SHAKESPEARE SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 20138, 1 April 1929, Page 7

SHAKESPEARE SEASON

ALLAN WILKIE’S COMPANY ‘MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR' In presenting ‘ The Merry Wives ot Windsor ’ as the opening play of a Shakespearean season which is to last for three weeks, the Allan Wilkie Company achieved a signal success at His Alajesty’s Theatre on Saturday night. The return of Air Wilkie with a repertoire of the fanjous bard’s plays, including some that have not been presented here previously, is always a welcome and important event. Without him, or some adequate substitute, there -would be a serious gap in our local culture. Grave or gay as Shakespeare may be, lie is always au intellectual stimulus, a mental refreshment that leaves a healthy sense of satisfaction. The pleasure that was derived by the large audience on Saturday night was _ clearly manifest by the genuine applause that greeted, tho players, the marked demonstration of delight causing Air Wilkie to conic forward at the final curtain to express his pleasure and satisfaction at again being able to appear before a Dunedin audience. Probably tho reason for ‘The Alerry Wives of 'Windsor,’ the talc of Falstaii in love, being one of the most delightful and popular of Shakespeare’s comedies is the fact that the humour both of dialogue and situation is straightforward and natural. Indeed, the construction in a modern setting might easily do duty for a present-day farce. There are also some very interesting facts about ‘ The Alerry Wives or Windsor’ to distinguish it from the author’s other comedies. According to ft traditionary talc, credited by most of Shakespeare’s commentators, the comedy owes its origin to Queen Elizabeth, who, being much pleased with the admirable character of Falstaff, as delineated in two parts of ’ Henry the Fourth,’ ordered the playwright to continue it for one play more and to exhibit the knight in Jove. Jc is also very generally accepted that the play -was written in a fortnight. The allusions and general air and cast ot the piece seem to suggest that it was really written as a local comedy o) contemporary manners; the characters hear the expressions of portraits; and the traditions of Windsor, which pointout where stood the Garter Inn ami the houses of Page and Ford, seem hardly to be -the fruit of mere wanton fabrication. Further, the comedy has a certain independence from the histones, and cannot bo pieced on to them m any way; the persons are the same, and yet not the same, as in other pieces. Falstalf, for instance, is not conceived as the, Falstalf of ‘Henry the Fourth.’ In ‘ The Alerry Wives tho knight is fatuous—his genius deserts. him; the buck-basket, the drench of Thames waters, tho blows of Ford’s cudgels, arc reprisals too coarse for the most inimitable of jesters. Yet the play is a merry one, with an abundance of broad, plain mirth, well-continued incidents, whimsical characters, and a skilfully-constructed plot. Air Wilkie’s company, which includes a number of players who were with him on previous visits, gave broad and excellent treatment to the comedy, amt the audience evidently enjoyed their methods. _ The presentation of ‘ The Alerry Wives’ was better all round than those given by Air Wilkie’s combination 011 a previous occasion—and that is saying a great deal, The native humours of the piece, with their liberal by-play; till' delightful merry wives, with “their shy laughing looks, their apple-red cheeks, their brows the linos whet-con look more like the work of mirth than years”; the basket scene in which the portly knight, suitor to both, dropped into the Thames when the jealous Ford surprises tile little scone; and the secondary episodes which introduce Atm Page and her many suitors—all those thoroughly amused the audience. The comedy teas well staged, in two parts, the dressing and scenic effects alike were good, the music added to the general effect of the production, and there -was a charming Alorris dance in tho final scone. All through, the players succeeded in giving a striking picture of English manners of the day, and duo point to tho moral of the _ comedy, in which, by a train of exquisite ridicule, Shakespeare has exhibited tho pride of gallantry in old men and the folly of parents in wishing to connect their-children with ignorance and age from mot Hes of interest.

In ‘The Merry Wives’ all of the many characters arc important, and invidually and collectively all the members ot the company depicted their Parts in a way that deserves high praise. Mr Wilkie, as tho old knight who imagined himself still qualified and capable of inspiring a passion in the hearts of Mistress Ford (Miss HunterWatts) and Mistress Page (Miss Lorna Forbes), was delightfully droll and amusing, especially in the"scene whole ho was ignominiously tumbled into a clothes basket, and removed from the fair schemers. Air Wilkie made all that should be made of Falstnlf’s impaired state, and Ids interpretation was adhered to with fine consistency. J-fis make-up was masterly, nothing being spared in tho way of rotundity, and his elocution admirably suited the lines of tho part- The passages wherein he describes his humiliating experiences at the hands of the two women who fooled him were particularly well given. To their already extensive gallery ol Shakespearean women Miss HunterWatts and Miss Lorna Forbes added further charming pictures in their respective roles of Mistress Ford and .Mistress Page. Playing with a, keen sense of the humour of things, they were (particularly effective in the hilarious basket and witch scenes. Their vivacious laughter was most infectious. The Frenchman Cains was played with the, appropriate burlesque" effect by Mr John Cairns, and Mr Herbert Shcidrick was most amusing as Sir Hugh Evans (n Welsh parson) with “ his very good discretions and his very odd humour.” As tho Host of the Garter Inn Mr William Lockhart was responsible for some excellent comedy work, while Mr Arthur Keene gave a discriminating portrait of Slender, most brainless of youths and most incapable of lovers. As “ Sweet Ann Page ” Miss Mildred Howard was sweetly girlish, and successfully invested the part with quiet humour. Miss Marjorie Noulton made a charming little page to Falstaff. A good deal of interest was taken in the appearance of Miss Hilda Scurr, a Dunedin girl, in the part of Mistress Quickly. She showed an intelligent understanding of the part, and did all that was required of her in very capable fashion. Other parts were successfnly taken by Sir Dennis Barry (Teuton, the successful wooer of Ann Page), Mr Vincent Scully (Shallow), Mr Alexander Marsh (Ford), who gave a splendid representation of the jealous husband. Air John Cameron (Page), Air Keith Hall (Bardolph), Air Alilton Sands (Pistol), Air Miles Hastings (Nym), Air Russell Chapman (Simple), and Mr Alan Harknoss (Rugby). This afternoon the company appeared in the well-known ‘ Tho Merchant of Venice