“HENRY VIII.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 4

“HENRY VIII.”

WONDERFUL PRESENTATION

At the Municipal Theatre, Napier, last night, Shakespeare's “Henry VIII” plav was wonderfully well staged by the Allan Wilkie Company, and it ran smoothly from beginning to end. Apart from the consistently high standard of acting, organising skill is characteristic of a company that can move with such rapidity from place to place and set out such beautiful staging as it goes. No one who was present last night will grudge to Miss Hunter-Watts an appreciation of her fine acting. Her Queen Catherine was as good as the most critical critic could desire, and at times she gripped the entire audience, nothing but the cadences of her fine voice breaking the tense silence. Mr Allan Wilkie was a majestic and stately Cardinal, and (as he informed the “Tribune” representative later in his dressing-room) wore the actual robes, that belonged to Tree, the great Victorian actor. He shares the honour with Miss Hunter-Watts, especially for the impressive manner in which he handled the scene in which the Cardinal bids farewell to Cromwell. Mr Franx Clewion. in the character of Henry VIII, made a somewhat diminutive but very effective King. Special mention must also be made of Mr John Cairns’s fine effort as the Duke of Buckingham. His speech from the Cross was a magnificent bit of oratory that made one turn up tho P a ge again at home to enjoy it afresh. Mr Dennis Barry's utterance of the prologue was delightful to listen to, and could not lie improved upon. As the Earl of Suffolk he maintained his own high standard and his sinirinc of the song attributed to Henry VIII was a delight.

The company performs “Hamlet this evening, in Napier. ‘

The Havelock children’s school sports will be held in the Domain on Saturday next. Children’s events commence at 10 a.m., and adults at 2 o'clock in tho afternoon.

Mr. G. McNamara, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, accompanied by Mr. L. L. Hills, service representative on the Bjpmotions Board, paid an official visit to Hastings to-day.

Among the guests at the Masonic Hotel, Napier, are:—Mrs. D. Brown ‘lndiana, U.S.A.), Mrs. M. V. Tremain (Santa Ana, California), Colonel and Mrs. A. Coyne (Honolulu), Mrs. F. S. Mcßride, Miss Mcßride (New York), Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Winn, Mrs. R Winn (Newcastle), Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Pack (Adelaide), Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Richwite (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Kay, Miss J. E. Kay, Mr. R. C. Winn (Sydney), Mr. A. G. Maitland (London), Mr. and Mrs. Melvcn (Auckland), Messrs. E. H. Ross (Dunedin), J. Fotheringham, B. Murphy (Auckland), L. L. Mills, G, McNamara, C. Brenner, S. T. Harrison, E. A. Drake, K. Mitchell (Wellington), F. J. Gilman (Masterton).