Star.
London, England, 1825-01-29 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE►

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Last night, Mr. KEAN made his second appearance,
iniihg his present engagement, in the character of
Othello, in the personation of which he is so pre-emi-
nent. The house was not nearly...so crowded anon Mon-
day night. The pit and galleries, indeed, filled at once,
but the boxes admitted of sitting roam even after the
ball-price, both in the second tier and in the slips. But
though the audience was less in number, there was no
falling off in the exertions of either party. 'The oppo-
nents of Mr. KEAN, if not so numerous as before, were
quite as systematic and persevering, and his supporters,
whO were again the majority, and an increased majo-
rity, met system with system, and perseverance with
perseverance.. It need scarcely be stated, that the con-
seprence was a perpetual din of all sorts of noises, from
thEleginning to the end of the play, from the shrill
cat-call, through all the variations of hissing, clapping,
shouting, and bawling, down to the deep and sono-

roes groan.
We have never been such ardent admirers of Mr.
tuns as some who now seem implacable in their en-
.

miry towards him; and we admit that his outrage on
public morals deserves to be marked with reprehension ;
but this has been done, and that too in a manner which
he c4n never forget ; but we will not join in that cla-
mour which appears to have for its object to drive him
from the stage. In order to do this no artifice seems to
be spared ; his letters are brought as charges against
him, although it is known that he did not cause them
to be ; and the obscurity of his origin, his
early difficulties in life when a "poor player," all these
are brotriilit as charges against him ; he is charged with
having brought a club, of which he was once a mem-
ber, to support him, although it is well known that the
club has been dissolved some years, and we doubt that
a doze', of its members could be collected together.
Another charge agaii.st Mr. KEAN was, that all his
tailor's workmen had free admissions; this is most dis-
tinctly denied by the master himself, who states that not
one of his workmen was at the theatre that evening,
exce. t the lineman, who went of his own authority,
and paid for his admission.
Much stress has been laid on the character of the per-
sons who support Mr. KEAN, and their dress, &c. now,
really, in an age when men owe so much to their tailor,
it i, not so easy to detect the rank or character of an
-individual by the cut or colour of his coat; and so far
as our ob,ervation goes, there was very little difference,
if any. in the apparent respectability of the friends and
foes of Mr. KEA N ; the former were certainly ardent
enough; and some idea may be formed of the dispo-
sition of the hailer, from the circumstance that even the
presence of females on the stage did not protect them
from unmanly insult. As to KEAN, no epithet was
Apai ed him ; and last night, in the scene in the third act,
when Cassio and others draw their swords, a map in the
first tittle called out, 64 Kill KaAN, run him through"
—charit.ibU expressions truly.
Long before the curtain was raised, placards were
exhillited from various parts of the House, which drew
forth applause or execration, according to their.tenour.
The first w e noticed was from the two-shilling gallery,
with the words 44 Elliston explain," which drew forth
unanimous peals of applause. The next was from the
same pi,ice, and was inset ibed with the words 46 Kean
for ever !" on the exhininon of which the applause was
immense, w ith a very moderate accompaniment of
hisses. This occasional display of feeling continued
until the curtain lose, when the House assumed the
same aspect as on Monday night, with this only dif-
ferelice, the dis4probation was considerably decreased.
—Shortly after the first scene commenced, Mr. ELLIS-
TON came forward, to check, if possible, the confusion
which might otherwise be likely to last through the
whole performance, and endeavoured to address the
audience, but in vain—although his reception was
flattering, yet he could not obtain a hearing—and
having remained nearly ten minates, apparently im-
ploring to be heard, he was compelled to retire, followed
by shouts of approbation from all parts of the House.
—The performance then proceeded, but it was all dumb
sh new.—(Cries o; Kean and no Kea ; and ,yr Wallach,
and go on Wallick, issuing front every quarter of the Pit
and Gallery.) Mr. WALLACK at last Game forward, and
very politely told them, (as far as we could judge by
his gestures) that he would go, if they so wished it. This
was, however, contradicted by a shout of applause, and
be proceeded in his part. The last scene all through
equalled any portion of • Monday night's storm, for
noise, riot, and contusion, and yet Mr. KZAW went
through his task totally unmoved, save by the excita-
tions which the character he sustained gave rise to.
When the curtain fell, the calls for the Manager be-
came pretty general, but were not obeyed until the Pan-
tomime had commenced, and then, as it appeared to us,
Mr. ELLISTON came forward more from a voluntary
eageniess to enter on explanation than from the persever-
ance of the audience, which had considerably weakened.
Ile addressed the House as follsows:
a LIMAS AND GCNTLIKAN—Yes honour me by your silence. I
intreat you to attend to me for a few moments; and if any word fall
from me which may appear improper, I trust you will attribute it
• to the agitation under which I labour-(Plaudits).—l stand before
you as the servant of the Public; I come lemma as a peace-
maker' and I hope what I shall say will not lower Mr. Kean or
myself in your estimation. The engagement which Mr. Kean is
new endeavouring to fulfil was made in July last. At that time it
was not expected that the question which now agitates the public
mind would bare undergone any discussion. The engagement was
for a period of twenty nights, at £5O a night, to commence on the
16th of January, and esti on the 16th of March—(Here there was
some disapprobation). The present moment is one of too much in-
terest to me to suffer me to quibble or to go nigh a falsehood. I
give you my word as a man—as the manager of this Theatre and,
as I treat you halm always found me, as an honourable Gentleman
—(loud laughter)—that I have stated nothing but the truth. I
coati not break this engagement-..(' And why not cried a pence
from a box in the dress ciple).—Why not ? Because Mr. Kean
was advertised to appear before you. Could I, Ladies and Gen-
tlemen, withdraw Mr. Kean's name under these circumstances?...
(Mingled applause and disapprobation.) If I had done so, I
should have made a party against Mr. Kean, arid that I never rill
do. I wrote to Mr. Kean's solicitor and to his friends, and I learned
from them that the cause would not be tried. I also wrote to Mr.
Kean,during his progress through the provincial towns, to know
whether he could fulfil his engagement ? and he answered that he
I can assure you, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the best
teelingt have always subsisted between Mr. KeaiS and myself. I
Lave Assisted him, and he has assisted me. So anxioss was I that
he should enjoy the fall tide of popularity whirk your patronage has
procured him, that I have had a play written for the sole purpose of
displaying his peculiar talents—( Applause). Otte word more, and Ihave done. I can assure you, Ladies and Gentlemen, that I have
not endeavoured, directly or indirectly, by any influence or power
Imay possess, to procure your judgment in favour of Mr. Ken's.
I have literally suspended the free list—the public press excepted;
and I defy any man to say that I have introduced persons into the
house for the impose of influencing your decision—(Applause).-..
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Kean is in the house, and if you will
have the condescension to hear him, I hope everything ray yet be
amicably arranged."
Mr. ELLisToN then 'retired, and after an interval
01 nearly a quarter of an hour, during.which the
audience Manifested mach impatience, he returned,
leading Mr. KLAN by the band. The uproar was now