THE JANET WALDORF SEASON.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 December 1901, Page 2

THE JANET WALDORF SEASON.

The people of Greymouth on Saturday night last were afforded a study in Shakespearian character—a glance at classical play, with its correct and beautiful language, its meditcval surroundings; the polish of the cultured and the almost animal level of the lower classes. The play “As You Like It ” was a very fitting lead into the regions of the high-class drama, which is a distinctive feature of the Waldorf Company. Saturday night is about the worst for theatre-goers, yet the Opera House was well filled by on audience, who, long ere tho close of the play realised that they were listening to a company of good artists led by two—Miss Janet Waldorf and Mr Norval M‘Gregor—stars in the theatrical world. One advantage in witnessing a Shakespearian p’ay is the knowledge that most folks have of the (ext, and the consequent keen enjoyment of the interpretation, especially so when that interpretation is a capable one such as characterised Saturday’s portrayal, "As you Like It” was excellently staged the finest scene being particularly like unto nature herself, while the actors in the forest, lent life to the scene that without a line being spoken was a feast to the eye and a very correct picture of the times.

The chief parts were taken by Miss Janet Waldorf and Mr Norval M’Gregor. The former had but spoken a couple of lines when it was seen that the identity of the individual was lost in the character she assumed A more living representative of Rosalind could not be portrayed. All the light and shade of life was perfect. The scene where love for the galant O lendo is first awakened was an admirable and finished piece of acting, then again when driven from the presence of his uncle the grief was so real, “so unstage like” as to at once make talent of a high order. Her acting in the finest scenes were always good, hrr by- liy with Orlando a perfect marwl. ' u.l in Oralando, Mr M‘Gtegor wu a fitting companion to such an exce’.ent actress. With a number ho established himself a favorite in the wrestling scone, but ho was at his best in his denunciation of the conduct of his elder brother and his grief at the suffering of his faithful followers. This acting in the forest scone with the as yet undisguised Rosalind was remarkably good and free from the buffoonery that is too apt to creep into such parts. Of the other characters we have only space to say that they play..d well up to such excellent leads and, as a result, “As You Like It” was a pronoun : ced success. To-night the company appear in Dumas great drama of “Camille” in which both Miss Waldorf and Mr M’Gregor have scored many successes,