The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-01 00:00:00

J

DRURY LANE THEATRE

We had the pleasure of again witnessing Mr. Charles
Sean's performance of Richard lIL, at this theatre last
e% ening, a,a,l Ce-,t-Lainly, in the prese:lt day, the stage
does not possess his equal. His cone-ptiou of tied cha-
racter islperfect. Richard is a fated being, and towards
the close of his career he becomes more than ever sensi-
ble that destiny is more powerful than he; but, unlike
Macbeth who is weighed down to the earth by the
weight of his destiny, and loses all decision of character
or firmness of purpose, Richard wrestles boldly with
his fate to the last, strives to be the master of circum-
stances instead of their slave, and thus, although feared
and hated, is respected for his indomitable courage even
by his enemies. Mr. Charles Kean, it is evident, thus
conceives the character of Richard, and his delineation
of it ismasterly. Admirably did he act the scene with
the young Princes. The sense of his deformity hung
upon him like an incubus, it was evident that he was
agonised by the sneers of his little nephew Richard of
York, and most truthfully did he delineate by tone, by
gesture, and by look, the morbid sensitiveness of one
touched to the quick;yet striving to hide the wound which
is rankling in his heart's core. As he proceeds he warms
in the part. His destiny, at first darkly shadowed forth,
becomes more horribly destinct to his mental vision
after he has attained the throne. He remembers Henry
the Sixth's prophecies, and feels that his star is fated
to succumb to that of Richmond; but, unlike Macbeth, he
gives not way to despair, waits not to be baited in his den,
he is up and stirring; and although for an instant Richard
may give way to misgivings, he is speedily himself againt
Nothing could be finer than Charles Kean's manner of
giving the tent scene. It was perfect—equal to his
father's, and that is the highest praise that can be
bestowed upon any actor, for the world never saw
Edmund Kean's superior. His dying scene was also
magnificently given. It was full of genius throughout.
After he has been twice thrust through by Richmond,
he still rushes on to the fight ; he raises his sword to
cut his adversary down—the weight of the sword is
too great for his palsied arm—it drags the arm back,
but still he retains his grasp. Never was the struggle
between mental energy and physical weakness more
beautifully exemplified.. He concentrates his" whole re-
maining force—the arm obeys the mind—the sword is
again his servant—he aims ..a blow at his - adversary,
and, exhaustedhy the effort, falls dead. He was ad-
mirably supported by Hudson, as Richmond. Mr.
Hudson is incomparably the best Richmond that we
ever remember to have seen. His elocution was beau=
tiful—his action graceful—and there was a soldier-like
freedom, a gallant bearing in his manner that spoke of one
whose lire had been passed in courts and camps, a
brave and open-hearted soldier, the soul of honour and
of courtesy, a chevalier sans pear, sans reproche. No ex-
pense has been spared in putting the play upon the
stage ; the costumes are gorgeous, yet most critically
correct the arms are those of the period ; and, look-
ing at the groups of billmen and archers, the banners
and standards, the nobles and the retainers, we can al-
most fancy we see the.figures in some richly-illuminated
old manuscript, Walking from off the vellum, and strut-
ting and fretting their hour upon the stage. The
marching of Richmond's troops across the bridge,
and their subsequent deploying, was managed with
• great military skill, and the battle of Bosworth Field
.Was admirably delineated. The appearance of the field
after the fight, covered with the dying and the dead,
With fragments of armour, and broken blades, was pic-
turesque in the extreme, and conveyed a more correct
idea of what we imagine a battle-field must be " when
the fight is o'er " than anything we have ever seen.
The house, as might be expected, was crowded to excess
,in every part. Not only has Mr.•Bunn commanded
success • during his present theatrical campaign, but he
las done more—he has richly deserved it.