" CAMILLE "

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 60, 4 December 1919, Page 10

" CAMILLE "

THE ALLAN WILKIE SEASON "Camille," a play in four acts, by Alex. Dumas. Cast of characters:— Armand Allan Willtio Mont)ieur Duval Augustus Kcyillo Count do Varville Guy Hastings Gaston Kieux l'"eliK Bland Oustav Gerald Harcourt Messenger Fred Patey I)uu do Trevillo Bernard llecby Kanino Lorna Forbes Niclu'tte Vera rit. John Olirnpo Jlona Duval lladaiuc Prudence Helen Fergus Oamillo Frediswyde Hunter-Watts

The poignant play of love, jealousy, and sublime self-sacrifice, "Camille," or as tho French have it, "La Damo aux Camellias," is an Mceptcd classic on tho English stage, and thero has never been an actress of any ambition who did not desiro to display her power as that highly emotional "Lady of the Camellia." The part is to the actress as "Hamlet" to tho actor. So tho memory may travel back to tho immaculate performance of Signor and Madamo Majeroni in tho leading roles, people- whoso nationality and nir suited the play singularly well Some seventeen years ago_ it was revived by Hiss Nanco 0 Neill, who was supported by Mr. Thomas Kington as Armand, and played in Georgian. costumes, an added pictures<[ucness was given tho play. Amongst other good Camillcs was Miss Nellie Stewart, whose vivid etago sense and astonishing versatility never allowed her to do anything other than well on tho stage.' Last evening tho .Allan Wilkio Company, winch is ro markable for its enterprise, gave nil extremely creditable performance of tho fine old play, a performance which would have been more convincing, perhaps, had the general production been on a more lavish scale. Still, judged as the effort of a stock company (which has given several sound performances), "Camille" was satisfactorily played. In tho title role, Miss Frediswyde Hunter-Wntts was particularly well suite, and hers was a very human Camille, who made a certain app'cal to the heart. Her physical frailtv and innate air of j?ood breeding, wero virtues not to bo lightly valued, and hero well-defined histrionic senso checked any. tendency to overact. So 6he camo near to the natural Camille, and completely won tho sympathy of tho audience. Miss Hunter-Walts was strongly emotional in that well-conceived scene in which Arnund's father begs Camillo to givo up his son for the honour of the family, and in this touching (leath scene —in which an easy chair was used in placo of tho conventional bod—tho actress was sweetly resigned and appealingly unthealrical. Several of tho evening frocks and wraps worn by Miss HunterWatts wero visions of loveliness. Mr. Allan Wilkio was a vehement and rathor boisterous Armand Duval, and his rude iealousy, which should just be allowed to peep out, was almost bullying in its I lone, lie was vigorously dramatic in. tho famous ballroom scene, where lie ! heaps contumely upon Camille, the martvr, and openly seeks a'quarrel with the Count de Varville. Perhaps the bestulaved sceno was that between Camille and Duval, senior, the latter role being plavctf with fine dignity and repose by Mr. Augustus Neville (who is, by tho way, a native of Wellington!. Mr. Guy Hastings played Do Varvillo on pleasant lines, making him quite an amiable individual, which rather worked against Armand as far as the sympathy of the audience was concerned. For the reason indicated, De Varville, though not in Hie least decree a villain, is usually lilaved on Machiavellian lines. Mr. Felix Bland did well as the gooo'-hoartcd Gaston, and the worldly Madamo Prudence was admirably played by Miss Helen Fergus. Miss Vera St. John is to be credited with a bright bit of work fis Nichelte, and Mr. Gerald Harcourr. was Gustav.

Appropriate music, including - file fnmili*v strains of "La Trovinta" (the Veroi own-a founded on "CnmiYle"). was played bv an orchestra under the competent cjirentinn of Miss Nellie Harris. "Caraille" will lie played «irnm to-night and tomorrow night. The season will conclude on Satuvdav evening with a revival of "Tho Silver Kins"