The nautical drama of *'Black-Eyed Susan," founded on John Gay's popular song, Allin the downs," was written by no less an author than Douglas Jerrold for great nautical actor T. P. Cooke. Although little better than what painters call a " pot-boiler," it had @ remarkable success, and used to be pla ed_at two theatres every night, with T. P. Cooke in the role of William, being played as the opening piece at one theatre, and the after-piece at the other. Up till within the last few years, it remained a favourite piece with stock companies, if they contained an actor who could play the fiddle and dance a hornpipe, It never failed to delight the house and bring down the gallery, who applauded William to the echo when he struck his Captain for insulting his Susan, sympathised with him with tears in their eyes when he was condemned to death by the Court-martial for striking his officer, and rejoiced heartily when he was reprieved and restored to the arms of his true love. Douglas Jerrold had been a sailor himself, and was able to steer his 2 Meee of the incongruities, which a falls foul of when he attempts a nautical subject. The old-fashioned bur-Jesque of Black-Kyed Susan," which was. sup] to be given by the Willard and Sheridan troupe on Tuesday ight followed closely, so. the old:
ahioned burlesques did, the lines of the fudge by these produced at the "Gaiety," riginal play. The modern burlesque,
where the species has attained its most Tuxurious, we cannot my highest, development, merely takes the names of the characters, gives possibly a few hints of the action, and is filled up with the latest music-hall songs and dances, without the slightest reference to the subject. It has its own merits, scanty as they are; but it is little less than an enormity to play one of the old-fashioned burlesques in the modern style, which is what was done on Tuesday. The old familiar names appeared in the programme, but no-one could form the slightest idea from what they saw on the stage, of the original play. Mr. Sheridan was inimitably funny as Captain Crosstree in the first act, with a florid face, bright ted whiskers, a somewhat white costume and a little cap perched on the side of his head; but. his first song, very well sung, "Tam the Captain of the Pinafore,"
dispelled every recollection of the original burlesque. The other song which he gave, It's English, you know," was also admirably sung, and i im enjoyed.
He had verses for Ireland, Scotland, the States, France and Germany, and was encored so persistently, that dialects, as he told: the audience, gave-out, and his last encore was in dumb show. ly Miss Gracie Whiteford made a very and very young, little William, and sang with great effect a very pretty song, " When. lovers roam. together." Her hornpipe'was splendidly danced and of course encored, and she kept the first act alive by her grace and vivacity, taking her due part in condescended to take the unity of Dolly Mayflower, in which the looked as charming as usual, and her singing of "Bid me good-bye and go" was a genuine treat. Susan was played with her wonted energy and brightness by Miss Vera Patey, and her song But don't you think ' they like it?", with its patriotic last verse, which brought down the lery, and was encored, was sung with her unfailing verve, and full appreciation. The idea of bringing on a dungeon for William after he has killed his captain, and making Susan kneel before it, and sing Sullivan's beautiful "Farewell, my own," from "Pinafore," was very clever, and Miss Patey sung the appeal with a great deal of taste, Her earlier duet and dance with William were also excellent. Miss Leami is most conscientious in disfiguring he old women's parts, made what was of Dame Hatley.' Her first. comic song "T'm a poor washerwoman" was better sung than it deserved, and she gave Believe me all those end charms"
'a villain of the deepest dye," and ill o' the Wisp." He sang them both well, a8 usual, but the latter more than well. But Mr. Imano's line is not modern burlesque. Mr. Phil Ray and Mr. Sutch Degan the play as Hatchet and Raker, in which refes, admirably made up, they sang "Two lovely black ces" as a duet; they ended it as two policemen, Mr. Sut fortunately, for himself having very litle to do in that part, and Mr. Ray. a great deal, and he did it with much comic power and spirit. Mr. Fisher had very little to do as Guatbrain, but his song Kiss me, kiss me," went very well. On the whole the first act was successful in amusing the audience, though it was not **Black-Byed alone Bs ok Bye What the second act was meant to be it was impossible to tell; as it was, it was an mat was the great success scene, in the old days, there were no admirals at all on the stage, and no court-martial. Mix. Sheridan did a burlesque of an ordinary police-court, in which there were gleatns of fun among clouds of tediousness, childishness, and inferior pantomime. At intervals Mr. Fisher sang When first: my old}: old love Lknew" from "Trial by Jury," and Miss Arline sang ' Ballyhooly" in a sweet small voice, and gave capital dance, which was encored, and Mr. Ray, whose acting is full of promise, was irrepressibly vivacious asa comic policeman. Suddenly, and without any reference to the story, which had been altogether forgotten by this time, the company broke into the finale of "Pinafore," and the curtain came down none too soon. The troupe is the best we have yet had in Shanghai, and they have an" admirable pianist and conductor in Mr. Robertson, who played delightfully" as overture a selection from Sullivan's operas but if they give one or two more performances like " Erminie" and "Black-Kyed Susan," they will simply empty the house and we are glad to see that they revert to-night to opera, which they clu well, the selection for this evening being Benedict's "Lily of Killarney," a musical setting-of the Colleen Bawn," written for and first produced by the Pyne & Harrison Com:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.