THEATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 60, 22 February 1902, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

" XHK MERCHANT OV VBJIIOE." j The re-appearance of Miss Janet Waldorf and her very capablo company at the Theatre Royal on Friday evening attracted a very full house. This wag creditable to the intalligence of the New Plymouth public, and must have been gratifying to the leading per-' formers, who ware warmly welcomed by the audience. In selecting "The Merchant of Tenice" as an opening play of the season, the management acted wisely, for not only is it one of Shakespeare's moat happily conceived plots, but there is an abundance of magnificent ideas clothed in the grandest language, frequently relieved by pungent wit and satire, which enhanc« the gems of thought to be found in this masterpiece of the immortal bard. To ! many people this play is familiar, and as we gave an outline of it, together with the cast of characters, those present were enabled to follow the story ■ with intelligent interest. That they ; did so was manifest, and that they , thoroughly enjoyed the exceptionally fine acting which characterised the per--1 formance throughout was abundantly 1 demonstrated. As Portia, Miss Janet Waldorf had a part which exactly 1 suited her. Nothing could have been . in better taite than the way in which i her part ..in the opening scene was played, in which she sums up the i various suitors for her hand. Again 1 in the casket scene her acting was full ' ©f versatility and power, while in the trial scene she rose to the occasion and proved net only that she had I studied her part most intelligently and i successfully, but also that she was fully alive to the dramatic points of the ! situation, Her rendering ©f the well [ known lines expressive of the attrir butes of '•' Merpy" was original, but ' none the less pleasing on that account, [ while her judicial beariug at the climax , of the trial was a perfect piece of artisl tia acting which will linger ploasantly ■ in the memory of those present As 1 Shylock, Mr Norval MacGrygor scored [ a big success throughout, and notwith- , standing the enormous strain which ; the portrayal of this character entails on the actor he never spared himself j for a moment, but thoroughly merged 1 his own personality into .that of a vin- \ d ctivo Jew, whose and inale- . volence were depicted with a force and subtlety that were highly • creditable to the actor. As Antonio i Mr Scardon was somewhat handicapped by an unattractive make up, and this '[seemed to have a depressing effect on ' him, otherwise his quiet demeanour | was well in keepiog with tradition. The Bassaaino of Mr Hanray was a capital delineation, his voice and pre- ; sence exactly suiting the part, which he certainly made the most of, Mr ' of course, made a typical . Launcelot Gobbo, and his drollery was greitly to, the liking of the denizens of i the pit, AJI the other parts, especially ' thesn of Nerissa and Jessica, w*re I mostly capably filled, and there is no i doubt that the large audience felt tb»y had a real and rare treat, the only drawback being the somewhat lengthy waits betwe»n the acts, although some excftJWnt music by a local orchestra ; helped part of the tims to pass pleasantly. TO-NIGHT will be staged "The Jewess," a powerful phy, iu which there ai-d sinse stirring Btenep, replste with thrilling interest and dramatic force. As "Leah" Miss Waldorf should score ano unqualified success. Those who remember Miss Eateman in this part when in her palmy day? cm rccdl ths crowded houses which were n'ghti after night attracted by one of the finest histrionic displays of modern times. From the way in which Miss Waldorf has sustained other difficult roles there is every reason to consider that another treat'awaits the rudieoce of this evenling, when there should again be a (crowded house.