THEATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 7 October 1901, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

JANET WALDORF COMPANY, The opaning performance of the Janet Waldorf Company at the Theatre Royal on Saturday "night was well attended, even the pit being filled. Considering that the play was " Borneo and Juliet," atd that Saturday is not a favourable night for theatre goers here, the management should feel well satisfied with the numerical strength of tho audience. Owing to the small-m-S3 of tho stage, especially as regards height, the play could not be staged as it should be, and this was disappointing alike to tho audience and the company, but under the circumstances the best was done to overcome this difficulty. A review of a performance of such a play as " Borneo and Juliet" depends much on the standard taken, so that it would not be fair to compare Saturday night's performance with those of the English Shakesperean a-.tor3 and actresses. lis so rarely that an opportunity has been given to a New Plymouth audience of seeing and hearing one of Shakespeare's tragedies that a compatison with other such performances here is out of the question, and therefore judged from ac ordinary j the company may be said to have acquitted themselves with credit j all round As Romeo, Mr MacOregor worked hard, and evinced considerable skill in his treatment of the part, though in some of the more ciucial situations he fell somewhat short of the ideal " Romeo." It may safely be said, however, that hg is an actor, above the ordinary leyel, and be displayed an intelligent conception of the varying moods through which tho character passes, the find death being full of dramatic forca. Miss Wa'doi f made a charming "Juliet" in the lighter incidents, and at timeß rose to a high pitch of perfection in her art, the least satisfactory acting being in the representation of overwhelming grief and dospiir— the most difficult of all situations—inasmuch as the border line between the sublime and the ridiculous is so infinitely fine. As a whole her performance was intelligent and artistic, and she came out of the trying ordeal with much success. The Mercutio of Mr Hanray was throughout an exaellont piece of acting. He entered into the full spirit of the part and gave that life to his impersonation which deserved great praise. The important, part of the Friar was taken by Mr Patey, and he did ample justice to ! it. Nothing could be better than the way in which he acted, while his enunciation and delamation were a treat to the audience, and helped in no small measure to the success of the programme. Mr Fichett made a ludicrous " Peter," his byp-play frequently causing much laughter. As "Nurse," Miss D'Alton showed that she possessed good histrionic powers, the only fault being a slight tendency to over elaboration. Tho other parts were creditably filled. An excellent selection of music ,was played between the acts by Mr Campbell. TCi-MIGHT will be presented Dumas' love story " Camille," a play which MdUe. Sarah Bernhardt has rendered famous by her magnificent acting. The part of the heroine should be one that Miss Walj dorf could fill with great success 3, as it jhai just those rapidly changing moods which that lady can so well interpret. Moreover it affords scope for much dramatic power and fiery invective 1 Mr MacGregor should als> appear to great advantage a-i the hero " Armand Duval." The story is one that appeals strongly to the audience, and is replete with dramatic situations.

It is the story of Armand Duval's love for Oamille Gautier, the reigning queen of the Parisian demi-moode, and she, in turn, becomes imbued with s pure love forArmand, To avoid the

stigma of such an alliance Armand'e father pleads with Camilla in an impassioned scene to give up Armand, and this, after a heart-rending struggle, ehe at length does by confessing to her lover that she loves another, the Count da Varville. Armand's mad hate for his supposed rival finds an outlet in the famous gambling saloon scene, where he publicly insults the Count and heaps contumely on Oamille. This is one of tb« strongest of dramatic i scenes extant. The health of Oamille, j who is consumptive, fails, but not before her self-sacrifice is revealed to 1 Armand, in whose arms she dies as the cutain falls.