SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS GAINING IN POPULARITY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 64, 3 July 1950, Page 4

SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS GAINING IN POPULARITY

Recent visit to Whakatane of a travelling repertory company presenting Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” has aroused interest in Shakespearean plays. This presentation together with the film versions of “Hamlet” and “Henry V” has helped to create an interest in Shakespeare’s works . among residents in the district. But, Shakespeare was in New Zealand many years ago. The earliest players of whom there is any record in New Zealand were amateurs—pioneer settlers who were familiar with the pleasures of stage entertainment and the concert platform. Many prominent citizens took part in these local activities. In 1889 the Duke of Edinburgh, a son of Queen Victoria, visited New Zealand and among the many entertainments arranged for him was a performance of “Hamlet” in Auckland. This, according to press reports at the time, was “particularly successful.” Eight years later, in 1877, stage a enthusiast presented scenes from “The Merchant of Venice,” “Julius Caesar,” “Hamlet” and “a Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The scenes were acted, but without stage, costume or scenery. Henry Talbot, one of the earliest, of the great Shakespearean players, was here in ,1869 in “Richard III.”

In the 15 years from 1872 there were several Shakespearean presentations by visiting companies and in 1897 “Handsome George Rignold" made theatrical history with his Shakespearean productions, in particular, “Henry V.” In 1912 the limelight was again focussed on Shakespeare. The year 1920 marks a milestone in the Dominion’s theatrical histroy| It was in that year that Allan Wilkie organised his company for the presentation of Shakespearean plays exclusively. This was the first, and only, occasion when Australia and New Zealand had a “permanent” Shakespearean company Mr Wilkie and his wife —Fredirwyde Hunter-Watts—and company travelled for several years bringing the plays of Shakespeare to cities, towns and villages throughout Australia and New Zealand.

When in 1922 he gave his 580th consecutive performance of Shakespeare it was claimed to be a world’s record. Up to that date he had produced 15 of the great bard’s plays. The growth of the repertory movement throughout the Dominion has been responsible for some fine Shakespearean presentations in recent years.