( 452 ) 

 THINGS THEATRICAL. 



KING'S THEATRE. We are glad to see M. Laporte again at the 

 head of affairs. There are few who understand the management 

 better than he. It would be unfair to criticise severely the vocal 

 talent employed at the commencement of a season, or augur from it 

 what may be in progress. Managers are generally under some diffi- 

 culties at starting, and must put up with much, ere the season may 

 be said to be in progress. But the ballet department is, even now, 

 unexceptionable, with Taglioni, Duvernay, and others of their class, 

 M. Laporte may be said to begin where others would be glad to 

 close. 



The Stage continues barren. At DRURY LANE, we have had the 

 political comedy of The Minister and Mercer., in which the translator 

 has faithfully shown how polished French may be turned into un- 

 grammatical English ; and at COVENT GARDEN Irish, Welsh, and 

 Scotch dancers, re-christened with French names, have pirouetted to 

 a most thinking people. 



The pleasant OLYMPIC is closed for the season : it would be too 

 much to expect wisdom in a Lord Chamberlain ; and therefore we 

 must be grateful that he permits us to enjoy ourselves at an elegant 

 and well-conducted theatre six months out of the twelve. 



The ADELPHI has terminated a successful (in the words of the press 

 people) " campaign" The prosperity of this theatre is a disgrace to 

 the morals and the good taste of the metropolis. We have sufficiently 

 analyzed the Adelphi stock pieces in our last. By the way, during 

 the last week in Lent, when every other theatre was closed, Mr. and 

 Mrs. Yates were At Home ! We presume the managers must have 

 great Court interest. Indeed, we have heard it whispered, that 

 George the Fourth, when Prince of Wales, was godfather to Mr. 

 Yates. This may account for exclusive privileges. 



At the VICTORIA the managers intend to follow up Knowles's play 

 with a five-act Drama, by John Serle, who will play the hero. This 

 is as it should be. 



At ASTLEY'S, Wellington is to be made a feature of. Oxford and 

 Ducrow seem just now to be the only friends of his Grace. 



The SURREY, whose Jonathan Bradford has most successfully bru- 

 talized an English audience, is to be purified by the management of 

 Mr. Yates, who, with his wife and Mrs. Honey (a most admirable 

 actress of short petticoats), will act until Michaelmas. Since Elliston 

 departed to the Church in the Waterloo Road, the Surrey, from a 

 well-managed theatre, has become a public nuisance. During the 

 reign of Jonathan Bradford it is said two butts of beer were nightly 

 consumed in the boxes. However, Mr. Yates, with Lurline and " the 

 nymphs sporting and bathing" may do wonders. 



