ade.

The piece opens in one of the fabled grand caverns under the Pyramids of
Egypt, in which the three fatal sisters of Mother Bunch's Mythology are
seen spinning and winding a ball of golden thread, the fastening of
which to the wrist of the Sleeping Beauty is intended to add another
century to the duration of her life, and of the power which the Ogress,
or Fairy, has exercised over her, and her possessions, for the preceding
hundred years. The ball having been completed, with the due quantum of
magic incantation in such cases prescribed, is consigned to the care of
Grim Gribber, the porter of the castle, with directions to attach it to
the wrist of the lady in the chamber of sleep, whither he accordingly
proceeds for that purpose; but overcome by the soporific influences of
the atmosphere of that enchanted place, he falls into a deep sleep ere
his task is accomplished. The Prince Azoff, with his Squire Abnab,
straying from a hunting party into the enchanted cedar grove, encounters
the Fairy Blue-bell, protector of the Sleeping Beauty, who imparts to
the Prince the story of her enchantment, furnishes him with a magic
flower to protect him from the influence of the Ogress, and instructs
him in the means of releasing the Beauty at the expiration of the term
of her first enchanted sleep, which is then drawing to a close. In the
amazement which seizes the Prince on finding himself in the chamber of
sleep, at the splendour of everything around him, and the sight of the
Sleeping Beauty with her surrounding train of attendants, whose
faculties are all enchained in the same preternatural slumber, he lets
fall the magic flower, and becomes thereby subject to the power of the
Ogress, from which he is, however, rescued on the instant by the
protecting interference of the Fairy Blue-bell. But in punishment of his
neglect, he is condemned to wander for a time in search of happiness
with the now-awakened Beauty, pursued by the relentless Ogress and her
servant, Grim Gribber. The whole of the persons engaged in the scene now
undergo the prescriptive Pantomimic changes, and the ordinary succession
of Harlequinade adventures, tricks, and transformations ensue.

Our old favourites, the Grimaldis, father and son, Mr. Ellar as
Harlequin, and Mr. Barnes as Pantaloon, were hailed, on their
appearance, with the warmth of greeting to which their excellence in
their several parts fully entitles them, and displayed their wonted
drollery, gra