as stated in the "encyclopædia britannica" eleventh edition, it was in the impression of the great creations of shakespeare's fine mind that the varied beauty and magnificence of the acting of kean were displayed in their highest form, although probably his most powerful character was sir giles overreach in philip massinger’s "a new way to pay old debts", the effect of his first performance of which was such that the pit rose altogether, and even the actors and actresses themselves were defeated by the terrific dramatic illusion. his main disadvantage as an actor was his height. coleridge said, "seeing him act was like reading shakespeare by flashes of lightning."