Two notable.works have been produced on the stage during the past. week—an opera by Sie Arthur Sullivan, with libretto by Mr. Pinero and Mr. Comyns Carr, and a comedy by the talented novelist who calls herself "John Oliver Hobbes." The opera, The Beauty Stone, is something of a new departure. Tt is not a comic opera, but a romantic fairy story disclosing the adventures of the successive possessors of a talisman which confers matchless beauty on its owner. The heroine is a crippled girl of no personal attractions who gains the Jove of the hero while she is transformed by the possession of the stone, and keeps it by her charms of mind and' disposition when the stone and the resulting beauty are lost to her. The story is, however a little wanting in coherence, and it is generally agreed that Sir Arthur Sullivan—as was proved some years ago by Ieanloe—is more successful asa hutnorous composer than in serious or romantic opera. John Oliver Hobbes's play, The Ambassador, has however quite hit the public taste. It isa very pleasing drawing-room comedy, admirably produced by Mr. George Alexander and iis excellent company at the St. James's. Mr, H. B, Irving has male a decided mark in it by his creation of the part of a very realistic type of a self-sufficient British diplomat. " Tt is not probable that young Irving will ever rival his father's fame as actor, but every fresh part he enacts gives new evidence of hereditary ability +3rd Tune.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.