The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-13 00:00:00

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN.

(From the Sydney Horning Herald of Dec. 21.)

The above celebrated artists arrived in Sydney from Mel.
bourne on Thursday, the 26th ult. Mr. and Mrs. Kean's
arrival here was looked forward to with very much interest,
not only by those who are familiar with their performances,
but by the far greater portion of the community who knew
them only by reputation. A few years ago the prospect of
a visit from the Keans was regarded, if not altogether as ar&
improbability, certainly as an exceedingly remote contin..
gency, and tew of our native-born youth anticipated the
gratification of witnessing the cultivated and highly..
wrought impersonations of these gifted artists, unless they
had determined on a voyage to Europe. Mr. and Mrs.
Kean's arrival in Australia is, therefore, another proof of
the progress of the country, not alone in material wealth,
but also in an elevated taste. They are accompanied by
Miss Chapman, Mr. Everett, Mr. Cathcart, and their agent,
Mr. George Coppin.
On Monday evening, the 30th ult., Mr. and Mrs. Kean
and Miss Chapman dined at Government House, where
they met a large number of ladies and gentlemen holding
high positions in the colony. His Excellency Sir John
Young (who, with Lady Young, frequently patronise the
performances of Mr. Kean), in his address to the Grammar
School pupils, referred to the visit of the Keans in the
following eulogistic terms :—" At this moment two of the
most accomplished examples of the powers of eloquence
are on a visit to our city. I allude to those distin-
guished artists, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, who may be
taken as models in the graces of oratory and action, and
who having attained to the very highest rank in their pro-
fession may well be looked upon as the most perfect speci-
mens of modern elocution extant. I would advise all my
young hearers to go and witness the performances of Mr.
and Mrs. Kean, when they will be much profited. I hope
their parents will bring them during the vacation to the
theatre for that purpose."
Mr. William Lyster, the present lessee of the Prince of
Wales Theatre, secured the services of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Kean for a period of six weeks, and on Monday, Nov. 30,
the company assembled for the first rehearsal, when a con-
gratulatory address from the members of the operatic and
dramatic profession was read by the stage manager of that
theatre, Mr. W. Barry, to which Mr. Kean replied in the
following terms :
" It is with feelings of profound satisfaction that Mrs. Kean
and I accept the kind expressions of welcome conveyed in,
the address with which you have honoured us. To receive
such a mark of esteem and appreciation from members of
our own profession on arriving in this colony, demands our
meat grateful thanks. When we entered the beautiful and
romantic harbour of Sydney and my eyes first caught ts
glimpse of the British flag floating over the towers of Go-
vernment House, I could not feel that though divided by
thousands of miles from friends, home, and child, we were
about to land amongst kindred people, speaking the same
language, possessing the same literature, acknowledging
the same sovereign, and having a claim upon the won•
drous legacy bequeathed to England by the world's greatest
dramatic poet. I felt indeed that we were coming, not
amongst strangers, but amongst countrymen. I cannot but
remark that to every lover of art, to every one who has a
soul tuappreciate the -Alarms of music and the delights of
poetry, the establishment of opera and drama in these
youthful colonies must be a subject of heartfelt congratula-
tion. We all know that recreation to the human mind is
as necessary as food to the human body, and where can a
more rational and intellectual banquet be offered to the
public than within the walls of a well regulated theatre,
where instruction may be blended with amusement, spread-
ing around a beneficial influence, and assisting to soften and
subdue the cares and trials of life. The fulfilment of our
earnest desire to visit Australia before our final retirement
from the stage, has afforded Mrs. Kean and myself the
greatest possible satisfaction, and the enjoyment we have
derived from seeing this new world will live amongst the
treasures of memory till our latest days. Accept, ladies
and gentlemen, once again our most sincere and grateful
acknowledgments for your great courtesy and kindness."
The first appearance of the Keane in Sydney took place
on Wednesday, the 2d inst., when Lovell's fine play, " lho
Wife's Secret," was produced. Long before the doors were
opened a large crowd had assembled in the vicinity of the
theatre, and when admitted the house was soon filled in
every part. Precisely at eight o'clock his Excellency Sir
John Young, Lady Young, Miss Dalton, and Lord John.
Taylour arrived, and the band played the National Anthem.
When his Excellency entered the Vice-regal box the audi-
ence cheered him heartily. The reception Mr. and Mrs.
Kean met with as each appeared for the first time was en-
thusiastic in the extreme—they were cheered again and
again—and during the play were applauded in those places
where applause could be judiciously introduced; they were
also called before the curtain five times, and on the con-
clusion of the play Miss Chapman, Miss Young, and
Messrs. Cathcart and Everett received a like honour.

The genuine success achieved on the first night of perform.
once has followed Mr. and Mrs. Kean all through their
numerous representations. The " Merchant of Venice"
was the second piece in which they appeared, when their
impersonations of the characters of Shylock and Portia
elicited unqualified admiration. The character, however,
in which Mr. Kean seems to be the most liked is Hamlet—.
on the evenings of the performance of which the theatre has
been crammed to suffocation. Another very great per-
formance of Mr. Kean is "Louis XL" In this character
all the acquirements of the Thespian art are brought into
requisition. The play in which we believe these gifted
artistes have no rivals is Henry VIII. The "Wolsey" of
Mr. Kean is a fine study, all the points and general repre-
sentation of the character of Wolsey being correctly his-
torical and in keeping with his high position and cultivated
mind ; and the Queen Catherine of Mrs. Kean is no less
true and forcible. " Much Ado About Nothing," and
"Othello," have also been produced. On Friday last, Mr.
Kean appeared for the second time as Wolsey, being the
occasion of his benefit, when the theatre was thronged with,
the beauty and fashion of our community.
Mr. and Mrs. Kean's visit to Australia will, we :think,
prove beneficial to the residents of this country, and pro-
fitable to themselves; and it is not too much to hope that
the example they have set will be followed by other artists
of acknowledged reputation, and by so doing the results of
those superior natural abilities with which they have been,
endowed by Providence, will not be confined to one por.
tion of the globe.