New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-17
Nv. and Mrs. Charles IKeuu.
Of The N. Y. Tribune.


SIR: Since the first night Of the engagement
Of the Kcsns in this city have waited to see in print
some such opinion of their impersonations enter.
tain and have often heard orally expressed by compe
tent critics Tho critiques Of The TRIBUNE have been
decidedly unfayorabe, but have been politely and
euphcmistcay wordcd that 10 the casual reader they
no doubt appcsfed on the whole rather conlmendatory
Ihave seen great deal OF bal acting in my time
not little Of II here's but must say the Representations
Of the Keans arc abon: the worst retain in my
memory So bad they. Indeed the. il seems to me
they are undeserying ofoTcism. 70 woll attempt
to point out TIE particular deicctso Sehoitsche exc
cued by an elephant, nor tho incompcteness OF the
German accomplished by riotous crew of teInnlent
Hibernians.
Iss,F the Keaus many years ago when was almost
n child and then received theimpresson that Ellen
Tree had unusual merit bat thet her husband had lite
or Seeing them last week arrived at tue con-
cnson that she could have beer IN artist In any
high eense and thot lie Lad utterly mistaken II not lis
voca,ion,'at least his role.
Possibly Mr.. Kean's forte may he low coued!-per'
haps driving Broadway staso-anything indeed Ia
which he hssnot nppearcd-but tragedy certainly Is
not. The truth is he never good actor and never
eg1Ided by babitu6s Of tie thraier lie Inherited
the name without the ability Of Tie Ecansi and marry.
ing Ellen Tree appeared u have become copart9er In
her reputation as well rs her EXISTENCE
The tragic approximations Of the Keaus are farcica
Their "great" Shakesperan representations are ten
times r., dron ns was burtons "Toodlcs" as John
Owens Live Indian" Hcractus would lansh ut
them II they no. pitiahei and Pyrrho would ply
them II they were not SO ludicruus.
Mrs Keal entirely too OLD TO render the parts she
undertakes. She must be sixty, and she looks hnDd
red. Her voice is broken. has completely iailcd and
when she essays pssson she grows ucohcrent and no
surd her tones degencratng into mere cacophony and
squeak Most wonderful is II abe VIII consent TO remain
on the stage for which she long ago lost every quahea
tion.
Everything Is against Mr. Kean as an actor--vcice
figure, manner face. He seems TO have been doome
against Nature and Fato 10 attempt the drama Ills
maunersms are abou nablc his readings grotesqne;
hs attitudes ridiculous much so that 1t s Impossible
10 believe ut times that no is essaying anything more
than burleslue.
These comm snts severe but certainly not unjust
The Keans have great regulations and make great pre-
tensions, and should DO judged by them. They ha''
ed pecuniary and gained much applause. Dn
from persons who had been assured they were ex
celent and had made up their mind to admire them be
foreAnnd Just county people OTTO the circus, ant
deem themselves bound 10 laDga whenever tho clo"
says anything however stupid.
The Keans have fortunately concluded their engage
ment end would not have said ought about them, DC
lev ng 10 needless TO throw stones NJ IetreaiDS Dons
bat the manager OF the Broadway Iheator announce
that they viii be here again next OCTOBER, auu al
sure we 10 not want 10 be re.allcted with thein.
| Ncw.York has n grea. many faults, and has don
many foolish and criminal things; but do not thlnk
has been guilty enough to deserve another such vista
ton. vCheA
| NerD. York. May 9. 1865.