The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-25 00:00:00

Mt THEATRE.

DxvttY•LANE.---The greatest crowd that we
ver saw assembled on any theatrical occasion,
except nhen his present MAJESTY visited the

'Theatre for the first time, gathered round this
Theatre last night, to witness the first ap-

Pearance of Mr. KEAN after the recent trial

Which excited so much curiosity. Great part
of this crowd appeared before the several ave-

Rues to the Theatre at an early hour, and
Some time before the usual period of opening
the doors it -was very difficult to get near to
theni.. At length the doors were opened, and a
furious rush took place. The pit was almost
instantaneously
filled, but as places were taken
lit the boxes, the arrangements for retaining
them were observed for some time, till at length
411 the usual restraints were overcome, and
the boxeS_ also were rapidly filled, and few
of those who had taken places were able
t° secure them: -.During the time when the
411dience were entering into the different
tiers of boxes, a clamour commenced between
those who favoured and *those who were oppo7

tents of Mr KLAN and seemed to have reached
tts actne when the house was actually filled. On
the rising of the curtain, and the appearance of
'‘'rfornterq, a more furious contest arose between
the respective parties than we had ever be-
',ore witne,,sed, consisting of hisses, cries of
" KEAN' for ever? —" No KEAN !"---" LITTLE
atEcnEs!" and other allusions to the letters

which were read on the trial in question. At
lettgth Mr. KEAN appeared,-and then the tumult
exceeded all bounds, and seemed to be raised by
every voice in the Theatre. As the cheerings,
howe?er, seemed to predominate, he came forward,
bowed; placed- his hand on his breast, and evinced
I'very token of gratitude for what he apparently
considered as a favourable general reception. In
this respect, however, he was deceived, for on
cmurnencin,g the part of Richard the Third, the
storm burst forth with redoubled violence, and
;nutinued throughout the performance, always
"'Never more outrageous whenever Mr. KEAN
came upon the stage. During the representation
l
came forward evidently with a design to
'thiress the audience, but not a word could
ii,
Aef. hsard and. he resumed the character.—
ter some interval, he again came for-
ward) uncovered, but with as little success,
'1(1 he then, doubtless in despair of obtain-
ing ti hearing, resigned himself to the perform-
ance of his part. Once Mrs. W. WEST, as The
Queen, was -heard for‘a moment or two, and Mr.
AttAcK, on his appearance as Richmond, was
received with applause and a few sentences of his
part were heard, but the general spirit of tumult
l'as again triumphant over all partial favour, and his
voice was afterwards overwhelmed in the general
clatnour. A-very few oranges were thrown upon
the Stage, but no other missile hostility was oh-
serrahle. It should be stated, in justice to Mr.
KEAN, that he manifested no signs of discon-
tent towards the audience ; but though he
smiled on his first appearance, apparently con-
ceiving that the general decision would be
"ally in his favour, on his subsequent at-
tempt to address them he maintained a calm
"ruposure of countenance. There were several
Ilassages, and situations in the play, particularly
c,jn, the appearance of the Mayor and Alderman,
:ne
nich, as the passages were generally known, and
of the Civic Magistrates essentially concerned
11 the cause, seemed to give an additional stimu-
-105 to the feelings of the audience. On the
death of Richard the universal roar of
illingled applause and disapprobation was tre-
mendousf and a similar clamour attended the
fugal dropping of the curtain. Such was the
scene which we witnessed without, in our pas-
Sage to the Theatre, and beheld within, from
.a ~convenient station in a private box, for we
"Id not - run the danger of attempting to
eater the Theatre through the ordinary aye-
Ines. We perceive that several of our com-
petitors have entered into a moral discus-
I°" of the question whether the private con-
duct of an Actor should have any influence
upon the public reception of him in a professional
e
raPaeitY We have not entered into the ques-
don, because we neither wished to irritate, on
he one hand, or to palliate, on the other, but
considered it as a question that the Public
rght to decide for themselves, as it is on a
,Uhject in which their own pleasure arising from
te most rational of general amusements is con-
eh
erned. Not to have shewn some marks of dis-
pleasure on conduct that has been submitted to
tuankind at large, would have been discreditable
to the moral character of a people, but after
I
laving given such a decided proof of distlP-
Probation, to pursue any individual with unr-
elenting severity, and to drive him from the
means of supporting himself and his family,
Would be equally inconsistent with the acknow-
ledged liberality of the Country. Mr. K EAN
liar received a potent reproof and an awful lesson.
its reception last night will, no doubt, operate
as a warning that will influence his conduct dur-
lUg, life, and having experienced such a recep-
.Tns.it will 06Wr' be suitable and consistent with
the national character to-let him exercise his ta-
lents for the amusement of the public, and the
BuPPort of his farnily.—We saw with regret some
Well-dressed ladies in the boxes, and some in the
Pit, who rendered themselves conspicuous by
waving of handkerchiefs and clapping of hands
in favour of Mr.-KEAN. These persons, if in re.
sPectable situations•in life, have certainly brought
the Purity of their morals into question, and do
not think with Dr. YOUNG, that—
" Those charms are greatest that decline the sight,
" That makes the banquet poignant and polite." -
the desperadoes who came, not from curiosity
but for plunder, stationed themselves in the
saloon, where.themonev and ticket receivers are
Placed, and in strong bodies surrounded their:vic-
tims, robbing them with the most shameless vio-
lence and cruelty. Peace Officers should therefore
be placed in that large saloon on any future oc-
casions of expected tumult, to prevent depreda-
tions in that situation, as the Robbers do not pay
for admission in bodies, and -wOuld be more ex-
Posed to detection.