The Sun. — 1814-03-22 (London, England)

THE THEATRE.  We have reason to congratulate the Public on the competition which has been excited by the introduction of Mr. KEAN on the Loadon boards, as it has awakened 'a spirit of emuiatiou which prothises, and has indeed produced, iot increase of excellence in the higher Members of the theatrid'al profesSion. This effect was observable last. week in Mr.-YouNG's appearance in Ric-hard, at Covent-Garden Theatre, and last night in his assumption of Hamlet. To the merit of ••his Richard-we have already borne a very favourable • testimony; and we are fully win-ran:ed. in speaking still wore favourably of his Hamlet, • bemuse • it_demands higher and. more varied quai•ties.than are necessary for the other character, difficult as. it is to sustain it with appropriate abili•y. Withoat enteringsinto comparisons, we may fairly say, that the Hamlet of last night was one of the most masterly exhibitions of the modern stage. It was "• Well digested!' throughout, and in. deportment was various, dignified, and impressive.. —Perhaps ,we might offer some reasonable objec7 tions to particular passages, but we shall not stoop to so invidious a task. We feel more pleasure in recording the beauties, and they were observable in Hdinlet's conduct' during the first appearance of the Ghost in the subsequent scene, where the spirit reveals the cause of his deatte, in the melancholy which' pervaded the character, arising .f.rom the murder of his father, the degradation of his mother, and the elevation of his atrocious uncle. All these passages received a due colouring; and were finished with admirable precision. The scene with Ophelie was a masterly proof of address, for, while he gave into that vehemence which was necessary to your the suspicion of his madness, it was blended. with occasional touches of tenderness, that indicated his attachment to her, and the reluctance with which he rendered her subservient to his purpose. The soliloquies were given with dignified-energy ;'butperhaps in the closet scene Mr. YOUNG chiefly distinguished ,himself. Here he. " spoke daggers ;" but amidst all the merited censure which Gertrude deserved, he maintained the tenderness and duty, of a son. He was particularly excellent in this scene on, the re-appearance ' of the Ghost, and in his awe-strAck and persevering attention till its departure. The whole was most warmly and justly applauded by a very numerous audience. We oughE.,. •also to notice his, merit in the scene of the muckdrama, in -which he agreeably varied playfulness with .ophelia, with .a rigorous attention to the, operations of that drama on die guilty conscience of the King. Sit is with much pleasure, also, that we have to mention the • excellence of another Performer in this fine- -aan interesting drama Miss STEP HENS made her first appearance in.Oplrelie, and gave as just and as affecting a representation of the character as we ever attended. In the dialogue she was critically correct, and there was. a gentleness, a simplicity, and a pathos, in her whole performance, that entitled he to almola as much credit as an Actress as' she has deservedly obtained as a Singer. The original melodies were given in thetruest style of affecting simplicity; and here we wish to have-;‘topped, but we cannot forbear • from joining with many of the audience, and. some of our contemporaries, in condemning the introduction of the old song of Mad Bess.. It is indeed ,a masterly composition of one of our old and best musicians, but it is of a character totally different from the wild melodies' which tradition has air. nexed to the madness of Ophe/iq ;' and it is, besides, a roost improper interpolation of one of the ,finest productions" of the greatest ,dramatic Bard that ever existed. Much as we admire the composition, and the pathetic manner in which it was sung last night, yet we. must enter our strong' protest against its repetition in this play, not only because it is a measure improper in itself, entirely destructive of. the unity of a finely drawn character; but because, we tear, that. it may expose the Pei former to some unpleasant marks of displeasure for its introduction.