . . - ~ ,......, , .,.. yitv-u painting . Very noticeable also are Air . Julian Storey ' s " I he Entombment" ( 31 ); "The Release of Prometheus , by Hercules" ( 57 ) , by Air . Richmond ; "Tree of Forgiveness" ( 144 ) , by Air . Burne Jones ; " Earth" ( 139 ) , by the same artist ; "A Rehearsal" ( 79 ) , by Air . E . J . Gregory ; Mr . J . B . Clark ' s , "Labour" ( 3 S ) , and Mr , Halswelle ' s , "Shooter ' s Hill , Pangbourne" ( 33 ) ,