SHAKESPEAREAN SEASON

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 162, 29 September 1927, Page 17

SHAKESPEAREAN SEASON

ALLAN WILKIE CO. Mr. Wilkie, in an interview, lias stated he was disappointed with the productions he witnessed during his stay in England, and was of the opinion that the standard of the stage in the Old Country has fallen off in recent times. “T saw ten Shakespearean productions, and various other plays, but there was hardly a play of any value on the English stage. They are mostly revues, and plays dealing with sex problems. There is an influx of American plays and artists, and I must confess that the best actress I saw was an American. Now that the actormar Lager has practically disappeared, the theatrical promoter will not run the risk of producing anything that he is not sure will attract big audiences. the result being that no Shakespearean plays are being produced in the West End theatres. One of the most remarkable performances I witnessed was at the Old Drury Theatre, where a matinee performance in which a number of leading actors and actresses took part, produced excerpts from the various plays of Shakespeare in aid of the Shakespearean Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon. As is often the case in performances of such a nature, the standard was not very high. The most interesting feature of the performance was a speech of seven or eight minutes 4 duration by the famous English actress, Dame Madge Kendall, who is now 76 years of age. Her speech was an object lesson in diction and artistry. Most of the producers have discarded all th€j old traditions and methods, but have nothing better to offer in their stead, the result being that the productions are formless and lacking in style.” Box plans for the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean season commencing on Saturday night are now open at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd.