Covent-Garden Theatre.
The Times, 1824-06-18T00:00:00

The tragedy of Ric7hard the TrMrd was performed last night at Covent-garden theatre, for the purpose of introducing a Air. Kent in the character of G6srer.s The very high encomiums which seve- ral provincial papers were bestowing upon Nr. Eent, induced us, once or twice, a few weeks-back, to call pablic attention to lis name; but provincial report is very apt to be mistaken as. to the extent of a performer's ability. In fact, acting--such as will suit even the Lon- don gilleries-has more of the quality of art about it thansomepeo- ple imagine. Those -who have constantly the best models before them, very esily dtect any thing which falls below the level they are accustomed to; and evengenuine natural faculty, unless as- sisted by artificialIacquirement, would scarcely have a chance of success tin the higher walks of the drama) in town. Now, in that spedes of cultivation, which, for instance, Air. Young's acting ex- hibits in a very eminent degree, and whlich ensures a man, ifhe fails to do that which is excellent, from doing that which is ofhensive or ridiculous-in.that kind of cultivation which goes to make in actor (always)safe4 Mlr. Keftis entirely deficienit. He appeared in acha. r.acter (fronmcircurnstances) very arduous. lYe have so many Richard, (ean icond) in the fiel;l, and such a perfect representa. tion of the --part on oar hands from Kean, that the public pulse does not-beat 'ber favourably towards any new competitor. There was.a good. deal of psrty opposition to AIr. Kent from the beginning of the piece; though his friends, by the way, i,ere more troublesome than his opponents..both rmaking a grest noise, and not afrecting the question of his success a jot; butt the reception. either way, apart he has noclaimn toplay such characters as Richard in Londlon. His whole acting is too noisy, irregular, anid pretending; fuU of exaggeration, aind straining after new read- ings and "business," seldom happv, and very frcqaently absurd. The soliloquies were too loud, and too full of efrort. The courthip to LAdy Aine, meant to be new, but not half so good as what is old. xThe scenes at Court, too " robustious," and rant- ing, and swaggering; and the deportment altogethtr without a touch of self-pogsession, much less gracefulness or Roval dignity. There were someoccasional points in M1r. Kent's performance, of rather a better order than this. but sn a whole, it was unsteady, and had the airofbeinguninteDlectual. Thebest hitwas the tent-scene; butthe fight with Richmond sat-heroded Herod. From thc moment that the combatants crossed their swords, the whole house was in an uproar between laughter and atternioted applause. Alr. Abbott came forward when the curtain fell, and said something, which it whs impossible to hear. 3Mr. Kent then appeared at the call of hisfriends, butwrasnotpermittedto&anyanythingatalL Upon thewhule,we must consider MUr. Kent's attempt a failure. { is Richard was a nir.or-houseperformance-not much,better tlan Mr. Bennet's-aboutasgood as Mr. Cobham's-not so good as Lr. Booth's. He possesses some qualificitions for the stage, and might be usetul, perhaps, as a meio-drarne actor; but he has shown no faculties, sofar, which entitle him to rank as a leading tragedian. COVZNT-GARDEN THBATRE.