MONTHLY MIRROR, FOR OCTOBER, 1807. TH HE family, of which the subject of our present notice is a conspicuous member, have been so much and so long distinguished in the theatrical world, that the admiration which their talents have excited, and the malevolence which has attended their success in the same proportion, have hardly left any thing unexplored, that could tend to gratify public curiosity. We are, therefore, on the present occasion, able to add little to the biographic records which have appeared in a variety of periodical publications. But if we cannot produce much novelty, we presume to assert our claims to truth and candour, and shall be always more solicitous to do justice to merit than to animadvert on defect. Stephen Kemble was born on the third of May, 1758, at a place called Kingstown, Herefordshire. He was the third of the numerous offspring which his parents have added to the theatrical community in our times. A very particular circumstance attended his birth, which, we believe, has not been mentioned before. His mother brought him into the world on the very night in which she had acted the character of Anne Bullen, in the play of Henry the Eighth, soon after she had concluded her performance, and just at the time when, as queen, according to the account found in the play, she is supposed to have given birth to the Princess Elizabeth. This singular coincidence excited great notice in the neighbourhood at the time, though it has not before found its way into print. Mr. Roger Kemble, the venerable father of this distinguished race of performers, forcibly impressed by the uncertainty of the theatrical profession, even with the best pretensions to permanent success, as competitors are for ever springing up, and as no velty is too often able to defeat the claims of established merit, resolved to devote his son, Stephen, to a pursuit that seemed less precarious. For this purpose, after giving him as good an education as could be obtained at so early an age as that, at which boys are usually sent into the world, his father placed him as an apprentice to Mr. Gibbs,* an eminent surgeon, at Coventry.Young Stephen, however, in the intercourse that he had with the theatrical company, of which his father was the manager, soon imbibed a propensity for the stage, which broke out after he had been about two years with his master, and, preferring the theatrical truncheon to the lancet and the probe, he sallied forth and joined an itinerant troop of actors, at Kidderminster, and, from that period, has devoted himself wholly to the stage. It would be as fruitless as difficult to pursue him through the whole of his theatrical career. It is sufficient to say that, having a strong partiality to the stage, and an excellent understanding, he gradually improved in his art, and, after acquiring considerable reputation in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, he made his first appearance, on the London boards, at Covent-Garden theatre, in September, 1783. The part he chose was Othello, and the writer of this arricle was present on the occasion. Mr. Kemble supported the character with feeling, and a much greater proportion of judgment than is observed in most of the performers who have not had the advantage of being regularly trained to the art in the metropolis, by the example of experienced merit, and the suggestions of that sound taste and criticism which are only to be found in a London audience. In the November following Mr. Kemble was married to Miss Satchell of the saine theatre, then in the bloom of youth and beauty, and who, even at that early period, had deservedly acquired high estimation with the public, for the truth, delicacy, feeling, and genuine simplicity, which have always characterized her acting. An unlucky misunderstanding with the proprietors of that theatre, induced Mr. and Mrs. Kemble to relinquish their connection with it the following year. They remained a few years performing in provincial theatres with great success; but were invited by the elder Colman, an excellent judge of theatrical merit, as well as an ornament to the republic of letters, to join his ́ * This gentleman is still living, and in the warmest friendship with his fugitive pupil. company at the summer theatre in the Haymarket. Here Mr. and Mrs. Kemble had many opportunities of displaying their talents, and increasing their reputation; and here Mrs. Kemble made that impression upon the audience in the character of Yarico, which fully confirmed the admiration of the public. The situation, however, of being merely dependant on the will and judgment of a manager not agreeing with Mr. Kemble's feelings and his hopes, he became a manager himself, and conducted, in succession, the theatres of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, and several others, and has at length, by diligence and prudence, acquired good property, though it is not quite sufficient to enable him wholly to retire from the stage. Obtaining considerable reputation in various places by his performance of Falstaff, he was ambitious to have his provincial fame ratified by the decision of a London audience. Hence, a few years ago, as may be found in the dramatic annals of this work, having signified his wishes to the proprietors of Drury-Lane theatre, they readily acquiesced, and he visited the metropolis in consequence; and, having previously delivered a poetical address, humorously adverting to his pretensions, on the score of size, to the part of Falstaff, he performed it with so much success, several times, as to satisfy himself, the proprietors, and the public. When he took leave of the town he delivered another tical address, expressive of his gratitude, with many pleasant allusions to himself, and the character that he had performed. In the following year he was tempted to assume the same character at Covent Garden theatre, and his merit fully confirmed the former decision of the town. poe Mr. Kemble has supported the whole range of the higher parts of the drama, but though he has led a regular and active life, his person has for some years become so corpulent, that his talents have been obliged to submit to his person, and he has therefore latterly confined himself to a few characters, in which it was of little importance whether he was to be numbered among the fat or lean kine. In his private character Mr. Kemble is manly, social, humorous, and intelligent. He has a vast store of anecdotes, which he relates with spirit and effect, but without any buffoonery. His poetical talents have often been displayed with considerable suc 1 cess; and we understand that he is about to submit his numerous productions to the public in a collected shape. His matrimonial engagement has been more prosperous than any of his professional, for his wife is an excellent woman, as well as a good actress, and they have lived very happily together.They have an amiable, beautiful, and accomplished daughter, who was married in 1805 to Mr. Robert Arkwright, second son of Richard Arkwright, Esq. of Willersley Castle, Derbyshire, and a son who has received a good education at Winchester, under the Rev. Charles Richards, who is now entered of Christ College, Oxford, and is intended for the bar. We shall not enter into any invidious comparisons between the performance of Falstaff, by Mr. Stephen Kemble and other actors; but shall conclude with some lines which were written on the subject, and which contain a fair estimate of his general merit in the character. On Stephen Kemble's Representation of Falstaff. The public oft have Falstaff seen, As coarse in utt'rance, manners, mien, No other than his ruffian crew. Who seems to make no empty vaunt MEMOIR OF THEODORE EDWARD HOOK, ESQ. In the biography of living characters, little more can be attempted than a simple detail of facts and dates, time alone giving the world an opportunity of judging the merits of men and their works. * Second part of Henry IV. act 3, scene 2. |