The New York herald., 1845-10-16
Theatrical.

received with acclamatlOns on all was
the theatre on which he tracked his path to fame, and
permanent and well deserved popularity; and we
that he has deep and grateful recoec
Of that spirit Of kindness hich fostered the early
dawnings of his genius and dramatic powers. This is
Of those characters which his fame as tragic
actor has rested abroad II is Of the most vivid and
powerful of the delineations of Shakespeare There
here the strongest workings Of human passionthe most
stormy conflicts within of the human mind-supersti
tion ambition, weakness guilt and desperation
assail him by turns and il is in portraying these varied
passions by SO elike representation that the
evnced his just and poetcal conception Of the charac
ter. and his extraordinary powers The performance
throughout chase, unique, energetic; and in the
last act the display OF passion truly terrific This
character has been witnessed boards portray ed
with that mastery effect which has characterised the
performance oil some Of the leading actors of the age
Genius has embodied the conceptions Of the pre-
sented bold and vivid picture to the mind OF us all
but has fallen to our lot before to behold the two
great characters of the play sustained at the time
by united talents like those OF Mr. and Mrs Kean Lady
Macbeth has ever been feebly supported and in the
hands Of an inferior actress sunk into comparative nsg
ncance and was altogether subordinate in the action
and interest Of the drama Thus of the most power
iul aids to the actor and mos, powerful female charac
that the pencil of Shakespeare drew, was lost
sight Of in its production. In the hands Of Mrs Kean
Lady Macbeth admirably represented, and excited
an interest the most profound We regard dy Macbeth
not as possessing higher order OF intellect than her hus
band but greater force Of character She has no magna
cold and unimpressve while he is the of
all this She is decided, and firm in pursuing her great
object while he is irresolute and falters the way.
she has soul that is little allied with sensibity and
touch Of py-remorse does not assa her nature
and she svncss through the whole play but one touch
Of deep feelingHad he not resembled my father he
slept had done i"and this was beautifully given by
Mrs Kean. have said she wanted the powers Of ina
OF the brain start to life before hershe mo air
drawn daggersshe hears sound in that fearful hour
the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures'-
She no ghost which Macbeth's prolific brain con-
jures up before himher nature is codher will is OBJ
durateshe is absorbed in dominant passion One OF
the most prominent beauties Of Mr. Keans acting was the
of abstraction which marked his Macbeth in the acts
of the play subsequent the first interview with the
witches II pervaded every look and action. Ambition
had taken hold OF his nature superstition had lent its
mighty agency, those high and mysterious predictions
had sounded in his ear and in view the object OF his
proud destiny persons and things around him passed by
UNDECIDED aud uncared for-this was most effectively
done the tenderness to his wife. never lost sight
Of amid all the dark conflicts of his SOUL and that to the
murdered Duncan he here showed that Macbeth was
fcted by his own hand he evinced the deepest sympa
hyit was the act OF stern necessity in pursuit OF the
aim of his high ambition He-showed deep tenderness as
he thought Of the worthy aud noble king the friend and
benefactor he had slain these strong touches of
nature and in harmony with the character and given
meets the wishes he becomes spel-bound-he
throw off the inauence-they sway his destiny-his
sclfpossesson and his courage for the moment leaves
him.
"Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear
Things that do seem so fair"
The will Of Macbeth subdued their purposes and he
gives with great f"rce that passage
"why do yield to that suggestion
Whose horrd image doth unix my hair, nc.
And then the thought of irresolu.e and nfrm mind
under strong temptation
"fchance will have me king why chance may crown me-
Without my stir"
The conflict of his mind here finely portrayed and
in appealing to his wife he felt that he had need of will
stronger than his TO carry out the prophecywhat
was Lady Macbeths decision and energy was at once
shown The dread purpose Of his soul in these words
"The Raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal
trance of Duncan under my bat,lements'-and III inr
erful passage that follows was given with treme
effect. Come you spirits" sc. There was SON .es
truly appalling in the rapidy with which her 'ssoAe
was communicated to her husband "oh new so4.i
resoute. She is all energy and il s her iron " Ii it
moulds him to her purpose Her urging him to IL ~
the whole of the second act Nothing could be
powerful than the scenes just before and alter he
murder The dagger scene OF kean-that passage One
cried God bless us :" and this"Ihere's one did laugh
in his Sleep and cried murther,n &c.-were given
with great force Throughout these scenes nothing
could exceed the fine acting Of Mrs. kcan We have
only time to say that the banquet scene, raught with
horrors Of great power the abstraction the ter
"a sD S
were given by Kean with effect truly appalling La
dy Macbeths sleeping scene was wonderfully elective
those tones unearthly and full ofwoe, still ring in
eaisand the sigh fearful indeed was the recital
of that passage, Out, damned spot" II was Of Mrs
Keans nobest efforts in the drama We have only to
speak of the last act which Macbeth is reused to fury
Each support which he had eant by one Is torn
from him. the supernatural aids vanish-he is opposed by
host of advancing rebeshs own forces desert him
he has become the hatred and the OF men, and
and guilt goad him to madness-'tis here that
Kean rises with the scene and gives to IL terrific ener
gy. His soldier like daringhis violent impetuosy
the receipt Of bad news-hs fury in the hght-hs wild
desperation and his bloody death arc all exhibitions Of
wrought stirring scenes, the transition to contempla
tive melancholy was very touching and affective and
those passages Seyton am sick at heart" and To-
morrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow :" &c,
given with pathos and beauty that could not be sur
passed.
The play Of Hamlet was performed last night. OF the
beautiful conception and execution Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Kean, we have, in former article, spoken at lengths
and tho crowded state of columns prevents say
iag than that ii was given the keans do all OF
Shakspeares charactersthat is, with perfect truthful
ness Tonight we have the " Merchant OF Venice"
BowEny THrArRr.-Ths elegant and popular esta.
blishment crowded to overnowing last night with
highly fashionable and intelligent audience The grand
relo dramatic spectacle of "PutnaT the Iron Son Of
TO-" was presented and brought down thunders Of sp
plause. This National Drama which was successful
in the pamy days of the old Bowery, is produced
with increased splendor and magnifcence. The new
scenery is indeed most beautiful and exceedingly appro.
pratcwhile the acting is of very superior character
The plot abounds with wild and romantic incident
"har breadth scapes" patriotic sentiment and fearful
and novel situations j. II Scots deneaton Of the In.
dian Chief would alone rank him among the first melo-
ine age MllnOr as the brave
and heroic Putnam acquitted himself with credit indeed
the whole company merit great praise The celebrated
drama of the "Mountain Drover' followed Putnam
in which Messrs. Cony and Blanchard and their wonder
fu dog Hector" appeared. The performance of these
great pantominsts and this extraordinary animal
be in order to be appreciated The evenings enter
tainment concluded with the Scotch drama Of oval
lace" in which j. r. Scott appeared as the hero. To-
night putnam is repeated, with other entertainments
another crowded house may therefore be expected
NIBLo's G.RDrs.Las evening the sterling comedy Z
London Assurance" was again presented to over.
flowing house, for the benefit Of Mr. H. Placide. OF Mr.
Pacdes Sir Harcourt it is unnecessary to speak, and
Mrs. Crisps Lady Gay was as lively and full Of soul
the first night. Mr. Crisp played Dazzle, and John
Seton Dolly spanker The evening closed with the
aughable farce Of the Double Bedded ROOM in which
Mr. Placide played Dulcmer Pipes Tonight we have
London Assurance" again, and the farce of Perfec-
tom
THr SWISS BELL RINGERS CONCERTS have been at
tended each night immense audiences and their per