"TWELFTH NIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2879, 18 September 1916, Page 3

"TWELFTH NIGHT.

A BIG LAUGHING SUCCESS "Twelfth Night," a comedy by JFm. •Shakespeare. Cast:— Malvolio Allan Wilkie Orsino ;.... Walter Hunt Sebastian David Belbridgo Antonio Vivian Edwards A Sea Captain Bentley Hussell Valentine 1 Miss lJutn Norreys Curio Walter Boswcll Sir Toby Belcli John Cave Sir Andrew Aguecheek Henri Doro Fabian Fred I'atcy Feste, a jester Fred lCehoa Olivia Miss Valentine Sydney Maria Miss Elwyn Harvey Viola Miss F. Hunter-Watts As the Shakespearean season advances rit tho Opera House, wo must confess willingly to a growing liability of thanks and swelling oenso ol admiration l'or Air. Allan Wilkie,' Miss Frcdiswydo HunterWatts, and the c.npablo players associated with tlicin. They have come most opportunely on the lime's. Their performances seem rather to improve with tho advance of tho season than otherwise, and it. is. noted with satisfaction that Hie public is' beginning to realise tho intrinsic worth of the attraction. No better value has boon given in Wellington for a very long lime. "Twelfth Night," produced on Saturday evening, vies with the pastoral, "As You Liko It" in being classed as the most univorsally popular of Shakespeare's lighter comedies. It is indeed the best illustration of the magic of Shakespeare's touch in lighter mood. In such comedies as "Much Ado About Nothing," "Measure for Measure," "Lovo's Laboui Lost," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," thcro are obscure passages, which to be frank (though some might deem it sacrilige to say so), are tedious to modern ears, but in "Twelfth Night" thero aro none such barren patches to tho common understanding. Shakespeare has with fine discretion commingled the sighs of lovers with a boisterous mirth there is no resisting, One is just the propor chcck on excess in the other, so that thero is a surfeit of neither. Laughter "held both hor sides" 011 Saturday night. Not at tho most humorous of farcical comedies has the walls of the Opera House rung with such uproarious laughter as was heard on Saturday evening, which was the best of all tributes to tho comedians who entered so thoroughly into the spirit of the comedy. Indeed, so admirable was their fooling, so sure was their tread upon the pedai of laughter, that tho interlarded excursions into tho velvety shadows of pure romance suffered slightly through the effervescent mirth in the audience left over from the previous scene. The version of tho comedy submitted more nearly approached the Colley Cibber version than that, usually played. Instead of opening with the well-known lines, "If music bo the food of love," tho play opens with what is usually the second scene, whijre Viola is discovered on the seashore after/ the wreck. The riotous kitchen aceno occurs earlier than usual, and its usual termination-is prolonged by now business. Feste, the clowu, reappears with a framework ghost to frighten the revellers, after which he sinks to sleep in the ruddy glow of tho kitchen fire. Then, enters Malvolio onco more, sword in hand, and, meeting the "ghost," slashes at it with 'iiis blade, and then ' closely examines tho face of the sleeping clown before retiring 'finally in the highest dudgeon. This 6cene has been played notably well in Wellington before, but it has never roused such laughter as it did on Saturday evening. Another painfully mirthful 'spasm was the duel between Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Viola, which was also marked by sonic eleven lLumming. The version cuts out' the, sceuo where Feste, as Sir Topas, the curatc, and tho others, bait Malvolio during the latter's continement, about which there can be no regrets.

The charm about "Twelfth Night" is the 'equal', division it makes of the labour. There aro ho real overshadowing parts, especially in the Wilkie version. That gifted aqtor, as Malvolio,. the pragmatic ass, who stewards the, estates of tho Lady Olivia,'was hardly ,so . well suited as in other roles; "Whilst he was "highly fantastical" in poise'and make-up, ho was just a little too heavy-spoken and ponderous in manner; for Mylvolio, whilst affected in style and pose, was naturally aifected. Mr. Wilkie is inclined to overdo the affectations in the man, even to the extent of having pompous inusio for him to pace in time with on each exit and entrance. He "was very good in the latter sc.ene, and smiled most aggressively when lie- appeared crossgartered before the lady worn he has been cajoled into thinking he has bewitched. Miss Hunter-Watts was quite charming as Viola. .Vosing as Cesario, she made a graceful youth, indicating in a delightful freedom of action and swinging stride the sex she> is counterfeiting. There were tenderness and refinement in her lovo eccnes with Orsino and Olivia, and the grace of perfect understanding coloured her work nicely throughout. The comedy was helped along by the excellent <touble to Miss Hunter-Watts provided by the Sebastian (Mr. I). Uelbridge). Mr. Walter Hunt languished prettily enough as the love-sick Orsino. and Miss Valentine Sydney filled the role of Olivia adequately. It was, however, in the comedians that the company succeeded most notably. Mr. John Cavo is designed by nature for siich characters as Sir Toby Belch, and aided by his rare unction and intimacy of style, that experienced actor let no opportunity pass to score laughs. With his squeaky voice, peacock manners, and anaemic personality, Mr. Henri Bore was a remarkably effective Sir Andrew Aguecheek. No better exposition of this eccentric character has been given in Wellington. A thoroughly delightful exponent of that merry wench, Maria, was found in MissElwyn Harvey,, who, with her wonderfully infectious - laughter, revived memories of the inimitable Maud Milton iu the role. Miss Harvey got fairly into the skin of the part, and has never beforo been seen to, sucli advantage. Comedy is 3urely her. true metier. Mr. l''red Patey was a notably good Fabian, and a great laugher, and Mr. V. Edwards was properly robust as Ar.tonio. A feature of the comedy was the delightful singing of Mr. Fred Kehoe, as Feste, his contributions being the traditional songs, "0 Mistress Mine," "Come A\vay, Death," and filially, "When That I Was." "Twelfth Night" will bo played this and to-morrow evening, and on Wednesday will give way to that sublime lovo tragedy, "ltomeo and Juliet." "As You Like It" is announced for Saturday next. IF STOMACH HURTS DRINK HOT ■ WATER. A SPECIALIST'S J DVICE. "If dyspeptics, sufferers from flatulence, indigestion, acidity, gastric catarrh, etc., would only take a quarter tcaspoonful of bisurated magnesia in 'half a glass of hot water immediately after eating, they would soon forgot that they were ever atrlicated with stomach trouble, and doctors would have to look elsewhere for pation(6." In explanation of these words the specialist stated that most forms of stortiach trouble were due to acidity and fermentation of- tho food contcnls combined with insufficient blood supply to tho stomach. Hot water increases tho blood supply, and bisurated magnesia infita.ntly neutralises the acid and 6tops food fermentation; tho combination of the two, therefore, being extremely effi-' cicnt and infinitely preferable to tho uso of artificial digestives, stimulants, and medicines. It should be mentioned though that the form of magnesia referred to is quite distinct from the sulphates, citrates, oxides, or tho often met mixtures of bi&mutli and magnesia, and | to prevent.confusion you should ask tho chemist very distinctly for bisurated magnesia—Advt.