"A FLORENTINE TRAGEDY",

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 6

"A FLORENTINE TRAGEDY",

0 AN OSCAR WILDE EVENING. "A Florentine Tragedy," a play in one act. by Oscar Wilde. Cast:— Simone Air. J. M. TJlark Bianca Mrs. Jauios Hannah Guido Hard! Mr, Vivian Itbind Maria Mrs. liar tin Williams

The amateurs, who essayed "A Florell; tine Tragedy." the woric of that-, gifted Irishman, Uscar Wilde, at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, last evening, must be fairly regarded to have achieved a' distinct success. The brilliant genius of Uscar "\YiUio has of late become more generally recognised through the medium of cheap editions of his works, but to those who really know the polish of his dieiioii and his poetical subtlety, Wilde's untimely death was, from a purely literary aspect, 'indeed lamentaule. That must be recognised by all who saw and heard "A i'loreutmo Tragedy" last evening. Here is a play in blank verse, known to lew. It is merely a fragment, yet swell is its literary value, and so finely Jciiit is its dramatic texture, that, lor an hour/ it held a large audience. The talo is as old as tho • l'haraohs. It is the story, iu brief, of the passion of a prince for tiie yonng aud beautiful who of .an old huckster. It is, too, a tat# of olden time, wlien a prince was really a lord of tho land, and master of ail who walked thereon, bo Pnneo Guido Banli resolves to make advances to Bianca. He eventually visits the huckster's home, and learns there to truly love its fair mistress. She respouds, when enters' .tho . ; husband Simone. Ttiough a dullard in anything appertaining to any outward show or the value ho places ou his young wite, his sharp wit at once fathoms the depths ol'the intrigue, and he plays the l'l'ince as a sknfut angler does the unwary trout. He talks bcautiluliy of his gorgeous wares, of the higher politics, of tho mart, wearying tho love-sick JPrince. Then, as the latter makes to go, old Simone turns the conver. sation to sword-biades, boasts of the temper of his blade against that of tho l s rinco's, and begs the favour of a bout. A light to the death is begun, the foils are thrown aside in favour of daggers, and after a violent encounter, tho old man seizes Guido in a death grip, throws him across a table, and strangles hiui. Bianca watches the struggle, which js lighted by the torch she holds, and with dawning wonder in her eyes sees her lover mastered by her husband. Then sho comes forward. "Why," she says, "did you not tell mo you were so strong?" "Why," ho answers, "did yon hot tell me you were beautiful?" And tho curtain falls oil a situation lit by a new understanding. . , ' , i Tho play was admirably performed. Mrs. James Hannah as Bianca was a surprise even to those who know her varied talents. She acted with S r a ct '> subtlety, and a deal of that reserve but. rarely seen in tho caso of amateurs- Ifci facial expression was an index of the whole story, and there was a fine i ]l 'y ligence in her elocution. Another notably able performance was that of Mr. J. 11. Clark, who played Simone. 110 played the part with a rugged dramatic strength entirely in accord with tho character, and never onco did his sonorous Glocuiioii interfere with' the ardour with which Simone pursued his relentless purpose. He looked the part, and was aided by a strong vibrant voice, which lent itselt to tho music of the many splendid speeches which enrich the _ play. MrVivian Bhiml bore himself with a natural grace as the Prince, and spoke jiis lilies fittingly, though his range of inflection was limited- Mrs. Martin W llli'inis was quite good in the small part of Maria, & tirewoman. Tho stage was artistically equipped, and tho costuming was richly picturesque in style and colouring. To make tho programme thoroughly "Wildesciue" in character, the first halfhour was occupied by the rccitation of sonio of tho writer's poetry, nero, Mrs. Ilannah made her debut as a reciter, arousing tho admiration of tho audiencc by her clean elocution, musical voice, and clinngeful expressiveness in tone an;! look. She recited a sonnet to Sarah Bernhardt and "Roses and Rue." Mr- Clark was advantageously heard .in the "Flower of Love," and another piece, and Mrs. Martin Williams contributed "Magdalen Walks," and a very striking sonnet by Sir Henry Irving. A graceful interlude was provided in tho animated tableau—"The Wind Driving the Seasons"—a clever study in colour and motion. Tho Wind (cleverly represented by •Miss Vera Pcgg) was a wild, whirling figure in a dress of diaphanous gray. She bowls the little children over as they gather primroses, and makes coaxing Jove to the Spirit of Spring. "Summer is represented by snrf-bathers and a boatwoman, strikingly costumed in the warmest shade c-f Ted. With, this party the wind gaily frolics and frisks, and finally drives I'lic.hi out of the your, to make wav for "Autumn"—in russet _ browns and purples-girls carrying the wines and fruits of tho season. They make a bold effort to resist tho insistent wind, but finally have to depart down the track of time. Enter "Winter," a tall, stately fin-ure, veiled in shimmering silver, who shakes a warning finger at the leaping, blustering figure in grey, as she unfolds her drnperv, to permit the egress therefrom of a "tiny figure in white—the, first snowfiakc. It was all admirably done, and reflects crcdit on Mrs. Hannah, its originator and producer. This charming entertainment will bo repeated this evening.

Our mothers used to bribe us with lollies to take medicine. "NAZOL" can be taken without coaxinß—a few drops nn a piece of loaf snsar, dissolved in tlio mouth, will cure Cokls in Chest or Tliront straightway! Or use Nazol Inhaler.— Advt. Messrs. Win. H. Turnbull and Co., 27 Panama Street, have an announcement in this issue in connection with the sale of a I'almcrston North farm of 96 acres, and tho purchase of a farm to carry about 2000 slieep. in tile TVairarapa district. Messrs. Sponco and Co., Danncvirko, have an announcement in this issue rcgarding tho lease of a dairy farm of 140 acres in, tlio Haw bo's Day district,