SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 152, 17 September 1927, Page 13

SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS

ALLAN WILKIE’S RETURN Since his last visit to New Zealand Mr. Allan Wilkie nas been decorated by the Kins with a C.8.E., in recognition of the great work that he has done in this country and in Australia during the last ten years. It will be remembered that the fire at Geelong last year destroyed property that canot be replaced in a hurry, but the actor-manager is not at all downhearted. He has, in fact, come back with renewed enthusiasm and his objective still is to produce all of Shakespeare’s plays. Mr. Wilkie explains that when he departed for London last July for the purpose of purchasing stage armour, swords, jewels and other equipment essential to Shakespearean production, he fondly imagined he would find such material easily obtainable, as it had been in pre-war day§. Ultimately he had to adopt the expensive method of going direct to the manufacturers and purchasing the material at a price which he would formerly have regarded as prohibitive. Mr. Wilkie has the support of the largest company that he has yet toured with. All will glad y welcome back that great Shakespearean artist. Miss Hunter Watts, who will be seen in many fine roles, commencing with Queen Catherine in “Henry VIII. ’’ Then there is Mr. Clewlow, who will play the monarch himself, and who is a Shakespearean actor of great experience, besides having played for some years at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and the Gaiety, Manchester. Mr. Clewlow also acts as stage director for Mr. Wilkie. Other newcomers to New Zealand are Mr. Dennis Barry and Miss Minna Suckling, from England, and Miss Dulcie Cherry, of Melbourne, ? charming and accomplished ingenue with an excellent singing voice whicr. she uses to advantage in “Henry VIII.” Besides these are a number of former favourites, such as Miss Lorna Forbes, and Mr. Vincent Scully. In “Henry VIII.” Mr. Wilkie will again be seen in the role of the great Cardinal.