The National Register.
London, England, 1814-06-05 00:00:00

VIP, NATIONAL REGISTER.

'DRAMATIC RI:c; ISTE 11.

MR FLLiSTO\'S oTHku.o.

363

Othello was again pertOrmeii at this t eatre last evening, when the
Noble Moor for the Cs{ lime_ was personated by Mr_ ELLIsToiv:
He dressed and looked the character admirably, and throughout Ins
exertions were honoured w ith loud and justly merited applause.
In the molt striking passages of this arduous part, he elicited the
liveliest traits of euervy and pathos, which, • aided by the powerful
and varied tones of his 'outfit-loons voice, spoke home to the lettings
of the auditory, who testified their approbation with reiterated
bravo's and buzzas.

MR. KEAN'S LUKE.
It is the remark of many who have seen Mr. KLAN, that they are
unable always to reduce to its elements the pleasure which hit per.
Hermance occasim s them : his voice, say they. is not only iryl adapted

for the stage, but is positively bad; and yet, in the Manner he
unirloys it, we seldom find any thing in it that is unpleasant, but
even fancy we recognise a certain charm in its inflections ;—ltis
person is little and mean, and would seem to banizh -the very caps-
bility of dignity or grace, y,..t, in his movements, we fat quently
find both ; in sl,oet, as it n ere, without the aid either of nature or
ofart,--for the one has used him sordidly, anti the otherilie dues not
take the trouble to court, one always feel, when we witness the
performance of Mr. KEAN, the presence of a great actor.
The solution of the problem is to he tonne) and only to 1w found in the
one word genius: it i 4 the continual presence of this pri► ciple.
visible alike when he sinks and when he soars. which delights us in
Mr. K EAN. Hew ho acts from real feeling must reach the spectator'.
lie seems himself to be identified with the character he personates,
to be wrapped up in it, scarcely to remember that he is not it in
reality, and the intision extends to all who see him. Thus, when
in Richard, he exel :hits, " Off with his head ; so much for Buck-
ingham:" or, in Othello, that " he tasted not Casio's kisses on her
lip," we can with difficulty bear in mind, that it is not linked
the Tyrant or the Mocr who stands before 11%
We have been led almost before we were aware of it into these
remarks, and have lett ourselves but a word or two to say on the
subject we proposed to speak of. Those who, not having seen or
read the play of Riches, or the comedy of MASSINGER, from which
it is taken, expected to see Mr. KEAN play in a new line were de-
ceived, hut, we are confident, not disappointed, the character of Luke
is completely in Mr. KrAN's style, and never surely was he greater
than in it. Whether whep he pourtraycd the callous profligate in
his moments of humility ; whether when in fancied security, he throws
aside the mask, revels himself in luxury and libertinism, while he
treats with wmaton cruelty those lie was left to protect ; or whether,
when at length we see him confounded and in despair at the return
of him who wus to deprive him of the charge and confidence he hail
so unworthily abused -•-• in all he Was equally great, in all he up.
Droached excellence. 'the plaudits of the audience on every repre-
sentation arc incessant, and the piece is become one of those in
which Mr. KLAN appears every week. It is but justice to tht
managers to add, they seem disposed to kill him as soon as possible,
and he now performs four times a week. Had they read the fable
t i on which the pantomime of " Mother Goose" is funded, they would
11 have 6etter consulted their own interest.

The Emneror of Russia and the King of Prussia, it is now
stated were to leave Paris yesterday.
Letters of the 14th, from Madrid, state, that great di••
satisfaction Kevails there, and at various other places, in
consequences of the violence which has been exercised to-
wards the Cortes, and of the contempt which has been too
openly shewn for public opinion. It•is only the p.
an army (say the letters) which compels the people
lent, and this, it is to be apprehended, will not 10'
case, -

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