... . A Me. F. W. Hayes has written, under the title Medusa, one of the poorest lever de rideau that we have ever seen at any first- rate theatre for some time. The plot of Medusa is as madly improbable as that of the most old-fashioned farce and it has this defect without the compensating result of broad simple- minded fun. The heroine who gives her name to the comedietta is one Medusa ...

... . FINALLY, the theatre being in construction essentially fire proof, every part of the stage rendered, by a chemical process, absolutely non-inflammable, and the whole building under the constant supervision of drilled men from tho Fire Brigade, the management have the very strongest belief that the perusal of these few lines is merely a work of supererogation. Here endeth the notice to the ...

... . THE production of Signor Mattei's grand opera, Maria di Gand, has been a prominent event in recent musical history. Last week we were enabled to give an account of the plot-- founded on Sardou's Patrie-- and we are now able to record the fact that the new opera was received with enthusiastic applause, not only on the first night, but at every subsequent repetition. The people love melody, ...

... . Mr. GEORGE COLEMAN'S annual matinée was noteworthy this year for several features which distinguished it very favourably from the ordinary run of such benefit perfomanees. To begin with, the pieces presented were played much more smoothly, and therefore with better general effect than is usual in these scratch affairs. Thus The Love Chase was well cast and well acted all round, and was worth ...

... . I THINK I saw about the last of the old Princess's Theatre, for it was in such a condition one certain day when I met Mr. Walter Gooch in Oxford-street, and who asked me to look in and see the demolition, that I don't think with the removal of another brick you could have termed it a building at all. The gallant Jackson, thickly coated with dust and mortar, was trying to stage-manage a gang ...

... MUSIC. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. THE most important of recent events at the Royal Italian Opera has been the production of an Italian version of Hérold's swan-song, Le Pré aux Cleres. Considering how many feeble and ineffective works have been pro duced at our Italian opera-houses during the last half century, it seems strange that Hérold's bright and drama tically interesting work should wait ...

... . THE majority of watering places within reach of London are at present enjoying a fulness of visitors that has been rare to them during the moist seasons of the past few summers. Even the little town of Hyths-- one of the old Cinque ports-- which has heen slumbering for centuries on the site of its now dried-up harbour, has wakened up to look at a great Aladdin palace of a Hotel which the ...

... . The Book of the Babbit Giving the History, Varieties, Uses, Points, Selection, Mating, Management, Exhibiting, Judging, Treatment of the Diseases, and much other Information bearing on the subject of Fancy Rabbits. Illustrated with Fae-Similes of Water-Colour Drawings prepared for this work, and numerous wood engravings. By various Breeders and Exhibitors, and edited by Leon'arh if. Gn.r. ...

... . MME. SARAH BERNHARDT with a somewhat stale réportoire and a mediocre company to support her, has during the past week led off the season of French plays at the Gaiety. Three nights were to be devoted to Adrienne Lecouvreur, two to Les Faux Menages, and one to La Dame aux Camélias. Of Les Faux Ménages, by M. Pailleron, which was promised for Thursday, we shall have something to say next week. ...

... . Virginia and Paul, acomie opera in two acts, previously produced in America, was re-produced at the Gaiety Theatre last Monday, for the first time in England. The libretto is by Mr. H. P. Ste phens, the music by Mr. E. Solomon, and the two collaborateurs have evidently aspired to rival another eminent couple of collabo- rateurs SirArthur Sullivanand Mr. W. S. Gilbert. In Virginia and Paul ...

... . IT was no doubt with the best of good intentions that a miscellaneous entertainment was on Saturday afternoon given at the Adelphi Theatre in aid of the Royal College of Music, and it is to be hoped that this excellent institution will duly profit by the strange efforts thus made on its behalf. We may, how ever, be permitted to doubt whether any useful object likely to be attained by the ...

... . THERE is some little promise in All Lost, a short dramatic sketch by Mr. Tom Craven, the son of the popular author of Meg's Diversion, and other domestic dramas of the humorous order. All Lost was played, and not very well played, for the first time at Sadler's Wells last Saturday, the only actor whose name at all deserves mention being Mr. Darvey. Its story, which is told by the aid of a ...