COMEDY OF CONCEIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 606, 7 March 1929, Page 15

COMEDY OF CONCEIT

“TWELFTH NIGHT” AT HIS MAJESTY’S MR. WILKIE’S MALVOLIO ‘Twelfth Night” or “What You Will,” a comedy in 12 scenes and two parts, by William Shakespeare. CAST: Malvolio Allan Wilkie Orsino Alexander Marsh Sebastian Herbert Sheldrick Antonio Milton Sands A Sea Captain William Lockhart Valentine ; Keith Hall Curio Miss Mildred Howard Sir Toby Belch John Cairns Sir Andrew Aguecheek .. Arthur Keane Feste Dennis Barry Fabian Alan Harkness A Priest Charles Henton Olivia Miss Lorna Forbes Maria Miss Hilda Scurr Viola Miss Hunter-Watts Rarely did the mingled qualities of wit and sentiment run so smoothly from the quill of Shakespeare as in “Twelfth Night.” This is one of the great dramatist’s happiest comedies, and in it he used to the greatest advantage the theme, beloved by him, of playing double against double to the bewilderment and consternation of bemused people who find themselves turning hither and thither in the midst of a maze of contradictions seeking enlightenment. Though not obtrusive, sentiment teems, and some fine passages are

given to Orsino, Duke of Illyria, inspired by love unrequited. Olivia, too, caught in passion’s web, is made the mouthpiece through whom Shakespeare expressed some of the most fervent pleadings of a troubled heart. Admirable buffoonery relieves the situation, and one of the bard’s most remarkable creations in Malvolio, ridiculous in sublime conceit, stalks complacently through the play. Some of the choicest pearls of i Shakespearian wit and wisdom fall to the lot of Feste the fool, who also has the happiest of songs to sing. Sympathetic treatment, which counts for so much in production of the comedies particularly, has evidently been closely studied by the Allan Wilkie company, and action aided many of the most subtle points with good effect last evening. Mr. Wilkie, a strutting peacock vaingloriously spreading his figurative tail, is excellent, and the versatility of this popular actor must be regarded with nothing less than wonder when it is remembered that on the two previous evenings he had played the grovelling Sliylock and the sombre Hamlet. Miss Hunter-Watts left little to be desired as Viola, and Miss Forbes was ; graciously dignified as Olivia. Mr. j Cairns and Mr. Keane were an admir-

able couple in their parts as the roistering Sir Toby Belch and the fatuous Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Miss Scurr and Mr. Harkness made with them a happy and mischievous quartet. Mr. Barry (Feste) had several songs to sing, and he used a pleasing voice with good effect, particularly in the rather sombre “Come Away, Death.” The comedy was well received, and “there were few in the audience who could not fittingly comment on Feste’s farewell lines: But that’s all one. our play is done. And we’ll strive to please you every day. This evening * Coriolanus” will be played for the first time in Auckland.