The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-28

diving the character-the voluptuous effeminate but
noble and godlike Sardanapalus, terrible in the
field as Achilles and lovely as Venus Sardanapalus,
crowned with roses seated amidst his beautiful con-
cnbines, spinning q silken veil for his favorte
Myrrha-the delicate the refined Assyrian Apollo.
ut was such being that Mr.. Kean observes, some
what curiously in the puff fysheet of his play bil
che wished to render visible to the naked eye.r It
can hardly be added that Mr.. Kean was not to blame
for any deficiency in the realization. He did all that
art could do; but nature had been untried, and in
the figure which exhibited to the Assyrian
potentate, we associate more of Pan than Apollo;
and certain sly analogy to the mock duke in the "Ho
neymoon' was whispered in our unruly imagination.
Mrs. Kean, who played the graceful Myrrha at
Drury lane, when this play was produced in 1884,
again appeared in the character of the Greek slave
We liked her better twenty years ago; but she wore
the Argive robes with taste, and her classic poses
were picturesque, finely detached, and well calcu-
lated. The grouping was somewhat formal and
stiff, with the avOwed purpose Of preserving the
character of the ancient bas reies, from which the
professions and pastures were copied, and as an
archaeological exhibition, the whole affair is deserv
ing of the most unbounded praise But again and
again we dissent from this prostitution Of the stage
We have museums for the display OF ancient curiosi
ties; we have Madame Tussands gallery, where
rich costume is displayed as life-like figures, and
where Aspin, the celebrated theatrical perruquier
might sport his wigs; we have dioramas Of Babylon
and Nineveh and IL a com bination Of the three be
desirable, let special exhibition be invented with
this object. But we loudly deprecate turning the
dramatic poet into Snowman, and the actor into
taiors block. What should we think of Longman
the publisher issuing an edition of Byrons poems in
hieroglyphcs and the advertisement Of his intention
to do so appearing in the Times in a cuneiform in
scription2 Costume In an admirable thing, of which
there may be too much particularly a. ballet gr..
There are only three in the five acts of Sar-
danapalus firstly, the city of Nineveh, and the
river Tigris substituted for the Euphrates in &C
cordance with modern discoveries. The sharp and
angular buildings of ancient Nneseh are seen across
the transparent river; lofty structures, with quaint
ornaments, start up with rigid eccentricity.
Secondly, the Hall OF Nmrod, which ia one
of the most effective set scenes ever witnessed.
The hall being made to run obliquoiy, conceals
the further end, and gives an appearance Of
unlimited extent, and the winged quadrupeds, gi-
pantic in the foreground and decreasing in the dis
lance, have neat, extraordinary and quaint effect.
Thirdly the stage represents chamber in the pa
lace ia which two gigantic lions with human heads,
are the prominent features. The connagmtion oc-
CURED in this scene and the whole set crumbIes away
into view Of Nineveh In blaze This burning Is
very well managed, and quite after an original fash
ion; indeed SardaDapalus winds up with spectacu
lar catastrophe Of unsurpassed grandeur.
The overture, interact and ballet music, by Mr..
! IIatton, Ia the theme OF universal admiration
Mr.. and Mrs. Kean. les benefciaries, wcra SUMMON.
! "a and most heartily too 70 receive the ra11ts of
deasey packed and fashionable audience