Drury-Lane Theatre.
The Times, 1824-05-11T00:00:00

Last night the play of Richard ill. was announced for representa. tion at this theatre; lr. Kean, in the character of the O,,ke of Glouccstrr. The house was pretty well filled by seven o'clock, when, after the overture, a short pause took place, and the audience waited with some impatience for the commencement of the play. For some minutes no symptoms of discontent were mnanifested, but after the lapse of a quarter of an hour, the pit and gaUeries became clamorous, and demanded the manager. The mnutic struck up, to alUow a little longer timeto prepaTe an apology, or to make arrange- ments for commencing the entertainment of the evening. It again stopjped, and still the curtain did not rise. The impatience of the audience now burst forth in an explosion of 0. P. noiseg. At last Mlr. Winston (we believe) appeared for the manager, M r. Elliston, having a letter in his hand, with which he seemned prepared, as a talisman, to appease the tumult. When silence was obtained, he stated that he had to announce at once what the audience would con. sider a disappointment, and probably a means of removing it. Mlr. Kean, who was to bave played Richard, could not attend. He held in his hand a letter, written from Derby, just delivered to him by a messenger, enclosing a medical certificate of his indisposition. fere the tumult vras again renewed;-some exclaimning that tile letter contained a lie-others hissing, and calling out shame ! We could not weil ascertain whether the discontent of the audience was directed against Air. Kean, who was thus away from his post, or against the Maanager, who must have been aware of his absence, or at least who ought to have inquired into the fact, and to have apprized the public of it at an earlier hour. After this an- nouncement of the disappointment, Mr. Winston was proceeding with the second part of his nessage-namely, means of supplying entertainment for the evening-when he was again interrupted. IIaving, hovwever, after some minutes' contest, obtained a hearing, he stated that on tire receipt of Alr. KeaR?s lettcr. he had immte. diately waited on Mr. Mlacready, who had obligingly undertaken to perform the part of Richard. Numbers of voices called for a change of the piece, some demandinz Virgiizius, and some other plays. AY, however. they could come to no agreement on a substitute, if the piece given out for representation was changed, MIr. WVinston left the stage with an understanding that the majority of voices was in favour of Riclhard, and begged a few minutes' indulgence till the new representative of the tyrant should prepare hiimself. Writhin a quarter of eight o'clock the curtain rose, and the play originally given out commencedl. lIr-. Macready, on his first appearing on the stage, was received with great applause. He began by a modest claim on the indulgence ot the audience for any defects which they night discover in his acting, as he was then labouring under indispo- sition, antd nothing but a sense of his duty to the establishment, and his respect to the public, could have induced him to offer himself to their attention, lle trusted that they would consider that he (lid not present himself as a candidate for their approbation but obeyed a call which was made upon him in order tO prevent the theatre trom being shut up for the evening. This anticipated apology, which, from the mode in which Mr. Mlacready performedl his task, was notreaUy required, was exceed- ingly well received. The tragedy tken procceded, and was per- formned with great applause. DRURY-LA2E TIUBArRE.