MERCHANT OF VENICE

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 21 May 1952, Page 4

MERCHANT OF VENICE

Fine Presentation by C.A.S. Company An audience of nearly 300 packed Riekit's Hall 011 Monday week to see Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" presented by the Auckland theatrical company of the Community Arts Service. y Truly this organisation and particularly this company are performing a great service in bringing classical plays to the smaller country area, and in Taupo we are more than grateful to have the opportunity to see a competent professional company in our own home town. Of nec^ssity the presentation on such a small stage required an amalgamation of the minor parts and a certain amount of cutting of seript, but this was cleverly accomplished and the result provided grand entertainment to an appreciative audience. Amongst the players the part of Portia was taken by Eleanor Elliott, an Auckland girl who will be remembered during the last visit of this • company when she played the difficult role of Dyamene in "A Phoenix Too Frequent." As Portia she was charming and natural, whilst in her thin disguise as a lawyer she rightfully dominated the court scene. Howard Biddlestone, a recent arrival from England, in his first professional part well portrayed the honest and good side of the merchant Antonio, but perhaps lacked the fire that might also be expected from the enterprising ship-owner. The handsome Bassiano played by Keith Bracey of Tauranga, suited his part perfectly as a wooer of Portio, torn vaguely by his loyalty to her and his friendship for Antonio. When out of the limelight Rod Stewart of Wanganui adopted some rather gawky poses, but he played the loud-mouthed Gratiano well, and his portrayal of the arrogant Duke of Arragon, one of Portia's suitors could hardly have been better. Probably the best acting from the three suitors came from Kenneth Akerman as the Moroccan prince, to which part he gave a suitable combination of dash and dignity. Brian Brimer of Emperor Jones fame made a convincing Shylock, in spite of his large proportions which are not usually associated with a Jewish miser. His acting as usual was outstanding, and a good Shylock is essential to the success of this play. In the comedy part of Launcelot Gobbo Kenneth Ling a Londoner living in Napier gave a clever performance, and Harold Baigent the producer, who took the part of his blind father was a convincing mendicant. The other players, Virginia Stott of Wellington as Nerrissa Portia's maid, Margaret Simmons as Shylock's daughter Jessica, and her lover Lorenzo played by Roderick Horb, Jim Donovan as the Duke of Venice, and Hilary Scrymgeour as the maid Stephane were all good and completed a most entertaining cast. No praise is too great for players, who by the nature of things have to live in suitcases for months on end and never stay in one town for more than two successive nights Besides being artists on the stage they must be artists in organisation off it and time is never free from eternal packing and unpacking both of personal effects and scenery. In spite of all this they are giving first class performances and we look forward to seeing them in Taupo again in the near future. Box Office Success. Taupo members of the Community Arts IService associated with the production of the "'Merchant of Venice" have been greatly encouraged by the pleasing result of their efforts to promote the success of the visiting company's presentation of the play. It was a bumper house roughly, 300 present — a box-office success representing nearly £50 that made it possible for all expenses to

be paid, and a sum set aside to provide for past or future deficits. The committee is grateful to those ladies and gentlemen who kindly arranged for the billeting of the visiting artists.