SHAKESPEARE SEASON.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1922, Page 7

SHAKESPEARE SEASON.

“A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.” ALLAN WILKIE’S MATINEE. Mr, Allan Wilkie made a wise selection in staging “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at his -Shakespeare matinee at the Empire Theatre yesterday afternoon. It reveals Shakespeare at his best as a humorist, and yet there are the touches of pathos in the crossing of the loves of Helena and Hermia that bring out, in a minor degree, the elements of tragedy. There cannot be any doubt that Mr. Wilkie, by his -presentation yesterday, has awakened for the bard a renewed interest, not only on the part of those who have long neglected his works, but of the hundreds of scholars of the upper standards and the secondary schools who crowded the theatre.

Bottom was a weaver of Athens, who, with his fellow townsmen, Quince, -Snug, Flute, Snout, and Starveling, bethought himself an actor, and, with his com-rades-in-arms, sought to enliven the marriage feast of the Duke with a, drama. Mr. Wilkie made Bottom not a clown, but almost a yokel, full of conceit of his histrionic ability and an unwitting humorist. With his clear and distinct enunciation, he made himself audible to the host of juvenile admirers, who will never forget his antics in the wood when the mischievious Puck crowned him with an ass’s head, nor his waking soliloquy when the spell was removed. It was in the play before the Duke, however, that Mr. Wilkie reached his height and there was not one little piece of by-play that failed to draw its laugh. TKe Puck of Miss Vera St. John was a, delightfully mischievous, laughing imp, who went straight to the hearts of the audience. Her impishness was always spontaneous and even her prank on the unfortunate Bottom and the merry dance she led Demetrius and Lysander, when they would fight, gained her additional applause for the sheer boyishness of her acting. The love making to Hermia of Mr. Erank Moore, as Lysander, was very good, and his swift change to an infatuation for Helena after Puck had worked his charms and his spurning of his former love, was very well done. Mr. Ellis Irving’s Demetrius, although giving flashes of passion, was hardly convincing as one of the hot-headed young bloods of Athens. Mr. Augustus Neville invested Theseus (Duke of Athens) with a stern character with a high idea] concerning the laws of his city, but his speaking was at times too fast to be articulate. Mr. Jack Lennon portrayed Egeus convincingly, while the Oberon of Mr. Leslie Manners was also well done.

Helena and Hermia were admirably east in Miss Miss Hilda Dorrington and Miss Lorna Forbes, the former rising to great heights in her castigation of Lysander when that unhappy youth revealed his passion for her. Hippolyta was played by Miss Mona Duval and Titania by Miss Pamela Travers.. The remaining characters were in keeping with the principals, the dancing of little Pease Blossom (Miss Phyllis Scully) being exceptionally