... . We recently took occasion to contradict the reports that a six weeks' season of Italian opera, at theatre prices, had been arrarged to take place at Covent Garden, under the management of Signor Lago. We are now in a position to state, on the best authority, that Signor Lago has entirely abandoned the idea of an autumnal season in London, and has departed for St. Petersburg, where he will ...

... . MR. JOHN A. STEVENS, the great American author, actor, and manager, who has come to us in A Secret Foe, seems to deserve a heartier welcome than he obtained on his appearance at the Opera Comique the other night. If the Mastodon were to return to our midst he would receive attention as a curiosity, even if he were not hailed as a useful addition to our fauna, or as a pleasant domestic pet. ...

... Pantomime at Covent Garden Theatre. Air. W. Freeman Thomas and Air. Purkiss are proceeding most actively with the arrangements for Jack and the Beanstalk, and several important matters were settled on Wednesday, such as .the placing of several thousand pounds in a bank to start with, and the engagements already made are numerous. A committee con sisting of Alessrs. Lewis Thomas, Lloyd, Crowe, ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. PLEASURE. As I passed into Drury Lane Theatre the other evening in my captious capacity the police in spector standing in the entrance said to me with a smile, So you have come here for pleasure, sir? Whereat, living The pleasure displayed is, I fear, of an unnecessarily vicious order. Its character is only too plainly foreshadowed by the poster whereon Garrick between ...

... OUR CAPTIOUS CRITIC. THE BARRISTER. ROB Roy's purse. Readers of Sir Walter Scott may recall his description of the Highland outlaw's sporran, with its trick lock, secret spring, and concealed pistol barrel, arranged to discharge its contents into the body of anyone trying to tamper with it, and all, as he puts it, to secure a furred pouch which could have been ripped open without any ...

... . i That any entertainment is better than cloture is presum ably the opinion of Mr. George Eiwarde3 in filling the gap between Mrs. Brown-Potter's departure and Esmeralda's ariival, with Fun on the Bristol. In this delectable work Mr. J. F. Sheridan hai appeared many hundreds of times, and has no doubt been playing in it ever since he was in this country at the Olympic, five years ago. Mr. ...

... . A POOR and unpleasant play saved by spectacle, seemed to be the verdict generally pronounced on Pleasure at Drury Lane on Saturday night. Such at any rate appears the fair interpretation to be placed upon what we may call the mixed reception accorded the piece, which aroused little interest in its opening scenes, was cheered to the echo during its sensation scenes and was greeted with a ...

... . IT is of well-worn materials that Messrs. Manville Fenn and Darnley have constructed the new piece presented by Miss Melnotte at the Comedy, under the title The Barrister. Their construction is, however, sufficiently workmanlike to make their fabric hold well together, and sustain a very fair amount of interest. Of course we are, most of us, already familiar with the hero of farcical comedy ...

... . To the extensive repertory of this company an important addition was made last week by the production of the English version of Auber's grand opera, Masaniello. The success achieved on this occasion will no doubt ensure the revival of Masaniello at Drury Lane next spring. It has not been heard in London-- either in French, Italian, or English-- since it was produced, many years back, at ...

... . IN Shadows of Life; or, the Hand of late soma very strong meat is provided by Mr. Arthur Shirley to suit the vigorous appetite of Air. Cave's patrons at the Elephant and Castle Theatre. This melodrama has, we believe, seen some provin cial service since its original production some three years ago, but will doubtless be new to most of its metropolitan spec tators. The shadows which give Air. ...

... . Mlle. Vanoni, who, on Monday liBt, made a highly suc cessful debut at the Alhambra, has rapidly won popularity in France, Icaly, Spain, and elsewhere on the Continent, and is likely to achieve similar successes during the limited stay which she is enabled to make in London. She is a well- trained vocalist, and although her solos are of the comic kind, her singing is worth hearing. Her ...

... . THE classical concert given last week at Covent Garden pre sented many attractions, and its merits were appreciated by a very large audience. It was pleasant to see the amphitheatre and gallery crowded by enthusiasts, who never quitted their seats until the classical first part of the concert terminated; pleasant to observe how rapt was their attention during the performance of such works as ...