TREATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 79, 1 April 1903, Page 2

TREATRE ROYAL.

"IF I WKKE KING." 5 Thb weather on Tuesday evening wjs j decididly ndverae to any attraction, and w»s quite sufficient to account for th j diminution of the audience as compared with that of the previous eveniu?. There can be no question that " If I Were King " wab a sufficient attraction to have secured an over flowing house. llt is a strong play, full of dramatic | intercs 1 : and incident, and as presented ' by such a first class c >mpany as Mr, ! Williamson's, was seen at i's best, • Practically the interest csntres around : three characters—the King, Francois i Villon and Katberine, the chiof part being that of Francois. In this charac- ! ter Mr. Hastings was seen to greai advantage, his acting being dicin'guished by great dramatic power and 'finish, while his fine voice exactly j suited the part, especially in tbe last fact. Mr. Atholwood as .Louis XI. had . a somewhat difficult role, but he ; achieved a great success. Miss May i Chevalier gave an excellent in'-erpre- ' tation of the character of Katherine d>' Vaucelle 3 , and the other members of the company mont ably filled their parts, tbe play being acted throughout in capita! style. The scenery, costumns and accessories were on a scale of magnificence that was highly creditable to Mr. Williamson, and the company s'lonld be warmly welcomed on any future visit here.