AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17155, 26 May 1921, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. "TWELFTH NIGHT." It has been said of "Twelfth Night,", or ''Wbat You "Will," that it is the most graceful and harmonious of all Shakespeare's comedies. "This play," said Dr. Johnson, "is in the graver part elegant and easy, and in some 0/ the lighter scenes exquisitely humorous." I>r- Johnson's words just al,out sum up the play. Wit and gaiety play a big part in the piece, but they do not overflow, and there is a general unity about "Twelfth Night" which does not mark some of Shakespeare's other comedies. Dramatic effect is just as noticeable, as the comedy, while the progress of the play is full of spirit, and the dire entanglement of circumstances and characters is pleasingly unravelled in the final scene. With such good matefial to work on it was generally "expected that the presentation of "Twelfth Night" at the Theatre Royal last ni*ht .by the* Allan Wilfcie company would be a big success but it must be admitted that the result was hardly up to expectations. There was little fault to be found with the four outstanding characters, Viola,. Orsiuo, Malvolio, and Olivia,' but the two comedy knights, on whom most of the humorous work fell, were by no means convincing. Mr Fred. Mac Donald took the part of the burly, bibulous practical joker, Sir Toby Belch, but while be was quite eufficieiitly crapulous to euit the most exacting- critic, he over-did the part considerably, and mode of it a burlesque more than a character study. Though possessed'of an insatiable thirst and a plentiful ■' lacK of manners, Sir Toby, as Shakespeare intended him, was a gentleman born, and hardly the "gross personage that -Mr Mac Donald made'of him. In tho part of Sir Andrew Asueoheek, Mr S. H. Henry failed. Shakespeare's Sir Andrew was certainly a wretched little nincompoop, at once boastful and timid, quarrelsome and chickenhearted, nieiely the puppet and butt of his ansociafos,. but Mr : Henry brought out • nothing of the character but-the grotasqueness. He made of Sir Andrew merely a mincing and mouthing' fool. He chose to speak in an impossible falsetto which offended th». ear, and finished off every utterance with a- very stagey laugh, which became very monotonous after the first two or three minutes. Most of the comedy was transformed irto low comedy, and though .'some passages were tindoubtedly meant io be so treated, there weTe many which fufieied by such an interpretation. The Malvolio of Mr Wilkie was a clever piflce of acting. Ho was the self-sufficient, conceited steward to the life, and hia elaborate pomposity of demeanour was excellently maintained,' helped by an impressive little time by the c-ches-tra. at his every appearance. Mr Wilkie is certainly at'his beat in drama and but he proved by his Malvolio that he has an excellent conception of the humorous, not to say ludicrous. His _ scene where he finds Maria's letter and decides to woo his lady "yeJl6w stockinged and cross gartered," was splendidly done, while his. pathetic indignation, followed by his reincarnated majesty of mien when the heartless praotic"! ioksr is exposed, were iiTesistitle. Mt 'Wilkie is without doubt a splendid all-round Shakespearean, actor. Miss Krediswy<Je HunterAVatts made a. charming. Vioia,. who is really the outstanding character of the play. There iiv considerable pqthos about Viola, who, while masquerading as a page/ has her romantic love for her unsuspecting lord "feeding in concealment 'on her damask cheek." Miss Hunter-Watts plaved the part with heart-wirming chorm. "perfect naturalness and a wistful self-efface-ment being outstanding features of her performance. Incidentally *ie made a remarkably handsome boy. Miss Lorna, Tonnes 'left nothing' to be desired as the BnsceT>tiMe Olivia, now full of yearning melancholy for her dead brother, and now in immtuous •love on sight with the pseudto .Ceeario. Her snlendid .elocution a.<>"iin itself in all h«r passages. Mr Roy Workman, ea Festfi the Fool, giave am excellent performance, his pleasing baritone voice showing to advantage in the various Bongs assigned to the part. I*, was a good piece of work throughout. '.. Mr Robert Pnrdlie had not a great deal to do as Orsino, but he was impressive all the time that he was _ on the stage! Miss Vera St. John gaive a vivacious interpretation of t;he mischieMovimr Maria, though her diction pu,ffcred at times nt tli° expense of her hearty laughter, and Mfr Felix Bland was quite successful as the ever-joking Fabian Mr Jack Lennon ; as Antonio and Mr Leslie Manners, as Sebastian were quite good, and the minor characters were all capably enacted. To-night there will be a: second production of "The.Merchant of Venice." '.;..' OPERA HOTTSE. ; Th* excellence of this current programme at the Opera House is l attracting large audiences. Miss Marie Ilka and Mr Leslie Woods are very successful in the comedy sketch, "Tears," while the whimsicalities of "Slim Jim" and his partner are responsible for much fun, The other aitista. 'h the company all present good'turns. GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. "The Breath'of the Gods," a Universal Jrfwel production, is tfc© principal picture on the programme now showing at the Greater Crystal Palaoe. An International news film and a double instalment of the serial, "Kins; 6 the Circus," are also shown The Symphony Orchestra plays nightly under Mr A J. Bunz. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "A Romantic Adventuress," starring Miss -Dorothy Dalton, is the principal film _ at Everybody's Theatre. Another star pio'tura is "Crooked Streets" featuring Miss Ethel Clayton ' GRAND THEATRE A capital programme is. being shown tttis week at the Grand Theatre, and good business, is resulting. "Alls Button," starring. Leslie Henson. is the headlines. There are the usual supporting films. STRAND THEATRE An exciting story of the West is revealed in "The Feud," featuring Tom Mix, which is now being shown at the Strand Theatre. The bill also' contains some splendid supporting pictures. LIBERTY 'THEATRE. A seven-reel Vitsagraiph classic, "Trumpet Island,' is being screened' doily ait the Liberty Theatre. A feature of the film is the wrecking of an aeroplane. Mr D. C. McGill is the singer, \ MISS MARIE NILSSON. On Monday, June 64h| in the Choral Hall, Miss Mane Nilsson, the brilliant opera tio soprano from Opera House, Royal Albert and Queen's 'Hall, London, will give a recital. The programme will include both operatic solos and' ballads. Miss' Nilsson lias had the honour of appearing before their Majesties the King and Queen of England, and she has also achieved, the most brfljiant success l in Paris, London, and the provinces. Miw Nilsson will be assisted by Mr Ernest Empson (pianist). The box plan will open at The Bristol on Wednesday nest.