DUNEDIN AND THE BARD

Radio Record, 27 May 1938, Page 12

DUNEDIN AND THE BARD

The uatara and a Shakespeare Clib- Are N.Z. Contribution To World Antiquities. . «

by

C. H.

FORTUNE

OMPILING a list of the oldest things in the world to be found in New Zealand, most people would probably start off hopefully with the tuatara lizard, and then begin to look blank. Few would be likely to consider New Zealand as possessing anything in the theatre world that could be included under such a heading. Yet the Dunedin Shakespeare Club, with 61 years of life, is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world. The discovery was made when the Dunedin club affiliated with the British Empire Shakespeare Society in 1932. It is an enviable record-a remarkable record For the club has never at any time read plays by any other than Shakespeare. Despite the thousand and one counterattractions of recent years, the Dunedin Shakespeare Club has gone only from strength to strength. It is stronger today than it has ever been. Up curtain on the past.

‘PHY scene, the Dunedin Athenaeum. The time, Wednesday, October 17, 1877. Hight men are present, founders of the Shakespeare Reading Club. ‘Twelve rules were drawn up, the most important being "The object of the club is the promotion of the study of Shakespeare, and the cultivation of the art of reading aloud." (That is still the most important rule of the club.) Mr. Justice H. S. Chapman is elected president, and it is decided to study "Hamlet," the proceeds obtained from a public reading to be devoted to the Indian Famine Re lief Fund. But the proceeds ro

to the Benevolent Institution; £80 being collected. Keeping in mind the traditions of the Shakespearean stuge, in the early years all parts were read by men, and women were debarred from membership, At the first pubthe reading of "Much Ado About Nothing,’ the part of seatrice was taken by Mr. Alfred Burton, one of the club’s founders, and a man six feet tall! Still the club flourished. Mr. Burton was a prominent figure in the history of the club. He was popular with audiences, acting his parts with conviction. There were times when the club was threatened with dissolution, but Mr. Burton’s enthusiasm held things together. He was responsible for the inclusion in the club’s repertoire of plays that were deemed too hard for reading, himself taking the leading parts in plays considered "impossible," and proving they were possible. He Tood given a complimentary benetit performance in May,

TRIBUTE must also go to Mr. T. W. Whitson, yet another foundation member, who was as enthuSiastic as Mr. Burton. He served 45 years in all, and his influence was marked. He was president from 1906 until 1922, the year of his death. Then there was Alexander Wilson, M.A,, president from 1899 until 1906. He enjoyed a reputation for scholarliness that was justified. He aided the club’s prestige through the publication of a volume, "Short Studies in Shakespeare," based on addresses given prior to ae readiug, in which explanations and comments on the work were made. ITHOUT public support the club must have died ‘between 1887 and 1890. Those were lean years generally. and Dunedin was in the deepest of the doldrums. Financia! support was scanty, and in March, 1887. an appeal for sup-

port had to be made through the city Press. By 1890 conditions had become so vad that the re words of one meeting state that the suggestion arose "that the propriety of closing the club be seriously debated." Rather un: expectedly 20 new active and several honorary members stepped forward, and the club was saved-saved, not temporarily. but for all time. It is impossible in an article that must be as brief as this one to refer to all those citizens who took an active interest in this remarkable organisation. The list of presidents, chairmen and lecturers reads like something out of Debrett.

Commencing with Mr... Justice Chapman, there were Chief Justice Prendergast, Mr. Justice Johnston, Mr. Justice Williams, Sir Robert Stout, Dean Fitchett, Professors Mainwaring, Brown, Salmond, Gilray, and the Revs. R. W. Fairclough, and Saunders. Active members included Sir Frederick Chapman, Sir William Sim, Mr. Richard Hudason, Dr. William Brown, Mr. G. C. Israel, Mr. J. B. Callan, Mr. Justice Callan, Mr, Fred. Calvert, Mr. J. CG. Stephens, and Mr, A. C, Hanlon, who has been regarded as one of the greatest barristers New Zealand has ever known. ROM the time Mr, Hanlon was elected an active member in 1890, it might truly be said that Mr. Hanlon was the Dunedin Shakespeare Club. He was a "draw," a born actor, a born reader, an enthusiast. A Shakespeare reading was not complete unless Mr. Hanlon wag playing the lead, and he was at home in any part, but (Contd, on page 46.)

"yy Hs is what that outstanding K.C., Myr. A. C. Henlon, says about the | Dunedin Shakespeare Club: ‘’I consider that any success | have had in swaying Opinion as | wished it swayed, whether addressing a jury or any other audience, has been derived from the experience | obtained in reading aloud the works of Shakespeare. I would strongly recommend any young barrister to gain experience that way."

Dunedin And The Bard --

(Continued from page 12.) possibly he was never better than in the role of Richard III. Whether or not due to that influence the fact remains that from 1890 the club did not look back, In . 1898 the advisability of restricting the number of members was debated, this Just three years after the dissolution of the club had ‘heen seriously contemplated. In 1909 the scope of the club widened, and Mrs, Wakefield Holmes, to-day well known on the amateur stage in Dunedin, was cast as Isobel in "Henry Y." In 1911 she scored an outstanding success as Lady Macbeth. IN 1912 yet another milestone was passed. The club up to this time had performed in the Choral Hall or in Burns Hall, but it was now found that these halls were too small fo accommodate audiences. So that year ‘"Richard II,’ with Mr. Hanlon as Richard, was read in His Majesty’s Theatre. The war naturally affected the club a little: there were few organisations unaffected in those days, but mpst of the members were elderly and the effect was not so pronounced as on many kindred societies, {N 1922 Mr, Hanlon was appointed pre sident, retaining the honour until 1927, when Mr. J. ©. Stephens was appointed. The club was very strong at this time, and leading lights in the amateur theatrical world were active members. To-day, the club is as strong as ever, the reading of "As You Like It" given in the Concert Chamber only a week or two ago attracting satisfactory attention. Shakespeare can stil! hold his own against the combined onslaughtgs of radio, pictures, literature. and theatre! HREE readings a year are given, have been given for many years. While the plays are as expertly put across as they are at present the clun should last for many year. Mr. 8S. Fi. Osborn, the existing president (he has been active since 1906), must bea proud man. It is something to be president of a literary-reading club that last year celebrated its diamond jubilee. "NHE secretary, Mr. J. W. Hayward. "told me that the club had been responsible for much good in the charitable sense. During the war it gave¥ varying sums to patriotic funds and varioug other funds that had the wel fare of the soldiers at heart. It has often assisted other charities. It mooted the suggestion that a Shakespeare garden be laid out in a corner of the Botanical Gardens, only plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s works to be grown The city council supported the suggestion and accepted the club’s donation ta the work, And has this rewding of Shakespeare any value, apart from that of enter tainment? ‘Turn back and read whar Hanlon, K.C., has to say on the firsi page of this article.