THE THEATRES.
The performance of Mr. Charles Kean in the character of Shylock at the Haymarket confirms the opinion that he is much more the man of na- tural feeling than the finished artist. Certain touches of pathos—espe- cially the line "I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor "—are given with all the effect of which they are susceptible, and there is force in the various ebullitions; but the sarcasm of the part is completely missed, and he does not grasp many of the details that have always been deemed essential to the individuality of the Jew. The delicate elaboration of Mrs. Kean's Portia—the value which she gave to every word she uttered—formed a striking contrast to the " point-making " of Shylock. Still, as the points were well made and a considerable degree of interest was given to the Jew by the actor's version, it is not improbable that it will remain for a time one of Mr. Kean's favourite characters. Keeley, at once genial and care- ful, is all that could be wished in Launcelot; and Mr. Wigan all that could not be wished in Bassanio. Surely, when the play was acted at Windsor Castle, and Mr. Leigh Murray was one of the company, he 'should have been the Bassanio of the evening, rather than the humble Loreneo. At any rate, he would have been a "juvenile tragedian" in his own depart- ment; whereas Mr. Wigan, excellent in some characters, was here lifted completely out of his line.
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