The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-04 00:00:00

10,205
1,575

4;67
20,432

with great applause, and achieving an abundance o
bouquets. The house was crammed to overflowing,
every ay.lilable seat having been secured a fortnight ago.
(From th Advertiser.)
Yesterday evening Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean took
their benefit at this theatre. The entertainments were
rendered doubly attractive and interesting from the fact
of her Majesty the Queen honouring the house with her
august presence, doubtless a mark of esteem paid by her
to the genius and talent of the gifted benefiviares. The
pieces selected for the occasion were Money and The
Wonder, than which, perhaps, two better pieces, and
more adapted to the resources of the theatre, could not
have been chosen from the ample catalogue of our dra-
matic compositions. Mr. and Mrs. Kean in the first
piece sustained the respective characters of Evelyn and
Clara Douglas, the two leading personages of the co-
medy, and which were impersonated with every
success. Mr. Kean's Evelyn was natural, and appeared
fully to carry out the conception of the author. In
the portions of the play where the stronger emotions
of the man were called into operation, ho was admirably
impressive, more especially was this observable
in the scene with Clara, at the commencement, when
the gentleman and the scholar is refused oa ac-
count of poverty. The intimation of his sudden
wealthiness was received in a becoming manner, not
breaking forth in boisterous ranting., but mild, calm,
and feeling. The assumed adversity, toe, at the latter
end of the play was excellently evinced; it was really
the rich man trying by an expedient the truth and sin-
cerity of those who professed so much regard, that they
were ready and eager to perform any office for him. The
taunts and gibes addressed to those tongue-flatterers
were delivered with a bitterness of accent, which. added
to their weight and severity, while the manly sentiments
which pervade the part were uttered with heart and soul.
Mrs. Kean as the gentle, loving, suffering, and kind
Clara was, as she invariably is with every character she
undertakes, eminently successful, her portrayal of deep
emotion, grief, and love are unparalleled for softness,
tenderness, and natural grace; all these and more she
displayed last night in her • embodiment of Clara
Douglas. The other characters in' the comedy were
cleverly sustained. Mr. Webster appeared in his ori-
ginal part, that of Graves—his representation of the
honest-hearted and pathetic widower was extremely
unctions. Keeley's Benjamin Stout was as funny as he
can make a part when he likes. Mrs. Glover as Lady
Franklyn was excellent. Wigan's Dudley Smooth was
also good. Her Majesty arrived at the commencement
of the second act, land on appearing in the box which
had been prepared for her, she was greeted by most
warm and enthusiastic plaudits from the audience, who,
regardless of the play, cheered en masse. Her Majesty
appeared in excellent health and spirits, and was en-
v much pleased with the performances. She was
accompanied by ner num L.
pleased auu a unui....uLb..
At the conclusion of the play, Mr. and Mrs. Kean had
to reappear, and received the loud congratulations of
their delighted patrons, who expressed their satisfaction
by showering on to the stage numerous bouquets of beau-
tiful flowers. 7'ke Wonder was admirably given. Mrs.
Kean was the Violante—a character that she assumed
with infinite grace; and Mr. Kean, the Don Felix, in
which he displayed finished acting. Webster's Lizardo,
and Mrs. Ilumby's Flera, deserves a passing tribute of
praise. The house was crowded in all parts, and every
particle of room from which a view of her Majesty could
be obtained was occupied long before the commence-
ment of the first piece. The performances were attended
with the utmost success.