TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 968, 8 November 1910, Page 9

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

THE WOMEN'S. SHAKESPEARE CLUB. At their performance of "Two Gentlemen of Verona," given by the members of the Shakespeare Club of ,tlie Women's Club recently tho players revived several of .the original customs. Heralded by a trumpeter, Miss Rose Seaton;~imder whose direction the performance was produced, announced the piny "Written .by Mr. Shakespeare," and then passed through tho audience distributing the "bill of the play." There was no staging •at all, in the ordinary sense, tho stage being simply hung with curtains. Before ench scene the herald walked on and displayed a board with the description, such■ as "A street in Milan," "The Dulcc's Palace," "Julia's Garden," and it was left to tho imagination of the audience to supply the scenery. Any properties required, such as chairs and benches,' were carried on to tho stage by the performers, just as in the Shakespearian days, and the old custom of all the players being of ,one sex was followed, only on this occasion they were all women, instead of all men, as in the Elizabethan age. This ■ simple method of staging does away with tho great difficulty amateurs have.in producing an historic play, and should commend itself, to all who think more of the play.than its setting. An intelligent audience should not need all its atmosphere ready-made, and if a few more amateurs would follow the > excellent example of. the Women's Shakespeare Club, we might, hope to see many plays of high literary 'value, which, at present, are neglected because of tho difficulty of staging them.