The National Register.
London, England, 1815-01-08 00:00:00

VIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

shippers constantly burn around him, we shall have afforded him au
opportunity of amending his faults, and really deserving that pvaise
whip 'i in many parts of his performance has been granted with more
Jibe, ality than justice.
The tinalitientions of Romeo should be a well-made person, a
handsome countenance, elegance of manners, and harmony tit.
voice. Without these, it is not only ridiculous, but inspossildo
suppose that a girl of the romantic disposition of Juliet should at
first sight be struck with admiration and fall in love with him. Th.:l
all these requisites do not meet in Mr. Kean, is indisputable. H.
might, however, mould Isis manners, so as to appear _the perteet
gentkeian and ardent lover; but during the two first acts he mad.
no attempt of the kind. -His love had all the cold solemnity of
looks and tone of Richard's villainy, and his manners wanted that
high polish of gallantry which charaetelises the Italian inamorata
His behaviour in the 'nervier:lde scene was certainly never. but
only added to the improbability of the lady's sudden h&c-thus.
Contrary to the en torn of all the Romeo's whom we recollect, he
kept Isis mask on throughout, so that Juliet had the hard task to
fal: in love with_ a suitor, whose fcatnres 'le was not even allowed
to see. In the balcony scene, with the exception of a brilliant
illumination of joy which fleefel over his countenance when he
heard hut calling upon his name, all was frigid dullness and mono-
tony. The repeated protrusion of his right arm and clenched fist
%%Us: say;9— •
" 0! that I were a glove upon that hand !"
had more in it of menace than tenderness, and the depth and gravity
of his tones were much more suited to sorrow than to love. Even in
the encounter with the fiery Tybult, when vowing to revenge 11.14 r,
cvlio's death, his usual spirit forsook him, though he fenced with his
wonted grace and skill. Indeed the first half of his performance
left a ~enerol impiession en the mind of the audience that Mr. Kean
was ~tli,posett, nod several persolo, who were not present at the be.
ginu ng of the piece, inquired whether an apology had not been
mace for him on the plea of illness. When apprized of Isis bani-li
men% however, Isis gus:isis seemed for the first time_kindled. Every
pass,ge was then delivered with the energy of wounded feelings.
venting themselves forth in the language and ravings of despair. and
drew down peals of applause from a crowded house, wing' had till
then 11 maimed almost silent. The chief fault in this part of Mr.
pertormance, and it may have appeared one merely on ac-
count of his pre ceding frigidity, was perhaps a degree of over-exer-
tion bordering too close upon rant. The action of pulling his hair
with both hands is expressive, but not sufficiently noble to deserve
being repeated more than 'once, when the text requires it. The
waffler iu which he spoke the following line,

" As I do sow
" Taking the measure of a new-inaile grave."
though it obtained much applause, as a new reading, rag in our opi-
nion must detective. Alter raving in all the wildness of his griet
up to

" the meactire
he remained wiih his hands uplifted, his puffed up, and Ilis
countenance full of tlu as theuszli considering of what lie anoula
take titel,nre, for t«o wino eQ, then, having seemingl, wade
tip his miatl, added, in a. low voice aml slow delivery,

" A new made grave,"
end fell to the ';round. Now, we conceive that no such ditteulty
of choice shAilit be expressed. Row°, who has been calling for
death instead of banishment, and is On the eve of attempt•
lu' suicide, in his iotigingg tin dissolution, no sooner starts
the idea of the grave, than he ought to rush at once, as
it were, into it, with a hilg—hesitating pause, which is not
coorenant with the nature of his feelings at the time. These
detects excepted, the banishment scene was by tar ate best of Mr.
kean's performance, stud pwsesed sunie beauties of an otiginai
character. It was the only one in %%bleb he rose superior to iiH
present rivals. For most of the test, h.! sank beneath them. Hi,
COliVeisatiell With the Apethreury .f.d not display much ' ttenZill;
and the catastrophe, ns acted Mr. Conway amid Miss O'Neill, is
more strikingly affecting than Mr Kean's solitary fall. The sno•
cent of his death, however, was tenissi k ably good. Fixin:.; his
tyis on the di•consolate Juliet, lw repented her name, in viol;
arcerts, till the chill of dent,' chained his tongue, and his last sigh
vas one of love. Upon the whole, we are sorry that Mr. Kean
Should have it:sinned tleir character. It is one in which he has to
contend with so 'many natitral disadvantaffes, that complete success
was out iii his power. Neither is it notch injury to hi., fame to say,
th:it he %sins is almost iincionlled in the le pre,en tati"n of
shost!.l have tailed ih, U., istA sQinitien ..i 1:

20

• Mrs. Bartley displayed considerable feeling, spOrtivcness, and
strength in Juliet, and obtained deserved applause. Eih.ron
Mental° delivered the speech relative to Queen Mab with Marla
effect, but rendered the character one shade less gay than usual.
Of the rest silence is praise.
On Wednesday, Miss Walstein, for the first time, appeared as
Lady Teazle in the School/or Scandal. Comedy is decidedly the line
in which this lady is calculated to shine. The improvements which
oe observed had taken place in her acting, when she resumed the
part of Le(ilia Hardy were still more pe►eeptible in her Lady Teazle.
Six was playfhl, without affectation, in her raillery; spit i tett. wide.
ant tra_•ic pomp, in her quarrel with her lin a►>zl her ennfased
•lictre•s when discuvered in Joseph's apartment, as well as her sub-
•s plent contrition, were highly natural and effective. 'the song of
The Bee, whirls ahe introduced without mask, was deservedly ,eels.
cored. Miasma ■urpasssed himself in Joseph Surface. Dowton was
excellent in Sir Oliver, and all the other chat acters were most ably
sustained by their rtrpeetive representatives.
•----

We have received the following from a eorresporderif, and give it
insertion, as we can add our testimony to the promising merits of
111.. William West:—

44 Mr. W. West, from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, made Lis
debut at the Dlinlin:4ll Theatre, in the elniractyr of Dun Cgrlos iu
the Duenna.—He a remarkably sweet voice, and evtry other
qualification, to become a decided favorite."

Miss Cook, froM the Theatre Covent Garden. likewise made bee
appearance in the arduous part of Juliet. Her conception of the
character was excellent. This young lady has also performed the
parts of .Sigisintinde and Letitia Hardy, and is, we understand.
shortly to appear in Bekidere.

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

This elegant place of amusement has openvd under the auspices of
Mr. Elliston with considerable eclat. Lustros with glasses like
these at Covent Garden, and gilt pannels round the boxes, have
greatly added to its beatify. The performanc-ea are also very attrac-
tive. Besides tight ltope•Dancing, in which much agility is dis-
played, the French company execute a very pretty linnet with great
skill and taste, and the lltir.letta, called My Uncle's house, poiAtasea
much interest, and is ably performed.