Described at the time as “the great and powerful genius which has restored Shakespeare to his throne in the hearts of the people of England” Charles Kean was the son of the actor Edmund Kean.
The only performance the two played together in London was in 1833 on which occasion Edmund played Othello, Charles Iago and Ellen Tree whose Charles was later to marry played Desdemona. Edmund was taken ill during the performance with what was to be his final performance. He is said to have commented, somewhat ungenerously, after Act I on that evening when he was beginning to become unwell, “Charles is getting on to-night; he’s acting very well; I suppose because he’s acting with me.”
Charles carried on acting well and when he became lessee of The Princess Theatre managed Shakespearean performances known for “brilliance of spectacle and scenery, correctness of costume, and an accuracy in decoration.”
Most notable in his acting career were his performances as Wolsey in ‘Henry VIII’ and his version of Shylock. Looks great as Hamlet too!
The Solitary Reader 