AUCKLAND SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1267, 24 October 1911, Page 4

AUCKLAND SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY.

IN "TWELFTH NIGHT." Enthusiasm, to tho point of daring, And the New Zealand Competitions Soeiety'o carnival has brought (ho Auckland Shakcspearo Society within our gales, fully equipped to show us how Shakespeare should be read. The showing took tho form of something between a reading and a dramatic personation of Shakespeare's delightful comedy, "Twelfth Night," a book of lovers' sighs interloavened with rare comedy. It. was given nt the Concert Chamber last evening. ■ Unliko our own Shakespeare Society, whoso members sit round tho stage in a half-circle so that each character may rise and read his or her lines as tho 'script dictates, Iho Auckland Shakospeareans lend verisimilitude to their story by having their exits and their entrances deftly and simply arranged with a number of screens, and, not satisfied with (ho mere reading of tho lines, some of Iho members recite and give more than a suggestion of ncting tho scenes which they are employed in. Tho innovation is distinctly a good one, ns it gives the audience some idea of those situations and stage movements which are eo essential to a sound comprehension of (lie action of tho piny. It may be contended that Iho presentation of the comedy was not strictly a reading. Vi"|iat of that? It conveyed with inlellinoco tho author's intention, and that, after all, is most valuable to tho student, . tending ns it docs lo stimulate appreciation of tho literary treasures which the ' Bard of Avon bi'quealhed lo the world. The visitors deserve hearty commendation for their <H'ort. The' comedy was read with a lively appreciation of its racy comedy, ami only here and there did the reading become a trifle prosy. ' The society hns a treasure in Miss Koo ' Hartley ,who recited (for the most pirt) the lines of Viola in a brightly vivacious ' manner, and with outstanding intelligence. Sho forgot perhaps, in tho earlier scenes, that she wt\s "aping Iho man," but seldom indeed was she at fault in giving out liot lines with a full understanding of their purport, and her appreciation of sentiment came Hartley, who recited (for tho most part) of tho speech beginning "Sho never told her lovo," etc. She also sang the Clown's songs, "Come Away, Death," and "A Tinv Little Boy," conimendably. Mr. J. F. Montague rend Kir Toby Belch with an unctuous humour in full accord with, tho character. There wer* occ,v>i«na where he lapsed into plain Mr. Montague, doubtless attributable to the nn- • xieties of directorship, but, on Iho J whole, ho struck tho correct note, to > which Iho audience" promptly responded. ' Mr. Abrahams was not an ideal Mnlvolio, ' though his work was marked by intelli--5 genco throughout. He was best in tho • sceno in which he appears in vcllovr ' stockings, cross-garlercd. Mrs. Frank • Turner read tho part of Olivia convincing- \ ly, and with dignity. Her rouge of ex- '' prossion needs cultivation, however. That " little "devil of wit" Maria, was vivaciously rend by Miss M.iv.d Varrell, who only needed an infectious laugh to be re.illy 1 admirable. Mr. Hamish Henderson pos- [ sossos a splendid voice for that daring 1 knight. Sir Andrew Agneehwk, and was a ' pood foil for Mr. Montague's Sir Toby. • Tho Rev. W. .Tellie, Mrnck 100 Mibducil a ; (one, and droned pomewli.it as the lows \ sick Orsino, and Mr. Vood. ns Sebastian, ' was ratliCT oppressed by the diction of p Shakespeare. Th« subsidiary parts were read by Messrs. W. Gorham. P. H. Lorkins;, and Baldwin. Tho part o{ l'Vslc, Hie clown, read by Mr. M'Elwnin, ■ was 100 ruthlessly cut (o be made ofToe- . tivo by anyone. ITo snug tho song "0 • Mistress M.ine" quite well. This evening the. rocjcty will read Bernard Shaw's interesting ptay "Cnptain Bra!»?botind's Conversion." As ; it is the first time tKnt » Slmw play has ' been read in public in Wellington, thoro i I should bo an intererfed audipneo.

What is believed to bo a world's record has been created by a hivo of bees on Clio farm of Mr. J. Seilry, (it Cflde.kinh, De- <. von. No less than 1471b. of honey has bee.n taken from the hi™, and had (hero been twenty other hivos there they would all havo «lono as well, says the expert who removed the honey from the hive. The whole, of the. honey was fathered from white olovcr and ie of the best