The Sun.
London, England, 1814-10-24 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

Cov'ENT-GAn.DEN.—We are aiv:ire, that -in sit-
ting down to write a critique upon the perfor-
mance of Saturday at this Theatre, we are in fact
only taking up the pen to write an e I i umg_ton upon
Mr. KElaBLE.in the character of Coriolanus 3 but,
as that eulogium is strictly due to the transcen-
dant merits displayed on this occasion,:it would
be injustice to withhold it, merely because words
can but 4.intly describe the delight we received 3
or that deserved praise has already been so often
bestowed, that a repetition of it is as tiresome as
flattery. We shall not, however, go much into
detail: the glorious firmament, it is 'true; is
formed of a thousand particular stars, and the re-
presentation of the haughty Roman consists of a
galaxy of brilliant points, yet he would Make hat
an ill figure who imagined that the hest mode (,f
conveying a notion of either was to write down a
catalogue from HERCHELL'S telescope, or dwell
on the minutiae of KEMBLE•S exCellenC:CS.

We have witnessed many great and successful
efforts on the stage ; we have
.seen this admirable
Tragedian himself in all his parts, and it is yet (we
think) not too much to pronounce, that his Curio-
lanes is about the must unique and perfect piece of
acting upon the
.British, or upon any Stage. On
Saturday, he entered into the personation of the
character with all the spirit and vigour of youth,
and chastened it with all the critical experience
and judgment of maturer years. We never heard '
him in better voice, and never saw him to greater
advantage. A fine and dignified figure, suited
to. the majesty of Marcius ; a countenance no-
ble and Homan, as rould become the highest
Senator of Patrician Home; "an eye like Jove,
to threaten and command;" action elevated and
graceful ; such are the prominent natural requi-
sites which Mr. KEMBLE brings into the cha-
racter. To these Art• adds what may, without
compliment, be termed the perfection of Art. The
gesture appropriate to every speech, the modula-
tion of tone due to every passion, the expression
of countenance which imparts tenfold energy to
what the body and the tongue performs so well
—these were the distinguished 'features of the
play, which from time
,to time roused the en-
thusiasm of the spectators, and absolutely com-
pelled the whole Theatre at once to rise enraptured •
and shout applause. Mr. KEMBLE'S debut was
warmly greeted—so warmly, indeed, that the
cheers of welcome were universally repeated se-
veral times. A laurel wreath and laurel branches
were thrown on the stage as soon as he appeared ;
but his feeling must liktve been still more gratified
at the close of his exertions, when the tribute so
vehemently paid was not to expected or re-
membered pleasure, but to the Must finished en-
joyment which an. audience had received from a
display,'of abilities which astonished while they de-
lighted.
At the close of the first Act, when one of
the scene-men came to take away the laurels,
many voices vehemently desired that they might
remain, and hissed him for the removal of them.

Another fervent proof of the estimation in %vhich
this great Performer is held, was observable wilco.
Menenius said,

" Welcome !--
" A curse inr4in at very root of his heart
" That is nut glad to see thee !"
This passage was seized, and applied to Mr.
KEMBLE on his first appearance last season, and
an universal burst of applause expressed the Same
feeling on the part of the audience on Saturday.
We do confess that we are afraid to praise this
performance as we ought, for fear .we should ap-
pear hyperbolical; but of this we are convinced,
that laud as highly as we could, there is not one
person of taste, feeling, and judgment, who was
present with us at Covent-Garden, who will not
join their voice to our loudest note, and applaud to
the very echo.
We have professed that we would not descend
to particulars—neither will we ; but it would be
invidious not to notice the two principal divisions
of the Tragedy, in which an actor has the best
opportunity for displaying his powers, and in
which Mr. K. surpassed himself.
.We allude to
all those scenes in the third Act in which Curio-
lama. expresses his contempt of popular opinion,
and of the Tribunes of the people, and to the last
scene, in which he disputes with zinfictius, and is
slain by the Volscians. In these our Itoscius
was pre-eminently.grand. lie rose towering front
point to point, till his efforts were stopped by
acclamations which the audience could nut resist.
The high mind of the Roman was thoroughly pre-
served throughout ; ever concentered in self estima-
tion,. and tired by the passion of mingled pride and
ambition—even when he stoops to sarcasm, it is
'expressed in a way as if he scorned to employ any
weapon less sharp and biting than his sword :
the feelings of nature struggling with the int-
petuosity of, an arrogant soul; the lashings of
that overbearing temper, which, though noble and
lofty, is yet too stubborn and presumptuous; the
conflict between the love of. country, anti the
stronger feeling of self-love, which incites him to
destroy Rome to satiate his revenge for a personal
insult ; and, in the cud, the returning ardour of
patriotism with which he meets the revilings of
the Volscian Leader, were among the prominences
of Mr. KEMBLE'S picture of Coriolanus, which we
may mention, but cannot describe.
His fall was like his course—sublime. The
Pit rose as one man, and hats and handkerchiefs,
and thunders of applause, which were joined from
every part of the house, testified the supretne gra-
tification which had been derived from this mas-
terly delineation.
The other characters were cast precisely in the
same way as last spring. Mrs. RENAup played
the Roman Matron with great success, and Miss
Brusrow was, reeling and interesting in the Wife.
BLANCHARD'S Menelaus is entitled to especial no-
tice, as a very excellent piece of comic acting,
humorous within the limits of becoming mirth,
and laughable without buffoonery. BARR Y MORE,
• EGERTON, MURRAY, and SIMMONS sustained their
several. parts respectably.

The Post-Office
hie hasls t
i\'groi:ccitiii
bneort;icewthoeii theth
eMer-
chants, that the Gottenburgh Mails will be dis-
continued after t
let-
ters to Sweden, and other stations in the Baltic,
will be forwarded through Hamburgh. This ar-
rangement, by shortening the voyage by sea, e2l-
- a more direct and quick conveyance than the
former, and will be a saving to the public revenue.