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THE DRAMA. 



Drury-Lane. — Theatricals, to use a Corn-Exchange expression, 

 " are looking up." Generally, they have been prosperous within the 

 last five or six weeks ; but the success of Old Drury has far exceeded 

 that of any of the other houses. The Jewess still runs its trium- 

 phant course. While continuing to afford entire satisfaction to the thou- 

 sands who troop from all parts of the metropolis to witness its represen- 

 tation, it is, we are happy to say, proving ecjually satisfactory to Mr. 

 Bunn. In fact, it were strange if either he or the play-going public were 

 dissatisfied in the smallest degree ; for never, in the records of theatri- 

 cals, was so splendid a spectacle, and one moreover abounding with 

 great dramatic merits, exhibited to the public gaze. The public, tliere- 

 fore, would be what The Times has on more than one occasion called it, 

 " a beast of a public," if it did not extend its most liberal patronage to 

 a piece which possesses such great and manifold attractions. And that 

 patronage being so prodigally extended to Mr. Bunn, that both tlie house 

 and his exchequer are regularly full to overflowing — the first with the 

 ordinary race of mortals, and the second with sovereigns — it would go 

 hard indeed if he were not on as good terms with the public and "the 

 Jewess," as the public are with Mr. Bunn, " His Majesty's servants," 

 the performers, and the piece performed. The extraordinary attractions 

 of " the Jewess," suffer no diminution from the frequency with which 

 thev are exhibited ; on the contrary, the more they are seen the more 

 they seem to be admired. Mr. Bunn calculates — ^justly, we have no 

 doubt — that the charms of the Jewess are not to be eclipsed by the 

 "pantomime affairs" which at this season of the year were wont, from 

 time immemorial, to throw the" legitimate drama," and all other sorts of 

 dramas, completely into the background. While, therefore, in his com- 

 mendable anxiety to suit all tastes, not forgetting the gods in the gal- 

 lery, he has brought out a pantomime to gratify the lovers of that sort 

 of theatricals, he has determined to continue nightly his representation 

 of " the Jewess." We hojje we shall in our next month's review of the 

 drama, have to report equally favourably of the fortunes of Drury. 



The pantomime produced on the 26th is founded on the well-known 

 story of Whittington and Ills Cat. As our readers were acquainted with 

 that story from their boyish days, and as it must then have made such an 

 impression us to be still fresh in their recollection, we will not weary them 

 by a repetition of the leading incidents. Suffice it to say, that there ai e 

 some deviations from the story as it passes current in the nursery, and 

 some considerable additions to it ; but these are perfectly allowable in 

 the getting up of a pantomime. There are various excellent scenes in 

 the course of the i)iece, which cannot fail to be attractive during the 

 usual season. What the audience felt to be tiresome the first night 

 was the length of time taken in managing some of the scenes. This, 

 liowcver, was doubtless unavoidable on the first representation: but will be 



M.M.— 1 G 



