The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-29 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The tragedy of Othello was the entertainment given out
as the performance of last night at this Theatre, the part
of Othello by Mr. Kean, his second appearance since an
event which is likely to form an important era in the dra-
matic career of this once popular performer. The throng
at the entrances of the play-house was by no means greet;
it was quite inconsiderable when cemeared with the multi-
, tudea that rendered access to the Theatre upon Monday
' evening a matter of personal hazard. But though the
audience of last night was thus relatively small, it seemed
actuated by a spirit of more determined hostility, and ap-
peared to bring to the contest a much greater degree of
system and organization. The audience upon the former
night might have been likened to an eastern army, count-
less, indeed, as to numbers, but inefficient in the fight;
that of the latter select and few, well appointed and Care-
fully marshalled, amply compensating for defect of num-
bers by the skill and discipline of those who were brought
to the field. Upon the opening of the doors, the pit, galleries,
and upper tier of boxes, were instantly filled ; the other
rows of boxes were comparatively empty; there was
complete, and, perhaps, a creditable absence of ladies from
those parts which the most respectable clan of females aro
in the habit of frequenting. The tranquillity that Telenet
throughout the house fors considerable time, was of such
a nature as almost to warrant the supposition that the merit
was laid, and the performance of the night would be al-
lowed to pass undisturbed ; the erroneous nature of this
expectation was, however, speedily proved by the act
of a politician in the gallery, who, no doe& for the
purpose 'of ascertaining the current of public opi-
nion, exposed to view two placards, upon one of
which was inscribed, in large letters, " Kean for ever,"
upon the other, " Down with the Times." The display
of these manifestoes was the signal of asproar, which lasted
through the performance of the overture, and remained
tinabattd when the actors appeared upon the stage. Afeir
the performance of a few passage, in dumb show, the won
retired t 3 the back of the star, and Mr. Elliston himself
appeared in full dress, for the purpose, we presume, of
making an appeal to the audience. Upon the manager
presenting himself, the teimult increased, and it was utterly
impossible for him t'. obtain attentien for a moment.
lie exhibited a laudable perseverance upon the occasion,
an I remained a considerable time upon the stage, making
many and numerous obeisances, placing his hand upon
his heart, and using all those arts which time out of mind
have teen allowed to rhetoricians in the act of suppliet-
tion. It was the remark of a great orater of antiquity, that
action is every thing : the reception of Mr. Makin is a
decider.: preof that this aphorism ie not universally tree,
for, notwithstanding the frequency and the grace of his
efferts, the audience was obdurate, and lie nt length re-
, tir«l. Upon his disappearance, the performers attempted
to go through their parts, but in vain ; their voices were
drown( din the din that seemed to prevail through the en-
tire 'tense, and which, of course, reached its greatest limit
upon the entrance of Mr. Kean ; it was then the partisans
and the opponents of this gentleman made their trees;
strenuous (Wens, and between the noisy approbation be-
stowed by the one party, and the censure lavished most un-
sparingly and boisterously by tl:e other, it was impos-
sible to hear a syllable that was uttered upon the stage.
A great effort seemed to be made by both parties tenon the inn-
peachment of Othello before the Senate by the father of Ike-
desnona; and, when the fair cause of the accusat icn vindicates,
in dumb show, her own free choice, and acquits the dark
warrior of all sorcery and guilt, they expressed their fed-
ings in a manner that must have inflicted considerable
pain upon those not equally interested in the result and
cause of the warfare. The p. rformer himself appeared to
us to he fully master of himself, and to have regained that
fortitude which seemed somewhat shaken on his first up.
pcarance. Upon this occasion lie required all his 'Jerre,
for the opposition assumed an appearance of management
and system v.hich it wanted upon the night of Monday. Of
this probably he was aware, and thought it incumbent
upon him to meet it with firmness, though without eibi-
biting any symptom of disrespect.
Pit, Box, and (hiller,' in convulsion ;
Ile steed unmoved amidst a burning world.".
The half price brought, as was to in expected, a new sup-
ply of partisans, who ranged themselves uned r their re-
spective banners, and the fourth act wee an uninterrupted
scene of tumult. About the conclusion of this act, and in-
deed at other short periods through the performance, ai
parties appeared exhausted, and there were brief cessation;
but all fatigue, all exhaustion, seemed forgotten upon the
appearance of the hero of the night ; he was the harbinger
of tumult—he brought clamour in his train. The discus-
sions in the pit appeared to be conducted with extreme seri-
mony, and in many eases the disputants proceeded to the
ultimo ratio, and supported their sentiment. by blows.
Those who breathed the purer atmosphere, and occupied
the higher region of the galleries, maintained their opinions
with equal obstinacy, though with better temper. When
one of these lofty inhabitant: raised his " sweet voice" in
behalf of Alderman Cox, his facetious antagonist and
neighbour was contented with wishing the worthy Al-
derman in the throat of his clamorous advocate,
and did not appear disposed to enforce his arguments by
any more cogent reasoning. After the conclusion of the
scene, Mr. Thompson came forward to announce the per-
formance of the ensuing evening, bur the clamour rendered
it utterly impossible for him to attain his object, and, find-
ing his efforts unavailing, he retired. A few scenes of the
pantomime bail been performed, when Mr. Elliston was
recognised in the boxes, and he was loudly called for : after
some time the Manager obeyed the call, and presented
himself amidst loud applause. After making his respects,
he stated, that if he we. indulged with a hearing, he
would give a full, and he made no doubt, a satisfactory ex-
planation.—ln the appearance of Mr. Kean, at this particu-
lar time, he would be believed when lie said he never felt
such embarrasstuent as at that moment : his wish, as Ma-
nager of that Theatre, had ever been to contribute
to the amunments of the nubile. (Cries of " Yes, yes;"
and "Elliston forever.") In the present instance, a partini-
ler engagement was made by him with Mr. Kean, unavoid-
able in its nature, as subsequent arrangements had been
entered into for other engagements. This was the cause
of his present appearance. He should also state that upon
the Saturday previous to the public exposure of a late un-
fortunate transaction, he was informed by Mr. Kean's soli-
citor, to wham he made application, that no trial would We
place, aid consequently there would he no obstructienn
Mr. Keats'. appearance ; upon this he wrote to Mr. Kea3,
and received an answer which proved Mr. Kean to be as
mindful dins (Mr. Elliston's) interest as lie was of his
own. fled he known that any disapprobation would have
been felt by the l übic, in consequence of the transaction
which took place on the Tuesday after the conversatien
lie held wi h the solicitor, lie a oald have avoided any
thing that would give the public offence. Here a voice
from the dress-box inked why Mr. Kean's appearance UM
required so soon. Mr. Elliston answered, because it was
advertised previous to the transaction. (Loud applause
followed this declaration). If he declined fulfilling the
engorgement he made with Mr. Kean, it would, he thought,
be joining the party against him ; this he would never do.
The approbation testified by the audience proved to him
that the disapprobation was confined to a small number.
It had been asserted the house was packed by him ; this he
solemnly denied. Ile denied it as he valued the character
of a gentleman, which lie trusted he had ever maintained.
Ile would make one request, that the audience weold
honour Mr. Kean with a hearing, and he was ready to
enter into his own defence, if he were allowed. [Loud
cries of Kean, Kean.] Mr. Elliston retired, and in a short
interval returned, conducting Mr. Kean. His appearance
was dietioguished by loud applause. He seemed much
agitated, and addressed the audience, as far as we could
collect, as follows:—Ile efiel not appear before them. he
said, to ask indulgence for his private errors; for them be h-el
been punished by the proper tribunal of his country. He
appeared before them merely as the representative of
Shakspeare's characters, and he asked not a judgment
upon the transactions of his private life, tut the
impartial decision of the British people upon his merits
as au actor. If he did not enter into an explanation
of certain occurrences of his life, it was from inotites
of delicacy, which they would appreciate, and not from
any wish to spare himself a mortification, perhaps, well
deserved. He might fall a professional victim to their
vereFet ; but he awaited their decision, and not that of a
hostile and malignant press, whose utmost malice be war