The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-08-21

THrATxicALs. The arrival Of Mr. Charles Kean,
and his excellent lady--the return Of Mr. Hackett
from Engand-the opening of the Park Theatre,
and the approach Of cool days and nights, begin TO
turn the attention Of large portion of society to
theatrical affairs, and lead the mind to inquire In
to the position Of the drama in this country, and the
prospects of the highest range OF the art during the
approaching season.
In England, there is great lamenatIon made
over the drama. Its condition is very apparent IN
all its departments, and although here and there
some slight popularity may be created by particular
artists, still the great characteristic OF the art In thai
country, is inactivity and decay. During the last
wear. various attempts were made In England to
revive and restore the drama, with some degree OF
its palmy and spicy condition. Mr.. Forrest, with
all his talent and all his friends, was unable to do
much but he was not greater failure as an Amer-
can actor in foreign country, than Macready him
self was Mr.. Forrest played TO poor houses in
London and to worse houses in the country the
aires BY the aid of number of private letters of in
reduction to Dublin, he was enabled to get up a TO-
Ierably good benefit, but even his benefit was
not at all TO be compared to the houses which
other actors had about the same time. Miss Cush-
man has been remarkably successful in England,
so far as popularity and reputation concerned
We understand, however, that her affairs have been
badly managed, and her advisers have not been of
the best sort. We know, indeed, that she has re-
mitted $1,000 to her friends in Philadelphia. and
that she is only in the beginning of her career in
England, it she do not mar it by attempting too
much, endeavorng to show of her versatility, in
stead of combining herself to the highest ranks of
the drama, and thus preserving her dignity. Mr..
Hackett was as successful as any other from this
side of the water. But still the drama, as great
institution of civilization, is its second infancy
and decay and none OF the actors or actresses of
the present day seem to possess the power of rev-
wing it, or of calling forth the educated and intel
gent classes, as in former times. Musc-opera-
the ballet, have carried away the senses of the age
Such is the condition of the drama in England
What is il here :! We believe that in this country
we are in better condition to enjoy the highest ex
hibitions of dramatic skill, and to pay literally for
them, than any other people in the world We have
reached that point Of civilization in which the high
est dramatic artists receive the greatest amount of
reputation, praise and money, all at the same time
and before we have reached that state of decay when
the legitimate drama is cast aside for music, panto-
mime and shows Mr.. Kean andh his lady, and the
other talented persons who accompany them to this
country have we believe, hit upon the most happytme
that they could possibly have selected to come here
and to exhibit their art with the best hope of reaping
a liberal and rich harvest. On former occasion,
several years ago, during the extreme commercial
revulsion, Mr. Kean, then quite young man, less
skilled than he now is, made tour through this
country, which was not profitable, although highly
reputable Since then, he has gained in reputation
in skill and every thing constituting artist of the
highest character His wife, better known to us as
the amiable Ellen Tree, always considered by the
best critics as OF the most chaste and finished
actresses of the present age, cannot exhibit greater
skill or higher order Of genius than she did on the
occasion of her former visit, but we have no doubt,
from the present prosperity Of the country-from the
public taste-from the increase of our great and po-
pulous cities, that both she and her husband will
reap one of the richest harvests that any artists ever
did in this land. Their appearance on shoreshas
already created considerable stir amongst the the
atre going people, and we have no doubt that the
anxiety witness their first represe nations will not
only crafty but startle them.
1t is fortunate thing, indeed, for the Park Thea
tire that its management has secured such artists as
Mr.. and Mrs. Kean, andlhe others whose names are
announced forthe season just commenced. And we
promise ourselves and the public, at least one season
in which the highest range of the legitimate drama
will be properly patronized, not only in this city, but
throughout the country