The Sun. — 1862-05-26 (London, England)

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.  After an aLsence of three years, and with rather a short announcement, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean made their appearance at this theatre on Saturday evening in the historic drama of " Louis the Eleventh." The audience was a most brilliant and  fashionable one, and the reception that both artistes received was something enormous. For some minutes the acting of the play was entirely stopped by the enthusiastic welcome given to Mr. Kean on his entry in the second act, and whether it was owing to the hearty reception or not, most certainly he never gave a finer delineation of the hypocritical, remorseless, crafty, and treacherous French monarch than on Saturday evening. The character of Louis we have always looked upon as one of Mr. Kean's most finished performances, as from first to last, the most intense study is evident, without which it would be impossible to depict, in all its hideousness, the superstitious monarch—so relentless in hatred—so unflinching in purpose— so profane in his appeals for heavenly aid, even whilst plotting murder— and so false in his professions, that what he sought to accomplish by his cruel policy was his people's good, and not his own aggrandisement. The well-known scene, in the first act, in which Nemours encounters Louis, the murderer of his father, was wrought np to the highest pitch of madness; but the culminating triumph was the close of the drama—the death of the tyrant. It was a performance that produced the most startling effect, and that, too, without in the slightest degree " o'erstepping the modesty of nature." Who could behold the death of that bad man without horror—a man who, even in his death throes, forgets not that he is a King, and commands his subjects' prayers. The applause elicited was tremendous, and certainly never was it better deserved. Mrs. Charles Kean sustained the little part of Martha, the miller's wife, but, with the true taste of an artist, she made the part stand so nobly out, that in her hands it became, after Louis, one of the most prominent characters in the play. Miss Chapman, as the Dauphin, and Miss N. Chapman as Marie, both acted with great taste and excellence. The Due de Nemours was admirably sustained by Mr. Cathcart, who certainly deserved all the applause the excellence of his acting evoked. The other parts in the play were well supported by Messrs. Meadows, Shore, Basil, Potter, and Raymond.  At the fall of the curtain the applause seemed longer and louder than in the early part of the evening. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kean had to acknowledge " a call," of the enthusiasm of which they may well be proud.  Tho Countess Apponyi's ball will take place on Thursday the sth, instead of the 12tH of Jur, e, The Marquis Camden entertained at dinner on Saturday evening, at his residence in Grosvenor-square— the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry, the Earl and Countess of Ashburnham and Lady Katherine Ashburnham, the Countess Cawdor and Hon. Victoria Campbell, Viscount and Viscountess Falmouth, Lady Elizabeth Cornwallis and Lady Julia Cornwallis, Lord and Lady Pelham, Viscount Hamilton, Lord Charles Innes Ker, Hon. Lionel Ashley, Capt. Stewart, Capt. Vaudeleur, &C. The Countess of Craven has issued cards for an assembly on Thursday next, at her residence in Charlesstreet, Berkeley-square. The Earl and Countess Poulett have arrived at the family mansion in Hanover-square, from Hinton St. George, Somersetshire.  The Earl of Cathcart bas left Iklaurigy's Hotel for Thornton-le-Street, near Thirsk. The Viscountess Guillamore has arrived at 19, Eaton-place, for the season, from Rockbarton, her lady• ship's residence in Ireland.  His Excellency the Count Pracontal, accompanied by Mons. de Blerzy, has arrived at Alaurigy's Hotel, from Paris,