The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-19 00:00:00

Mr, Charles Kean in California.

SAN FRANCISCO, vet. to
The long-expected theatrical event, the appearance °E
'
Keane, marked an epoch in the drama's history atnellgi
last night. The Opera House was densely crowded, °li,- (1
seat, box, and foot of standing room, being occupied, P-10
many hundreds going away from the doors unable to gt1;10
admission. The play, "Henry VIII." was put uP°llOl.
stage with an eye clear to elegance and an ear deaf t°
It has not often been presented at San Francisco, 1111(1',,,-001
the " Stars," was undoubtedly new to many. Such COo" 00
draw comparisons nor imagine contrasts, but were glicicoi
rather than judges, studying the play as well as the act°ll,' 80
almost of necessity, cold and critical. Yet the streliPoi•
were graciously received, and evidently gained in the col
mation of the house until the fall of the curtain, when,a- GO,
were called before it by a well pleased and satisfied alldwid
The play, all who have read the text know, is a Printr.
work of art, but it has little in it to stir people te ev
Bt'
slums It is an exhibition of passions and plots, king,ll.,l?
rogance and brutal propensities; offset with priestly u":
city, cunning, and ambition. There is nevertheles:oll
wonderful charm in the figures and language, which dekreil
the intellect rather than touch the heart, and when tilt
by such masters of elocution as Mr and Mrs lietol4
irresistible. To criticise these eminent artists ";00,
seem like telling the world the qualities of cherdsvdoel
The public knows their reputation as it COI3.
the flavour of Clicquot. The bubbles of this that
,10.
" sparkling and bright" to the surface, mark not 038[00
ratter of the wine, more than do the clear interpreta'ap'
of the meaning of the text as uttered by Ur and Mrs frlett
stamp the true artist. Their most striking points eeef
be perfect elocution, showing an intimate knowledge 43:tift
spirit as well as words of the tExt, a thorough aPPtec.:oo
of what each scene and situation requires to rai',,tgref
seeming appear the real life, appropriateness of P,°°oll
gesture, moti n, clear enunciation, passion where I''lll'
would assert its strength, pathos when the heart feel°' roe,
intellects travels with the sensibilities; Art and Netits°`
hand in hand. As the Queen on her trial in the vindiet, per,
her honour and the assertion of her dignity, as well 00
appeals to the justice of the brutal king, Mrs Kean elletero
the royal personage she represented—the proud digit het
Ferdinand, no less than the woman and wife. 011
interview with the two cardinals, where the vg°l3ileifiri
suffers find eloquent expressions of denunciation, °'',°•ceur
by the reaction and eventual submission to the ed%eb
the representatives of the Church, to whose authorit;
had been educated to believe her obedience was duieo'Oli
excellence as a delineator of Nature was perfect. Air to
manner, like that of his wife, is a delightful centres'. 0 ora
storm style which so often on the stage tears a I) B°lool
to tatters. The excellent points he made were niere;o,-,
than we have space or time to enumerate. In that pi 7
where as the Cardinal fallen from his high estate
farewell to all his greatness, Shakspere himself foigilAterie%:i
sat as an auditor, and found no fault with the reP-rio° g
We have a word to say in regard to Mayo's relici%
King Harry. It was a creditable personation ore",
i
reading, and make-up. He committed one or to' e
Al;
Particularly in the scene where ho leaves the CA71)00 ,a
anger—but, as a whole, he has reason to be
were, with his effort last evening. Did not space Prhorin'
would be pleased to refer to the other characters in t"'

They must form the subject of another notice.
of
cdoo
MR. SALA AND MR. DICKENS.—A (111.- tior
much interest to authors and the proPrie6fell3;-0
magazines and periodicals is likely to be brought
law courts. A popular writer commenced a Seri°
the pages of All the Year _Round. Some time ag°,:o
siderable interval elapsed between the arrival of Berr,
stalments, causing a serious interruption of alegg
ri
publication. The public interest in the tale flecee-d:j
began to A similar delay having again ceell.,,rro- P;
editor placed the completion of the tale in the Ph- pte!f
another popular writer. After some two or three ci:irit"
o f this continuation had been published, the origi° circa
forwarded more MS., which, of course, under ale
elf
stances cannot be printed. So the matter is peetl
involved in law, both parties insisting upon their gel
re°
righTts.— lie Reader. atiO
HE HYDE PARK SCULPTURES for th° 13,1- tete
Prince Consort Memorial have been detern3jae-eseetlA.
is to row;
Baron Marochetti (according to the Reader)
the statue of the Prince—and the four priaciPbeeo
symbolising the four quarters of the world, 1161° lqr •cjii
e
trusted to tho following sculptors :—Europel3p
Macdowell, R A.—Asia, to Mr J. H. Foley, !.. letlf?f,
to Mr W. Theed—America, to Mr J. 13411. '9O 10.,0.
groups, emblematic of Agriculture, Commeree't,
C. syB
tures, and Mechanics, will be executed by Mr 17 .4.
shall, R,A., Mr J. Thorneycroft, Mr H. 11°-
Mr J. Lawler. Mr W. H. Arrnstead and ?dr
will execute the bas-reliefs.