The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-05 00:00:00

THE CITY OF LONDON THEATRE.

This theatre can now boast of having secured
the services of one of the best actor in Europe. He
appears at the above theatre shortly after Easter
in a round of his favourite characters, in which he
will be well supported by the admirable stock com-
pany. "We extract the following from the Dublin
Gazette:—

" Queen's Royal Theatre.—During the past few weeks
ihe lessee of this theatre has well sustained his reputation
for ability and judgment. At a season when playgoers re-
form,'and the public cease to divert themselves with farce
and drama, he has succeeded in collecting houses' suffi-
ciently large as •to prove remunerative to himself and his
company. This success is, of course, attributable to the care
which Mr. Webb has taken to gratify the popular taste.
The engagements which have terminated during the period
have been more than usually successful. It is a strange
fact that, unlike most favourite actors, Mr. T. C. King ap-
pears to have a life interest in the respect and good will of
those who have once seen his acting. This is a result which
cannot be obtained by those ' stars' which flash brightly
caouv,h for a while and then disappear in somewhat igno-
minious fashion, but must be obtained by that intrinsic
merit and genuine ability which alone can raise an artiste
to a high place in his profession. During the long period
of years which Mr. King has almost entirely spent on the
Dublin stage, those who frequent the theatre have been
brought by degrees to appreciate his talents ; but their
familiarity with his style of acting, his manner and his ap-
pearance, has in ne instance weakened his popularity. No
member of his profession has appeared in a greater diversity
of character; and yet this very fact, which would seem to
be an obstacle in the way of careful study, has not retarded
his success. His splendid appearance on the stage, his mag-
nificent voice and graceful manner, are natural gifts which
few are so largely endowed with ; but to these qualifications
he adds those which can be acquired by the exercise of ca
and judgment, and are only improved by experience. Whilef
he undertakes a great number of characters, there are o
course a few in which he specially distinguishes himself, and
which seem best suited to his abilities. In the long list
of
Shaksperian dramas the tragedy of " Othello" is perhapsdthe
that in which he is seen to the best advantage;i,bsoea:diniesd o
resemble closely the ideal which
gallant but unfortunate Moor, as he depicts m
dramatist
embodied
h racter pre-eminently difficu t, it will be
representsn
him, is one
tthheathtehrios ofh his play.
a But perhaps "Richelieu". is the part
ialwhowichledhgeeids mthoastt pleasing;to achieve andea;
fheraeoan. it
in it iis remembered
.no. mean
famous Cardinal, as Bu
tturiaotte,dabnyd
paluwreayasndParlofttiy.
nature is
so made up of proof of talent. The diffiiwceurltLyyatrtioso m the fact that the
hose intellectual and moral
wcon-
tradiction, as to render his conduct puzzling and mysterious.
motives—aBcPhistical' statesman not very piasrteihouelaerf atshteo
bestthe agents
pact'
he employed, but setting all these agencies in motion for
He is craftyabnudtyhetoninoruthaebmle,ai!au
a worthy purpose. Mr. King
sentatives of this extraordinary personage, and it is there-
fore evident that he must possess more than ordinary
oppi.eciation of those nice points in which the author
of the play brings the true feature of his hero into distinct
light. But his ' acting also exhibits a vigorous grasp of
thought and much originality of conception. In the Virgi-
nius of Sheridan Knowles and the Gisippus of Gerald Griffin
he has displayed these qualities of mind to the best advan-
tage. These are only a few of the dramas in which he has
lately appeared. Mr. King's engagements has just termi-
nated owing to his acceptance of a lucrative London engage-
ment. Mr. Webb has re-engaged his brother for a few
nights, and " The Courier of Lyons," a cleverly-written
melodrama, is performed every evening. Miss Annie Parker
and Mrs. Webb both appear nightly, and receive the ap-
plause which they so well merit. The other actors of the
_
company, including Mr. Ellerton, who is rapidly
increasing
in popularity, and Mr. Vivash, of whom much may be said
in the way of praise, sustained their parts during the week
• most creditably eind efficiently.. s.