Adelphi Theatre 411, Strand was for years the recognised home of melodrama and screaming farce, and it still preserves, with variations, some of its original character. The old Adelphi was associated with Benjn. Webster, and Mdme. Celeste, Paul Bedford, J.L.Toole, etc. The present building is handsome and roomy, being under the management, as is also the comfortable and well-known restaurant adjoining, of Messrs. Gatti. Stalls, 10s 6d.; dress circle 6s. ; upper circle 4s. and 3s.; pit 2s. 6d; gallery 1s. NEAREST Ry. Stns. Charing + (Dis. & S.E.), Strand (Electric Ry.), connecting with the Underground Ry. system for N. and W.; Omnibuses from City and W. pass the door.
Savoy TheatreSole Lessee and Manager Mrs. D'Oyley Carte. This theatre was built by Mr. D'Oyley Carte from designs by Mr. C. J. Phipps, mainly for the performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan form of comic opera, which has been so popular during the last few years. The theatre, which is of fair size, adjoins the palatial Savoy Hotel, and is one of the most convenient and most elegantly decorated houses in London. The Savoy Theatre enjoys the distinction of having been the first theatre in London - if not in the world - to be lighted throughout by the electric light, and the experiment proved a most signal success. It was first opened on Monday, October 10, 1881, with Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience," which had already enjoyed a long and successful career at the Opera Comique, and with but a short break the same ever-popular comic operas still attract "full houses" every night. NEAREST Ry. Stns. Charing + (Dist. & S.E.) and Strand (Underground Electric); Omnibus Rte., Strand; Cab Rank, Burleigh-st.
Vaudeville Theatre 404, Strand. – One of the most successful little theatres in London. Almost every piece produced since the first opening of the theatre in 1870 has secured a run of abnormal length, the average run so far having been as nearly as possible 300 nights. When a single piece, such as “Our Boys”, has occupied the stage for nearly five years, any “specialty” becomes rather difficult to define. Perhaps the nearest approach that can well be made is to say that the Vaudeville has a specialty for phenomenal runs. NEAREST Railway Stations, Charing-cross (Dist. & S.E.); Omnibus Routes, Strand and St. Martin’s-lane.
Her Majesty’s Opera House Haymarket.—An exceedingly handsome house, the salle built on the lines of the old theatre destroyed by fire in 1867 but not occupying quite the same site. The former stage was one of the shallowest in London, extending almost as much in front of the curtain as behind it. By sacrificing the “crush-room,” or foyer which occupied the end of the building farthest from the stage the salle has now been removed a considerable distance to the north of its former position, and the space thus gained has been thrown into the stage, which now occupies its normal relation to the rest of the house. From the point of view of stage effect a great gain has thus been achieved, the actors no longer stepping out of the picture and walking down almost to the middle of the house to sing their solos. Whether the acoustic qualities of the theatre have gained by this improvement is perhaps a question, but they are still very good. The best place for hearing, both here and at the other opera-house, is the amphitheatre stalls; the best for seeing the middle or back row of the orchestra stalls, or the central portion of the grand tier. Visitors will find a very convenient short exit into the arcade from the lobby on the right-hand side, looking towards the stage. The theatre is at present leased by Mr. Mapleson, who gives performances of Italian opera during the season and, at lower prices, in the autumn. Recently the house has been occupied by Mr. Carl Rosa for performances of opera in English, the success of which has been sufficient to justify the expectation that English opera may be destined, after all its vicissitudes, to find at last a permanent home in the metropolis. Evening dress, during the Italian opera season, de rigeur in every detail, as at Covent Garden. NEAREST Railway Stations, Charing-cross (Dist. and S.E.); Omnibus Routes Pall Mall or Haymarket; Cab Rank, Opposite
Globe Theatre Newcastle-street, Strand.—A compact little theatre, with a semi-circular salle half below ground. It has passed through too many vicissitudes, and has been under too many different managements, to have acquired any specialty, but appears inclined at present to settle down into opera bouffe. NEAREST Railway Station, Temple; Omnibus Routes, St. Martin’s-lane, Strand, Chancery-lane, and Waterloo-bridge.
All taken from Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879
Collected by Pandora