SHAKESPEARE SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 7

SHAKESPEARE SEASON

ALLAH WILKIE SUCCESSES If all the performances of Shakespeare's plays 'in tho lengthy repertoire arranged by Mi’, Allan Wilkie for his current season reach tho standard of the two played yesterday—‘The Merchant of Venice ’ and ‘ The Taming of tho Shrew'—then the public of Dunedin is to be provided with an exceptional treat. On this occasion Mr Wilkie has a stronger all-round and better-balanced company than ever before, and his methods of production have earned the sincere approbation of his'audiences. The real lover of Shakespeare does not look for elaborate trappings and magnificence in mountings, but mainly for the spirit in which the plays should bo given. That is where Mr Wilkie’s company scores heavily, though, at that, tho scenic externals are excellent.

Yesterday afternoon ‘ Tho Merchant of Venice,’ one of the best-known of Shakespeare’s works, was revived by tho company, and in it tho players gave a performance which put the hall mark of quality on their work. Mr Wilkie’s Shylock, which is familiar in Dunedin, does not temporise with the character. He makes the usurer of Venice a creature of tho blackest malignity, a Jew, tortured by his hatred of Antonio into a fiend incarnate who has no other thought than to have his “pound of flesh ” and who is hardened in that intent by. his daughter’s flight with the Christian Lorenzo. Playing the character. on broad melodramatic lines, Mr Wilkie gave telling effect to the Jew’s fell intentions. Miss HunterWatts made a sweet and lady-like Portia, who spoke the language ofShnke.speare so “trippingly on tho tongue’ and yet made every meaning clear. In her delivery of the “ Quality of Mercy ” speech, sho eschewed tho dramatic, which rather enhanced her performance. Sympathetic support was given by every other member of the cast, tho other principal parts being taken by Mr John Cairns, who successfully portrayed the character of the loyal-hearted merchant Antonio; Mr Dennis Barry, who in ado a comely and spirited Bassanio; Miss Lorna I orbes, as Jessica, the daughter of Shy lock; Miss Mildred Howard, as Nerissa; Mr Alexander Marsh, as Gratia no: and Mr Arthur Keane, as Lanncelot Gobbo. Last evening Mr Wilkie presented ‘TheTaming of the Shrew,' one of the most popular and most familiar of all the Shakespearean comedies. It was presented along traditional lines, with judicious “cuts” made by the producer. Much of the success of this play depends upon a vivid delineation of the temperament of tho pampered, madlytempestuous shrew, calling for special qualities in the lady attempting it. These were amply possessed by Miss Lorna Forbes, whose portrayal o, Katharina was an outstanding one. Vixenish, proud, and dominant, she was subdued by the exhibition rather than by the action of power, hut the observation of the continual proof or Petruchio’s indomitable disposition, and the obvious impossibility of attempting to control it. She had not to perceive that much of his character was assumed or that he was conquering her by a succession of jests and practical jokes of Ins own invention. As she encountered the determined and stormy Petruchio, impersonated by Mr Allan "Wilkie, the fun was fast and furious, and the delighted encouragement of the audience added to the clamour and the dust and the cracking of Petrnchio’s whip, made the subjection of Katherina quite a sensational affair. Miss Forbes’s elocutionary gifts were used to advantage in the final scene, when, at her husband’s direction, she discoursed to tho other women in the well-known lines setting forth the duties of a woman to her husband. The character of Petruchio admirably suited Mr Wilkie’s natural gifts, the part of the impetuous, domineering, loud, violent wooer and bridegroom being excellently sustained throughout. Physically, too, Sir Wilkie was able to give proper effect to the part, and he scored in decided Cushion. Despite the fact that ho had had an exacting piece of work in the afternoon in picturing the Jew Shylock, Mr Wilkie portrayed an excellent Petruchio. A pleasing feature of the production was tho admirable work of the lesser characters, many of whom contributed very substantially. to the fun of the evening. Mr Dennis Barry (Lucentio), Mr Herbert Sheldrick (Grumio), and Mr John Cameron (Hortensio) cleverly distinguished the characters of the three suitors of Bianca. Mr Alexander Marsh was happily cast as Tranio. the clever servant of Petruchion, while Mr Arthur Keane made a splendid Biondello, both he and Mr Milton Sands as Grumio appearing to properly relish tho fun of their parts. Miss Mildred Howard both looked and acted the gentle Bianca charmingly. Mr Vincent Scully, Mr John Cairns, and Mr William Lockhart capably npLqiSd the sedater roles, and the minor Characters furnished worthy support. ‘TWELFTH NIGHT ’ To-night Mr Wilkie revives- the favourite comedy of ‘Twelfth Night,’ and tho strutting Malvolio, romantic Viola, colourful Lady Olivia, tho merry Foste with his songs, the bibulous Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, rare pair of laughtermongers, roguish Maria—all will be right welcome again on the Dunedin stage. Perhaps no comedy offers better opportunities for fun-inak-ing than ‘Twelfth Night.’ . To-morrow at the matinee Mr Wilkie revives, for one performance only, ‘As Yon Like It,’ and in tho evening ‘ The Taming of the Shrew ’ will bo staged again. Mr Wilkie invites special attention to his new productions, the first of which is presented on Monday next—- ‘ Conolanus,’ the greatest of the three Roman plays of Shakespeare. Mr Wilkie is said to give his most striking performance in the title role, and the contending parties of partricians and plebians subscribe to intensely powerful acting situations.