SHAKESPEARE SEASON

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 176, 15 October 1927, Page 15

SHAKESPEARE SEASON

“TWELFTH NIGHT” For the second time in Auckland the A.llan Wilkie Company presented “Twelfth Night” at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. This delightful comedy is one of the company’s most successful plays, all the principals standing out in roles for which they are pre-eminently fitted. Mr. Wilkie’s Malvolio was a skilful piece of work a strutting personification of hollow dignity. As Viola, Miss Hunter-Watts carried a difficult role with grace and confidence. The two dry-throated hearties, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, were safe in the hands of John Cairns and Arthur Keane. Lorna Forbes, as Olivia, and Dulcie Cherry, as Maria, were both delightful. “Antony and Cleopatra,” produced by Mr. Allan Wilkie to-night for the first time in Auckland, is described by Coleridge as “the greatest historical play written by Shakespeare,” and the character of Cleopatra is said by Furnivall to be “the most wonderful study of woman thfe great playwright has left us.” Apart from this comment, “An tony and Cleopatra” eait be said irresistibly to arrest the attention by its swift changes from Rome to Egypt, the poignant intensity of the situations as Antony is draggged to his downfall by the witchery of Cleopatra, and the terrific closing scene of the queen’s career, where she applies a venomous snake to her bosom, and, to the accompaniment of some of the most exquisite speeches put into the mouth of an actress, passes from the world upon the history of which she has had such an extraordinary influence. Miss Hunter-Watts is said to give a wonderfully vivid and artistic rendering of the great role of Cleopatra. This play should be seen in conjunction with the epic Roman play, “Julius Caesar,” which Mr. Wilkie will stage on Wednesday, November 26, as it is of great interest to compare the Mark Antony of the two periods—the man of splendid action in “Julius Caesar,” and the ruined lover in “Antony and Cleopatra.” To-night’s play has but one more performance, as Monday next will see the last presentation.