The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-23 00:00:00

MR. AND MR". CHARLES KEAN.
(From the Dublin Pilot of Dec. 20.)
Mr. Cnarles Kean and his gifted lady are about to
leave our city niter a most successful engage merit of
22 nights. During their stay they have " won g01...;ri
opinions from all sorts of peop:e," and will depart
with the best wishes of those who esteem north and
appreciate genius. Our respected manager could
scarcely have struggled through the present crisis of
gloom and influenza, unaided by " his firm allies, the
noble Keens." No other performers could have so
signally triumphed over illness and despondency !
They will shortly re-appear in London, where we
anticipate the same brilliant career fur them in 1848
which attended Mr. Charles Kean's (OE4 at Drury-
lane Theatre in 1838. Having steadily progressed in
his art, he conquered many difficulties and overcame
the prejudices of some who denied the existence of
hereditary genius. At that period he placed himself
at once at the summit of his profession by a brilliant
career of twenty-one representations of Hamlet,
sixteen of Richard, and six of Sir Giles Overreach,
on the same boards, and with almost the seine suc-
cess that hailed his father before him, in the
memorable ►►eason of 1814 ! His triumph as Hamlet
has, indeed, been unprecedented on the stage. In
the words of tt►e Times of that day, it may justly be
regarded as a most graceful and elegant performance.
Such wonderful success must have satisfied the ardent
ambition of the young actor, and rewarded the years
of anxious probation► he had undergone in the pro-
vinces: at the same time, perhaps, it raised the stan-
dard of party feeling, as there was an evident endea-
vour to stem that success, lest it might diminish the
brightness of others. The mere fact of such an ex-
traordinary attraction i►► the first walk of the drama
must convince every unprejudiced mind of the exist-
ence of great talents to achieve such a wished• for end.
His reception in Macbeth, and the result of his per-
formance of that and other characters subsequently
at the Haymarket for a succession of seasons, was
scarcely less distinguished than that of Hamlet. Mr.
Charles Kean possesses one characteristic above
others which enhances his representation of the philo-
sophic Dane—a bearing and mariner which implies the
true born gentleman, and one in the enjoyment of inter-
course with the most polished society. Consequently,
though we admit the merit of many, there is no other
so pleasing ; for in that refinement there is a charm
which attracts all classes, though some may scarcely
know what may be the ingredient so gratifying to
their taste. Mr. Kean's acting should be often seen,
and duly studied, to be fully appreciated, abounding
as it does with so many delicate touches and pencil-
lings. We may occasionally miss those wonderful
flashes of genius which his father shot like electricity
through the hearts of his audience, and rendered the
elder Kean himself alone; but there is, on the other
hand, a finish and completeness that reminds us of
the Kemble school, and at once pronounces Mr.
Charles .Kean a great actor. It has been most grati-
fying to all lovers of the drama to see our venerable
ex-Chancellor, Lord Plunket, surrounded by his
numerous family, so constantly in attendance
on Mr. and Mrs. Kean's Shaksperian repre-
sentations, and to hear his warm expressions of
admiration. It Mr. Charles Kean stands unrivalled
as Hamlet, how perfect is the entire picture when
we hear the sweet tones of Mrs. Kean's warbling the
pathetic snatches cf song in Ophelia! The exquisite
grace and tenderness of this lady are most charming,
and are beautifully illustrated in her performance
of this difficult character—a character which, we
safely aver, we have never before seen represented.
In domestic tragedy and high comedy Mrs. Kean is
without a rival. What heart does not respond to her
sorrows as Mrs. Beverley and Mrs. Haller, or is not
charmed with her playfulness as Rosalind and her
brilliancy as Beatrice ? The introduction of two
such artists in the same play is an intellectual enjoy-
ment granted to us for the present, and one which we
should cherish while yet in our power : for once re-
moved by time or circumstances, we may look in vain
for the repetition of such combined talent.

The performances to-morrow night conclude their
engagement, and will be undar the express command
of Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney, the Com-
mander of the Forces, on which occa,ion the tragedy
of Macbeth will be given, and in addition Planehe s
elegant vaudeville of The Follies of a Night, in which
Mr. and Mrs. Kean appear to so much advantage as
the Duke and Duchess.