Robinson (with his eyes protruding from his head, from horror).  Here, help! help! (After a long shudder.) Brandy!  Brandy I:  Brandy!

    [At all the places at the bar there is a general demand for
    alcohol.

Brown.  Yes.  IRVING was right; soda-water does very well for SHAKSPEARE’s histories, but when you come to a piece like The Bells, you require supporting. [Curtain and moral.

* * * * *

“IN A WINTER (COVENT) GARDEN.”

That indefatigable Showman, Sir DRURIOLANUS, the Invincible Knight, commenced his Winter Operatic Season on Monday, the Tenth, at Covent Garden, so as to be well in advance of Signor LAGO, who may now boast of having La Donna, Her Most Gracious MAJESTY, for his patron.

Monday Night.—­The two RAVOGLIS in good form in the Orfeo. Likewise the Player of the Big Drum made more than one big hit during the evening. “Che faro” was re-demanded.  “Tired of ‘Faro,’” quoth Mr. WAGGSTAFF—­“why not make it ‘Whisto,’ or some other game?” Exit WAGGY.  The Intermezzo of Cavalleria Rusticana of course encored enthusiastically.  “Signor CREMONNINI,” quoth WAGG, returning, “is not half the ‘ninny’ his name implies.”  And, indeed, from the moment he was heard singing “in his ambush” (as the Irish boy in the Gallery said of TOM HOHLER at the Dublin Theatre when he heard the Trovatore’s voice behind the scenes) before the rise of the Curtain, everyone said, “This is the tenner for our money.”

[Illustration:  OPERATIC TACTICS.

Sir Druriolanus.  “I Say, Bevignani, I think we’ve got the right pitch, eh?”]

Tuesday.—­The namesake of our own GEORGE AUGUSTUS, Mlle. ROSITA SALA, made a real hit as Leonora in Il Trovatore.  “Handsome is as handsome does,” and Mlle. SALA didn’t act as “handsome” as she looked.  Another “ninny” played to-night, namely GIANNINNI, all right vocally, but not much dramatically. “Il Balen” was encored when sung by a manly baritone with the feminine name of ANNA; i.e., Signor DE ANNA.  He might advantageously alter DE-ANNA to APOLLO, that is if he could be sure of looking the part.

Wednesday.—­Lohengrin.  MELBA as Elsa.  WAGGSTAFF tried to make his usual pun on the name of Ortruda, but was “countered” by Young JUMPER who protested that he had heard it before and never wanted to hear it again.  “I know what you’re going to say,” he exclaimed; “it’s something about ‘aught ruder!’ I know!” “I’ve no doubt you do,” returned the defrauded WAGGY, sarcastically, “for you’re uncommonly like Othello, ’Rude am I in speech’—­only,” added WAGGSTAFF, “he apologised for it.”  Young JUMPER sniggered, his friends laughed, and the incident terminated.  The Chorus seemed to have become Wandering Minstrels, so very uncertain were they.