The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-18 00:00:00

led forward by her loving "Page,' Miss Reynolds,
in obedience to the flattering applause combined with
her name. Mr. Webster then stated that he con-
sidered that he was justified in announcing the play
for repetition every night during Mr. and Mrs. Kean's
engagement., The theatre was crowdedly attended.

(From the Post.)
After an absence of five years, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean made their re-appearance last night.
During their absence in the United States of Ame-
rica, they have not only gathered new laurels, but,
if report be sooth, have discovered a new El Dorado.
We need scarcely add that their welcome was genial
and enthusiastic; and if we may judge by the effect
produced by their efforts on this occasion, they have
not moulted a single feather of their deserved popu-
larity. Mrs. Charles Kean possesses still the same
musical voice, each tone of which is exquisitely mo-
dulated to the passing emotion. There is still the
same delicately feminine character—the true woman-
hood—the gentle, the passionate, the persuasive, the
suffering. Never for a moment is the woman for-
gotten in the heroine. There are still the same
poetical appreciation—the same mentality—the same
speaking features. If any change is perceptible, it
is, perhaps, in an increased fulness of figure, and a
greater appearance of health, but not such as to de-
tract from the symmetrical outline, or lessen the in-
tellectual expression.
Mr. Charles Kean has increased in vigour, and his
style has gained breadth and consistency. His decla-
mation is more even, and his enunciation of poetical
passages more continuous. In the more passionate
phases of the drama he has been ever fervid—nay,
even powerful ; but he failed to convey with equal
success the minuter delicacies of character. In the
performance of last night a decided improvement is
manifest, the several developments of the scene were
signalised, not only by a natural earnestness, but by
careful study and artistic feeling.
The author of the new play, Mr. Lovell, has pro-
duced a capital drama in five acts ; the construction
is good, the incidents cleverly involved, and much of
the writing is distinguished by poetical excellence
and dramatic skill. As will be seen in our attempt
to convey the plot, the " heart of the mystery" is dis-
closed in the earlier portion; but this prevents a
single doubt to rest on the innocence of the wife, and
affords full opportunity to the author to• exhibit the
cunning of the playwright's art.
The period selected is that of the Protectorate, and
the ruling incident results from the dispersion of the
few devoted Loyalists who sought, at Salisbury, by a
last effort, to restore the monarchy. This deed of
chivalry was headed by Lord Arden ; the few honest
fellows in the west who aided him were ultimately
taken prisoners and lost their heads ; but Lord Arden
escaped, and fled for shelter into Dorsetshire. A more
stirring scene of action—one more rife with moving
accidents by flood and field—or richer in dramatic
means, could not have been selected; Then were family
affections severed, domestic ties wrenched asunder,
suspicion was abroad, scoundrelism assumed the
vizard of an ultra piety, and all the elements of society
and legitimate rule were shaken to their bases. The
cropped-eared Roundheads scrambled for the posts of
trust and profit, and old Noll assumed the royal
state.

(After developing the plot of the play at consider-
able length, th• critic thus concludes :—)
The character of dabes Sneed was capitally acted
by Mr. Webster, and may be deemed one of his most
finished embodiments. The temptation to caricature
the shuffling gait and the nasal snuffling of the old
Covenanters was avoided, while the fell purpose and
demoniacal ruthlessness of the part were delineated
with fearful vividness.

Mr. Howe's Lord Arden was dashing and earnest,
Mrs. Keeley's Maud quaint and clever, and the Page
of Miss Reynolds arch and piquant.
The dresses were admirable, and the scenery ap-
propriate and picturesque.
The attack of influenza under which Mrs. Charles
Kean has been suffering was slightly apparent in
her more passionate scenes, but, despite this, she
achieved a veritable triumph.

Very many of the passages we have quoted elicited
great applause, and at the end of the play Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Kean were called before the curtain
amidst cheers and the waving of hats and handker-
chiefs. A similar compliment was paid to Mrs.
Keeley, Miss Reynolds, and Mr. Webster.
In answer to the summons of the house, Mr. Lo-
vell, the author of the play, bowed his acknowledg-
ments from a private box.l