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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19474, 8 May 1925, Page 9

“OTHELLO."’ Them was a very large attendance at His Majesty's Theatre last evening when fcveral of tlio performing members of the Dunedin Shakespeare Club gave readings from the poet's “Othello.” Practically everyone knows the tragic story of how Othello is persuaded by i.ago to believe that Desdemona has been faithless to him, and eventually strangles her and poisons himself. There are immense opportunities in the tragedy, and those engaged in the readings realised £he demands made upon them, and in several instances were decidedly successful. The heaviest wont devolves upon whoever undertakes to pro.-, sent the characters of Othello and lago, and on this occasion the duty fell to Mr J. Fleming and Mr S. 11. Osborn respectively. There, are several dialogues be-; tween the Moor his oiheor lago, whose “soul knows double knavery,” and when these two gentlemen were associated some remarkably good reading was heard. Mr Fleming was perhaps inclined to be a (rifle tame at the outset, bat he improved very much when the scene where lago sows the seeds of suspicion in Othello’s mind was reached. In the chamber scene at the end be bad some very ditllcult work before him. It is a very emotional part, and the lament over 1 losdeniona’s dead body was perhaps a trifle overdone. Still taken as a whole the presentation Mr Fleming gave of a dilhcnlt part was decidedly creditable, and was evidently highly appreciated bv tile audience. Mr Osborn was excellent as the crafty, scheming lago, and in no instance did ho fail completely to engross the attention of those present. His strongest scene was in the interview between lago and Othedo, where (he former, after having thoroughly roused the suspicions of the latter, calmly tenders the advice “Roware of jealousy, my lord.” Mr Osborn gave a decideiiy good recital of the familiar linos commencing “Good name in man or woman,” and there was more freedom in his movements' about the stage titan was the ease with most of the other performers, Mr 11. IV. Hunter’s Cassio was a good study, and he rcati well. Mrs IV. J. Low gave an admirable reading, notably in the log scene in which Othello accuses Desdemona of infidelity. Sue made a very charming lte-aiemon:i, and the final scene was a very a Lett ins one. Mr C. J. L. IVbite made the most of the small part of Rodorigo, and in the first act Mr ,1. 1!. Flynn, as Itrahaatio. the father of Des lemon ~ was particularly gcod. Hr Flynn’s work was however all compressed into (he opening portion of the play. Miss K. MT’eak had a small part in Emilia, and was specially clever in Emilia's donuncia-. (ion of lago. towards the end. The Duke of Venice, Lodorico, and Montano was presented satisfactorily by Messrs If. Chapman, A. Stephens, and R. 11. Wilson respectively, and Miss F. Sumner supplied the ehorns. During (he Interval Mr Ernest Drake sang Handel’s “Ombra mat fu” to (he complete satisfaction of (he audience. and was recalled twice. Hi? accompaniments wore played by Mrs Drake.