THE ACTOR'S ART.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1351, 31 January 1912, Page 6

THE ACTOR'S ART.

MR. H. B. IRVING HONOURED. CIVIC WELCOME, SHAKESPEARE AND MODERN DRAMA. Mr. H. R. Irving was welcomed to. Wellington at a civic reception held yesterday afternoon in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. Mrs. Irving was also to have been officially welcomed, but was prevented from attending by indisposition. . ■ ' . The Acting-Mayor (Councillor John Smith) presided over an attendance of citizens that comfortably filled tho hall. Amongst those- who occupied seats on the platform wero Sir John Findlny and Lady Fimllay, Dr. Valintine (Inspector-General of-Hospitals); Mr. 1". M. K. Fisher, M.P., nml Messrs. .P. C. Frecth and J. , E. Xicholls. Sir James Carroll and the Hon. Justice Chapman arrived later. Introducing' Mr. Irvins, tho ActingMayor a pologised for the absence of a number who would have liked to bo present, among them being Sir Robert Stout. The Acting-Mayor went on to say that it was tho duty'of citizens to give Mr. aud Mrs. Irving a civic - welcome, and they should do it as heartily as possible, for it was riot often that autor.-: <rf such eminence visited the city. Their visit would serve in an important "degree to make Shakespeare's work better knowii. He wished Mr. nml Mrs. Irving a pleasant time while they wero in New Zealand, and expressed a hope that on some, future'occasion their visit might bo repeated.. On' behalf df the citizens of Wellington ho tendered Mr. and Mrs. Irving a Tery hearty welcome. ,' , Sir John Findfay. ,'•' ' Sir.Jqhn Findlay said that it was. his pleasant duty,- in. tho capacity, of patron of the Wellington Shakespeare Society, to welcc-me a-great, scholar-and:exponent of Shakespeare. Shakespeare was not. altogether neglected in Js'ew Zealand, but Mr.' Irvm-f's visit might awaken some sense, of how little we really knew of tho greatest genius in literature. Probably more dust had boon dislodged from the. covers of "HaraH't" in anticipation of Mr. Irving's coming, than he could well imagine. Their visitor, bearing the great name of Irving, had stimulated high expectations that the son would 1» found to wear the mantle of the father. Those who had witnessed Mr. Irving's performance had seen that ho was Entitled to rank with. Oarrick, Kemble, Kean, and tho others who had done so much by th?ir art to lift our nation. Mr. 1 , . C. Freeth stated that the honour of taking part had been thrust upon him by an enthusiastic committee. He heartily welcomed their distinguished visitor. Mr, F. M. B. Fisher, M.P. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., said he had been asked to say a few words of welcome on behalf of the official political side of the city. Ho apologised for the unavoidable absence of his political colleagues, and heartily welcomed MrJ Irving ■and Mi's. Irving on behalf of the members of Parliament for the city of Wellington. ..':..• ■ Mr. J. E. Kicholls (president of tho \\ elhngtou Shakespeare Club) endorsed tho welcome extended, by Sir John FindUy, as patron of .the club, ■. ' '..■ Sir. , James Carroll, .Sir James Carroll said' that they were there to welcome an illustrious guestone who came as an educator, one who was associated with tho works of a great master who had built up a line of fancy, oi thought, and of philosophy that was undying. He (the speaker) had keenly watched Mr. -Irving's portrayal of human passions, of light and fanciful reflections of profound philosophy, and it was an educative,, treat... -Whatever, high standard might, be reached in the future, nothing, he was sum, could excel fhe tremendous, powerful strokes of Shakespeare, and Shakespeare would be always with us while there, were such gifted students and exponents of his work as Mr. Irvin"

Mr. Irving's Reply. Mr. Irving was greeted, as he rose, with loud and prolonged applause. He thanke hose present for the manner in which' they h«d spoken of himself and of Mrs Irving, and regretted that she was prevent! H= ft'"?' 51,05 -' IOU /, fr <"" bejrig present. Se felt, lu> said, that part of tfie.wclcoino accorded his wife and himself was whon -f i° I' 1 ?'" 00 ' , of his falhc r. to horn it had been a lasting regret that he had boon nimWe t<. visit Australia S?A *!«?. Z?aland. He also realised that, apart from any personal intere=r in according him a reception, his aiidil f« r IS'T F ny ! ng , I }? nd " r t9 to ivhicli he had the honour to belon-. towards the actor, since Shakespeare's (lay, .marked, in his opinion, an advance In eiyiliHition. People nowhere, went further in recognition of the actor, and in appreciation of the .importance of his work, than in the British Empire. i Like the literary profession, that n the actor was open to evervlxidy, am! it included all. sorts, of pebplo in its ranks, but it had come to! bo recognised that the actor at his fet was engaged in what Voltaire had called "tho most r"f- 'Post beautiful, and most difficult ot the arts. It was an art which those who served it were proud to serve, knowing that, it they served it well, in their o\yn small province they might be doine some good. . • • ■ ■

, He felt that the time which they lived in was ono in which they could not do too much to keep alive- the memory of Shakespeare. This he , said advisedlv. J.O begin with there was a very 'large modern drama, very clever, very brilliant, well calculated to interest and hold tho mind of the time. At the same fame they must endeavour to show that RhnkespearDwas not lost in this modern brilliance. He was inclined to think that Shakespeare would endure after a , these -brilliant manifestations of theatrical enterprise had passed away. The theatre to-day had to fight competition which did not exist thirty, forty, or fifty years ago.". ' Music-halls.' picture theatres, and similar places,- administered tabloid doses of. amusement which people, could take with the least possible trouble, and. perhaps, with the least possible effect. There was a daneer of creating a race of people incapable of taking sustained interest in plavs such as .could alone give, them prolonsed enjoyment.. The .a'ctor-manager had been sometimes described as a man who sought only the centr? (if the stage and. a qhantrlty of limelight,- but the preservation and continued presentation of Shakesneiire was due :to men !ik* Garrick, Kean. Henry Irving, and Besrbohm Tree.

In Germany, France, and other European countries, the theatre was protected. In England, at present, no such fhin.rr. existed. But for the/efforts of inrimdnnl men., who had freely spent their lives nrid .fortunes.. Shakespeare would be dead in, fhe English theatre. It would be a great thing for..England, and for the Entire.if they ever saw a ereat national theatre, and he thonoht that, possihlv, that grea.t ideal might be realised.

Jfr. Irvine; went "n to remark that bhad learned thnt ShakfMieare was Inved and supported in this Dominion and in Australia, a'well ii«. if not better than, in any part of the Emnire, and repeated a nrcvioiis assurance that, as a result of his visit, other leading actor-maniigers would tour the Dominion. "After all." he said, "when you come •ill this way. thipes have to come down to their business level. They will come borauso you extend the support which nifiVes it', worth .their while to come." G"ncliulins. Mr. Irving thanked his auditors, and assured them that he aopreciated very imich their Kindness in extending so cracions and cordial a welcome to his wife and himself.