THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2340, 3 October 1881, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

I The production by Miss Pomeroy and her i routed company on Saturday night of Antony and Cleopatra ” marks an era in our dramatic history. Without doubt it afforded Christchurch playgoers the highest dramatic treat they have ever had the opportunity of enjoying, and from an artistic point of view was a complete and thorough success. To say it was well put on the stage is but faint praise—so realistic, with one little exception, were alike the various impersonations and the surrounding details, that one would almost believe that the centuries had rolled back and that those present were actually participators W 6“ M spectators of the incidents so vividly pourtrayed. Every detail was carefully attended to in order to place this, one of the proudest efforts of Shakspoare’s genius, before the public in a manner worthy of ifc, and from the way in which it was done it was evidently a labor of love to Miss Pomeroy and her able coadjutors. The interest felt by playgoers in the event was evinced most markedly by j the very large assemblage which filled all parts of the Theatre, and it must have been a source of satisfaction both to Mies Pomeroy and the management to find that their efforts were so highly appreciated. Miss Pomeroy’s Cleopatra was throughout a magnificent pourtrayal of the part. So admirably and completely did Miss Pomeroy subdue and destroy her personality and identify herself with the character that the artist was lost in it, and the imperial beauty, with all the weird dignity and subtle atmosphere of the licentious age in which she lived, stood out in bold relief, Cleopatra, without doubt, is one of the grandest pictures of women ever drawn by Shakspeare in the sense of terrible grandeur, and thus it is that to render it with anything like completeness taxes to the utmost the histrionio powers of the artiste. Miss Pomeroy was fully equal to the occasion, and her Cleopatra must bo conceded to be an impersonation which stamps her as worthy to taka the highest possible rank as an actress. In the first act Mies Pomeroy gave us a very realistic picture of the enchantress for whose sake Antony forgot all. The biting sarcasm of the speech where she reminds Antony of his imperial master and his wife, in order to delay his audience of the messengers, was made a great point of by Miss Pomeroy, contrasting by a fit of exquisitely artistic byeplay moat strongly with the loving manner assumed immediately afterwards to bind Antony more strongly in her toils. One of the scenes in which Mies Pomeroy achieved her greatest triumph was that in the first act, where Cleopatra assumes to treat Antony with disdain, and hears the news of Fulvia’s death. She gave a most finished picture of the contending emotions which fill Cleopatra at this stage of the play, fear of losing Antony and scarcely concealed joy at the death of her rival. So also was her acting of the pretended illness and ultimate triumph over the weak-minded Antony, which closes the scene. No lee* artistic and forcibly real was the picture Miss Pomeroy presented of the whirlwind of rage which overpowers Cleopatra on learning that Antony is married to Octavia, but she erred in the scene in < the third act, where Mardian describes Octavia to her. It is true that to some extent the womanlike curiosity to know what her rival is like overcomes the imperial dignity of the Queen, but Mias Pomeroy, we are inclined to think, conversed too familiarly with the messenger at this part, A woman of strong will and imperiousness of nature such as Cleopatra was, whilst perhaps relaxing somewhat, would never descend to speak to a slave so much like an equal as Miss Pomeroy makes her. This, however, was the only blemish in an otherwise really magnificent performance. The scene with Thyreus, that where Antony dies, and last of all the death scene of Cleopatra herself, were all played with a vividness and finish whioh made them a great success. Miss Pomeroy was deservedly called after each act and at the close of the piece. Miss Jes-ie Grey played Charmian very prettily indeed. The only fault that can be found is the introduction by her of Millard’s ballad of “ Waiting ” into the piece. This had the effect, to some extent, of marring the otherwise complete presentation of the play. Surely it is an unpardonable anachronism to introduce a song written centuries later than the action of the piece, and though Mis* Grey sang it charmingly, it jarred considerably on the feelings of those who are students of Shakspeare. Miss Jenyns, who is a very pleasing and capable actress, played Octavia with a quiet dignity and effect whioh made it very enjoyable. Miss Douglas appeared as Iras. Mr Holloway’s Mark Antony throughout was a really fine performance, deserving the highest possible praise. The scenes with Cleopatra were all played with much delicacy and finish, and the same may be said of the one in whioh Antony meets Caesar, It was, however, in the latter part of the play that Mr Holloway achieved his greatest success. The one with Eros, culminating in the death of Antony, was artistic in the extreme, and proved this gentleman to be not only a thoroughly capable actor but a loving and painstaking student of Shakspeare. Mr O’Brien played Caesar very well indeed, and Mr Wallace was good as Lepidas. The bluff, blunt soldier Enobarbus found a most efficient representative in Mr Hamilton, and his description of the first meeting of Antony and Cleopatra was a very fine piece of elocution, Mr Hoskins played the small part of Pompey in his usual scholarly manner, and Mr Jewett deserves notice for his excellent rendering of the dual parts allotted to him. Mr Flemming’s Bros was a most graceful and artistic rendering throughout, especially the dying scene, whioh was deserving of the highest praise. The remainder of the characters were excellently filled, and the piece throughout went splendidly. The quartette and chorus, “ Come thou Monarch of the Vine ” was well sung. Messrs Hamilton and Willis deserve great credit for the admirable manner in which it has been placed on the stage, and no doubt their enterprise will meet with the reward it deserves. The play will be repeated to-night, and is well worth a visit.