The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-11 00:00:00

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean in Australia,

These celebrated artistes finished their first en-
gagement at the Royal Haymarket Th eatre in
Melbourne, on Saturday, Nov. 21. Their success
has been immense—the receipts being larger than
ever was known to have been taken in any anti-
podean theatre. The following are a few extracts
from the Australian journals :

(From the kilbourne Age of Oct- 27.)

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean made a second Australian
appearance in the Shaksperian drama, last night. The
play was "Henry the Eighth," and, under all circum-
stances, a better selection could not have been made to dis-
play the dramatic talent, and the refined artistic acquire-
ments of the two distinguished actors now our visitors.
The performance was all so quiet, s 9 refined, so like nature,
and so unlike acting, that it was so difficult to se'ect pas-
sages or points for special corn alendation where eli was so
excellent, and, if one may venture so far on any performance
of humanity, so near perfection. To do strict critical jus-
tice would require the following out line by line, thought
by thought, in all the varied expression and powerful pas-
sion of this beautiful and heart touching play, rendered by
the one artist with perfect finish, by the other with exqui-
site tenderness and grace, and an elocution that was muse
itself. That noble trial scene in the second act, where the
queen is summoned before her cardinal judges, gave an
unerring proof of the righteous verdict which has placed
Mrs. Kean in the very front rank of the dramatic profes-
sion for powerful and very refined expression of passion.
Mr. and Mrs. Kean, who were repeatedly called for
throughout the piece, bowed their acknowledgments on
the fall of the curtain.

(From the .Arelbourne Herald of Arov. 6.)
The repetition of " Hamlet" at this theatre last night
was received with every evidence of unbounded satisfaction
by a very numerous and fashionable audience. No hurried
review, such as ours must necessarily be, can render even
faint justice to such a performance as Mr. Kean's. It is
the seasoned product of a philosophic mind whose impulses
are in direct accordance with the legislation of nature.
The actor vindicates his intellectual power and moral
promptings in defiance of certain physical deficiencies and
even disqualifications. The spectator, who at the outset
is not unreasonably sceptical as to the possible maintenance
of the illusion, long before the first scene is over is com-
pelled to surrender every doubt in such respect.
His critical eye and ear, which require a perfect
corporeal presentment, and are offended because that is not
realised, are speedily admitted to be inferior and indeed un-
necessary tests. Mr. Kean's personal appearance and age
become completely obliterated from the perception of the
audience, who, thenceforward, solely recognise the living
embodiment of their own conception of the " Hamlet" of
Shakspere. That it is so, is proved by their demeanour, for
seldom has the opinion of a theatrical audience upon the
merits of a performance been so significantly expressed.

(From flee Melbourne Age of Nov. 18.)
A very brilliant house assembled at the Haymarket
Theatre last evening to do honour to Mr. Kean on the oc-
casion of his benefit. The theatre was crowded in every part,
and many withstood the heat and fatigue of a stand point of
view from behind the boxes throughout two long orthodox
plays. The opening piece was "Henry VIII.," in which Mr.
and Mrs. Kean both acted superbly in the Cardinal and the
Queen. This was followed by the " Jealous Wife." To
the noble tragic display by Mr. Kean on Monday, the comic
jealousy of Mrs. Oakley presented a brilliant antithesis last
night. Superlatives are often rash, and in critical judg-
ment demand reconsideration ; but to speak of Mrs. Kean's
inimitable humour and nature and sprightly grace in any-
thing but the highest degree would be alike weakness and
sheer injustice. The scene in the first act, where all Oak-
ley's adamantine resolutions of independence and tavern
dinners vanish before her will, and her inimitable
action, to say nothing of the ever-varying charms of voice
and intonation, when Oakley discloses the project of bring•
ing Miss Russet into the house, were in the very first rank
of performance in highest comedy. We only require the
ability to forget Mr. Kean's Shylock, Othello, and Louis
XI. to hail him in Oakley as one of the most accomplished
and humorous of comedians. Every speech, point, and
walk across the stage was gentlemanly, polished, and comic
propriety itself. The efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Kean in these
most amusing characters kept the audience in a roar of
laughter from the rise till the fall of the curtain; and an
ovation of applause was the grateful reward for one of the
most acceptable, and also the rarest of modern entertain.
ments—a well acted comedy.