The Express.
London, England, 1858-10-19 00:00:00

DRAMA.

PRINCESS'S.
Last night Shakespeare's historical play of
King John was re-revived at this theatre. We say re-
revived, becalms the tame play bad already beat produced at
the Princess's under Mr. Keaa's enperiateadence : but this
wee in his second =mon, seven yaws ago, while the manager
was yet undecided what speciality to give his hones, and he
has shownswies discretion in adding it to that list of Shakes-
pearl= revivals with which his name will be associated by
posterity. indeed, in advocating this reproduction, no one
ass plead his canes better than Mr. Kean himself, from
whose now looked-for fly-lraf to the play bill we mate the
following extract;—" This play has been revived by me,
with the view of adding another to the list of Shakespeare's
historic dream presented at this theatre, under the belief
that history, heightened by the charm of the most exquisite
peaky, sad combined with pictorial and correct embellish-
ment, Made to promote the educational purposes for which
the stage is te pre-eminently adapted ; and also with a an-
on desire that I may be so far unfitl in the sphere of =lion
la which my lot has been cast, as to convey intormatica to
the wawa public through the medium of refined amuse-
mind."

When originally revived at the Princess's, Philip Peal-
coahridge was played by Mr. Wigan, and Arthur by Nike
Kate Tarry : these ere the only alterations worthy of note.
flees Idle go to see Zing John with the expectation of
having their eyes dueled and their senses entranced by the
exhibition of mervelloas "edicts," by extraordinary beauty
of sossery, or magaillemes of costume, with all of which
Ares revivals have been generally aseochtted, will be die-
eppohtted. It would seam se though Mr. Keen had
propounded a tat for the London public, and had determined
to try whether reel excelleoce of eating, unassisted by ad-
vestallisse aid, comet prove attractive ; for the scenery,
ceetemea, lead wise wricems, though individually and col-
lectively utosilent and in perfect keeping, are not made so
much of se le general at this setabliatunent.
But to those to whom a proper appreciation of great maim
Is yet vaieluefild the play will be abundantly attractive. Mr.
Keaa's perhemence of King John will rank with his Louie
Ooze : Geed we pay it a higher compliment? Nothing
could be dam than the ease with Hubert in which he
gradually ale& ea to the confession of the alma be meditates
against Arthur : the doubt, the hesitation, the oft-deferred
revelation of his Intent, and the final buret of joy when he
thinks his whit la icterpreted and will be complied with, were
depicted with a depth and fidelity which held the sadism,
well-bound until the 0000loainn of the some, when they
were rewarded by a prolonged bunt of unmistakeable op-
Ovum Mrs. Keen bee made the character of Leidy
Constance ementially her own there is no one
left epee the stags who could so well pourtny
the womenly dignity and the maternal suffering,
or by whim the frantic ravings of the bereaved
mother could be expressed with the greatest force without
degemratlng into nat. It I. long since Mr. Walter Lacy
he. boa esea to such sdvantage se in Fauloonbrldge la
Agave and wearer In was the very type of the bold, dam
devil miller, Cceer-de-Lion's undoubted offspring, sad he
played with a 'TUB sad aplomb which did him infinite
credit. Wilk n little ce/aatag down Mr. Ryder's Hebert will
be a very worlteriees perforrowee. d uffiesi, Mr. Ryder
errs in bingeing the pert with too mach esetrigi--aa erne on
the right side, tee will ass to bs regretted, se welds( esa to
bear Rea Ilion speeches which he delivers la a subdued
mime end mereare. The part of Artier is played with great
sweelasea dorms of resecistlea, sod abaft light and
sheds, by KIN Ease Torry—the pride, the Meer, mad the
love we all thoroughly childish, and 'bother from the aim-
Okay with which they were poortrayed.
At the fall of the cortege Yr. Kona was loudly celled for,
aid postai with ralialitialt