Miss E. Tree as Ion

Miss E. Tree as Ion

Mrs. Charles Kean, (née Miss E. Tree)

Miss Tree's career spanned over 40 years. She was well known for her ability to play comedic and tragic roles equally well and for her fine singing voice. [1] She married one of the best known actors of the time, Mr. Charles Kean, in 1842. [2] Unlike other actresses, Mrs. Kean continued to act until her husband's death in 1868 when she retired. [3]

The character of Ion is most likely the title of character of the tragedy by Sir. Thomas Noon Talfourd.[4] Of Miss Tree, Talfourd is quoted as praising the suitability of her "figure and manner to represent the heroines of comedy." [5]

[1] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. "Kean [née Tree], Elanora [Ellen]," 2008. http://oxforddnb.com/view/article/15205?docPos=1.
[2] Charles E. Pascoe, ed., Our Actors and Actresses: The Dramatic List, a Record of the Performances of Living Actors and Actresses of the British Stage (London: David Bogue, 1880) 217.
[3] Charles E. Pascoe, ed., Our Actors and Actresses(London: David Bogue, 1880) 225.
[4] Allardyce Nicoll, XIX Century Drama, 1800-1850, vol. II (London: Cambridge University Press, 1930), 400.
[5] Charles E. Pascoe, ed., Our Actors and Actresses (London: David Bogue, 1880), 217.  

Ion (Talfourd)

J. Fairburn

n.d.

Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Miss E. Tree as the Countess of Love

Museum of London
Miss E. Tree as the Jewess
Miss E. Tree as Ion 

57