The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-29 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

Loot night witnessed the last and grandest of
those Bhakespereen revivals which will for ever be associated
with the name of Mr. Charles Kean, and with his menage-
meat of the Princess's Theatre. In a fsw weeks the end of
Mr. Kentes farewell mown will have arrived, and an era in
the snub of the drama—ouch as, from all outward estasimg,
ia never likely to be again seitnemed by say of the meant
'mention-I,M have pared away. The magnitude of the
male cc which these revivels have been attempted, the enor-
mous outlay which they have involved, the accuracy, time,
and taint bestowal ea their moduction,and the memes with
which they have been attended, have been matter of pleaten
gossip in intellectual circles for the peat nine years.
The Brat salient texture in the revival of Koos leery r
is the distinct individuality for the lint time assigned
to the Chorus. The glorious language which Blinkers,*
has placed in the month of this personage hue hithetto
been spoken by the figure of "Time." This was the
cam in the great revival under Mr. Macready, when Mr.
Vandenhoff played the put, and the example has been fa-
' leue4 by Mr. Phelps, at &tikes Wells. Clio, the mute of
History, Is now chosen to supply Titne's place, and: sweetly
played twit is by Mrs. Charles Kean, with her dame figure,
and her admirable execution, the character becomes one of
the most pleasing lathe tragedy. Under the guidance of the
Chores we eseehown two most admirable tabh aux of thetaste
of the French and English before the battle of Agincoart,
the ditalpation and vivacity of the French dicers matte.-
' ing excellently with the depressed solemnity of the English,
who are at mass. The first grand " effect "is the a of
Honfieur. which is paha! E the most vivid tspseewaatlm of
a battle-field ever placed upon tbo stage. me them 300
min s•:,ajtaged to the attack and defence of ea elaborately
e.x.g.-
rampart wall ; the siege is carried an with the
rimiest vigour and earnestness ; the cans= are brought
forward and pinked spinet the wall; and immediately the
breach is clear, the assault is made and repulsed with a
ephit which does equal ht none to the pluck of the super-
numeraries and the patience of their instructs..
Following his succestfal innovation in Riehaed the &era,
Mr. Kean between the fourth and fifth acts hue introduced
ea historical episode," representing the reception of King
Henry on tcturnteg to his capital, after the French expall-
, lion. The ~,ena repreeented tbo approach to old L'mdon-
bridge from the Surrey side,advent where the citisena are seaombled
!, in hundreds waiting the of the monarch. Tbc house
beloonke aro crammed, all the yards of the adjacent ships are
manned, and the Joy-bens are pealing lustily. As the troops
approach they Sr. greeted with overwhelming cheers, the
mob rush forward and snag their hands, women search
eagerly in the ranks for their loved ones, and while
some an clasped to their husbands* hearts, others are
' plunged into the deepest grief at hearing of their loam. To
' welcome the king, who arrives on horseback, comes out a
procer•ien of the burgesiees,tifolloTsd by a choras
the ,r young
cAliii;lildnr,eon,o7ho !lie Ile
which Ilse antiquarian industr Song oinof Mr. WUtiam
ta7 of
IChappell has resettled frees old musical archives, and by a
I troop of morris•danorra dressed aa musk, who execute a very
quint and pretty psi. The scenery throughout was ape-
r dolly beautiful, and Kr. and Mrs. Keen wen several times
summoned before the weal& amid the overwhelming ap-
planes of a house which wee crowded Is the ceiling.