"LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2415, 22 March 1915, Page 7

"LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN"

OSCAR WILDE REVIVAL. "Lady Windermere's Fan," a play in four acts, by Cscar Wildo. Cast—' Lord Windermere Mr. Winter Hall Lord Darlington Mr. Harry Pliminer Lord Augustus Lorton...Mr. W. H. Varna Cecil Graham Mr. V. Edwards Charles Dumby Sir. H. Halle,v Mr. Hopper Mr. 11. Hare Mr, P. S. Latham Windermere ... Miss iina Sliaiialmri Duchess of Berwick ... Miss Nellie Calvm t 4,? ft 'ha Miss Marjorie Soper 1-ady llymdalo Miss Muriel Dalo Lady Joclburgh Miss Alice Holroyd Mrs. Erlyiino Miss Beatrice Day A season of uncommon note was inaugurated with eclat at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening by .'■u, "ummer-Hall Patriotic Company with a performance of Oscar Wilde's clover comedy of manners, "Lady Windermere's Fan." That which makes the season and the tour unique is the managers' intention to liand over all profits to the Belgian Fund, bo that the amount to be handed over to that fund will depend on the measure of support accorded by the public during the next ten weeks. "Lady Windermere s Fan" is purely a play for playgoers. . Thai is to say, its greatest admirers have always been the sophisticated in matters appertaining to the literary and mechanical forms of playwnting—those who tingle at the tinkle of a clever epigram, appreciate the kidglove fitness of an aphorism, and find pleasure in some biting cynicism that lays bare the motive of * some smug hypocrisy. All -this we have in perfection from Oscar Wilde. An added grace is his acute sense of dramatic values and- play-struoture. Only here and there can be detected indications of the age of the play —in- the speeches some of the characters 1 mako to themselves and the sparsity of action! On tho other hand, there are scenes with a real dramatic thrill—intense, natural, aoid not in the least melodramatic. It was good to be dazzled once more by the glitter of Wilde's epigrammatic dialogue, to be amused by the petty and sometimes -shoddy shams of society as the conceived- it and appreciate his discretion in making'the two central figures in the play reasonably decent folk.

It is so long since "Lady Windermere's Fan" was performed in Wellington that its story may not be readily recalled. Piqued by the attention her husband is said to be lavishing on a certain Mrs. Erlynne • airl' flattered by the devotion of Lord Darlington, Lady Windermere, only two years married,_ decides to run away with her. admirer.' She hag been brought to this point by Windermere's insistence that she' should receive Mrs. Erlynne at a "small early" that evening. Driven to desperation, Lady Windermere writes a letter to her husband, and repairs to Darlington's rooms. Mrs. Erlynne (who is really Lady Windermere's mother, and has been blackmailing. Windermere) finds out iyhat her daughter has done, and seeing that she is about to repeat the. tragedy of her own life, resolves to. save her. . She speeds to Darlington's rooms, and pleads Lady Windermere to return to her home and child, and has just succeeded in wringing her consent to do so when Darlington, Windermere, and others arrive. The ladies, in seek shelter in different rooms. Darlington moralises amidst a maze of clever .talk until Cecil Graham finds Lady Windermere's fan, and resolves to have sopie fun—Darlington the moralist and a fan! With a grin it is shown to.,Windermere, who recognises it at once-.as throne lie had given his wife that day as a birthday present. A scene of violenco is interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Erlynne,. who explains that .she brought the fan by mistake to the rooms, and as she holds the attention of the men Lady Windermere slips out to Lome and safety. ' Mrs. Erlynne is hopelessly compromised. Windermere is thoroughly disgusted with her, and Lady Windermere realises the sacrifice made on her behalf by the woman whom she despises, i Mrs. Erlynne, a cool, collected woman of a particularly smart world, has a way_ of explaining matters, which finally brings Lord Augustus Lorton to his knees, and his confession of tho fact brings tie tag. "Well, you are certainly marrying a very clevor . woman 1"' says Lord Windermere. • "Ah!" adds Lady Windermere, "you are marrying-a very good woman!" For a first performance of a Wilde play—admittedly difficult —by -a newlyorganised company, only praise can be bestowed on Saturday evening's effort of the Plimmer-Hall Company. The ensemble was entirely good. Everyone lived and moved in the play and spoke the brilliant dialogue, as to the manner born. It was a rare treat to witness such a performance as that of Miss ( ■ Beatrice Day as Mrs. Erlynne. The role fitted like a glove. With consummate art Miss Day showed the double portrait of the woman—the base blackmailing woman- of many pasts, and the suddenly awakened tenderness of the mother dreading that her child should follow in her: sordid path. _ Tho scene with Lady Windermere in Darlington's rooms was most effectively acted: all the emotions of the curiously-wrought women were subtly conveyed in the final act with the Windermeres. What Miss • Una Shanahan lacked in experience _ and impressiveness as the young wife • - and mother with the purest 'of ideals, she made up in her natural sweetness and prettiness. She-is-the right age and j nas the correct poise for. Lady Windermere, but the part requires more colour | and tone variation. Mr. Winter Hall was capitally placed as Windermere, and his work was marked by the dignity, repose, .and polish of an English gentleman. Mr. Harry Plimmer made a forcible and vital Lord Darlington. Ono role that stood out in bold relief was the garrulous scandal-mongerihg Duohess of Berwick (a modern Mrs. Candour), which was acted with commendable spirit and point by Miss Nellie Calvin. The role is_ rich in comedy lines, and Miss Calvin made the most of them. Mr. H. W. Varna was happily cast as that inept noodle. Lord Augustus, and Mr. Harry Halle.y, as Mr. Dumby, and Mr. Vivian Edwards as Cecil Graham gave clear littlo etchings of society types, each of whom have telling lines to deliver. Miss Marjorie Soper, as Lady Agatha, Miss. Muriel Dale as Lady Pl.vmdale, and Miss Alice Holroyd as Lady Jedburgh were all quite capably acted. Tile scenery— all comfortable interiors —is good, the stage furnishings what they should be, and the costuming elaborate and tasteful.

A distinct and altogether pleasing novelty was the music, supplied by Mrs. Winter Hall and her sister. Miss Bima \oung, on two upright granrls, ensconced amidst a nest of flags in the genial glow of ruby flights in the orchestral well, lioth ladies are free facile pianists, who are in temperamental accord. Their programme included a fantasia on National Airs, three of Edward German's VIII". dances, SniivL-Saens's "Danse Maccabo," and a. Tag-time medley. The innovation was warmly welcomed, and if the audience would listen more and talk less during the intervals an added pleasure would be theirs. "Lady Windermere's Fan" will bs produced for the next four nights, and will bo displaced on Friday by "Tlie ant . th o Hummingbird." . Theatre nights are arranged throughout the week as follow:—Grand military night, Tuesday; National Reserve on Wednesday (the "Reserve will march to Hie theatre); Thursday will be the Tennis and Sports Clubs night; on Friday the New Zealand Natives' Association ; on Saturday the Patriotic Society. will hold a big night. Box plans are Bsaa-fieaeko-'--'-