"OTHELLO."

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 172, 24 July 1890, Page 5

"OTHELLO."

MR MILN AS THE MOOR OF

VENICE,

There is really something very strange aboub Auckland society and its appreciation of the drama. Last nighb there was a terribly poor house to witness tho most passionate of Shakspere's great plays, "Othello." The dress circle, where the cultured and educated Aucklanders might reasonably be expected to gather in goodly array, was all but empty.

The crowds of well-dressed and reproach-, fullooking ladies and gentlemen, whoso loudly bewail the decadence of taste in young Auckland, altogether fail to set the good example of attending the Opera House when the intellectual fare is provided. The audience was noticeable—a young one. The majority of those present were in the twenties. Ib is not therefore tho young bub tho middle-aged generation who are so lamentably showing their inability to appreciate the beauties of Shakspero, thoroughly well mounted, and acted at least intelligently.

Mi Miln's assumption of the part of -the Moor of Venice was undoubtedly a great one, and one which might have, been expected from an actor of his undoubted histrionic power and intellectual force. His impersonation was one which was ovidently tho result of long thought and conscientious study. Every poinb had been carefully considered, every situation carefully thought oub. The result was that the impersonation was as nearly as possible perfect. There was, however, an occasional tendency towards rant, as, for instance, in the scene where Michael Cassio is discovered brawling, and is dismissed by the Moor from his service. Mr Miln gave way to strong passion where one would have expected him to be stern, powerful and dignified, while again there was no indication of any feeling of sorrow or grief at the necessity for disgracing his friend. In hiß demand for proof from lago, Mr Miln was too noisy. j Passion when roused to its highesb pitch would never keep up such a constant thunder of voice. When men are wrought up to such a pitch t_ey have to struggle to get the words out, and do not roll out long periods v;ith a cast, iron voice. A littlo of the subdued i'lteneiity of passion would have added enormously to the effectiveness of the speech, and at the same time relieved the tension on the DBrves of the audience. Mr Miln began high, and rained his voice with every lino tUI appreciation of the majestic beauty of the lines became lost in a nervous agony as to how much higher he would get. Ib waa a great pity, for it marred what would otherwise have been a perfect performance. The great " apology " speech in tho first acb, where he explains how he won the lov- of Dcsdemona, was the finest piece of elocution the writer has ever beard from any Shaksperian actor either in the colon jes br London. It could not have boon excelled. "Most potent, grave and roverend signors." The noble words rang out right nobly. The tragedian has a magnificent bass voice, and ib was heard to the fullest advantage in this speech. There waa dignity withoub osfcenbation, and a proud humiliby expressed in every action. When lago was pouring the damning words of his insidious poison into the honest Moor's ears Mr Miln was perhaps ab his very best. His constant change of facial expression showed all the workings of his soul as clearly as if ho had boea declaiming them. Bis grief ,ton, at the downfall of his idol was inexpressibly pitiful, and brought thab uncomfortable lump to many and many a throat. His acting, too, when bhe innocent Desdemona comes in after his interview with lago, is wonderfully finished and refined. Tho way in which he half shrinks, half caresses her is a very truthful touch of human characterisation. In tho murder scene the etrugglo between love and jealousy was rendered in a manner the writer has never seen excelled. It was truly soul-stirring. Altogether the assumption of the role and the reading of the character by this great actor was worthy of himself. Ib is a thousand pitios that more parents do nob educate their young people by taking them to sco such productions of Shakspere as Mr Miln is now giving us. Bub if they lack the taste to do so who shall blame the rising generation for preferring nigger minstrels. Mr Nunn's reading of fche part of lago was not a very happy one. He was manifestly over-weighted. There has always been a doubt whether the tragedy of Othello mighb not just as well have been christened lago. Mr Nunn spoke his lines well, but infused none of the subtlety which is so eminently a characteristic of the part. Mr Montgomery was, as usual, excellent. The part of Cassio is nob one which suits him so well as some of bhe others we have enjoyed him in, bub it was a finished and cultured performance. His acting of bhe tipsy scene was all that could be desired. He was never vulgar.

Miss Kate Douglas quite surprised her audience by the excellence of her impersonation of the ill-fated Desdemona. Her conception of the part was a high ono, and she carried it through in a manner worthy of ber ideal. The minor characters well sustained throughout, and the staging thab is usually seen in provincial towns in the old country. " Othello " will be repeated to-night for the last time, and those who were nob there last evening should certainly nob lose the opportunity of seeing a grand tragedy grandly acted,