OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 206, 11 September 1901, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE.

MISS WALDORF AS CAMILLE,

Last evening, at the Opera House, Miss Janet Waldorf and her company were seen in an English adaption of Dumas' famous play, "La Dame au Camelias." It is to be doubted if any translation of this truly remarkable work can ever reproduce the beauty, the sentiment, and what, for Want of a better term, one must call the atmosphere Of the original. The central idea of the drama—for drama it is— the pivot on which the plot turns: a woman's sacrifice of herself and all she holds, dear, to save the man she has learned to love, is of course clearly enough brought ont, and would appeal to any people in whatever tongiie it Were acted, but there is mtich which, however conscientiously the translator may do his work, simply cannot be conveyed from French to English. The position of the "mistress" in France, her influence on domestic and social life, is so utterly different to what it is in a British community, that to render into sympathetic and convincing English a play which deals with this class is difficult indeed. The version presented last evening and to be repeated tonight is as good as any we have had here; and, if it does not completely possess th-passion and pathos of Dumas, is yet a very good play. Of late years we have had here several impersonations of Camille. Janet Achurel-2 Mrs. Brown-Potter, Nance |

O'Neil and others have appeared before us as the ill-fated heroine. Comparisons are odious, and we do not propose to compare Miss Waldorf with these actresses further than to say that, so far as the most famous of her predecessors is concerned — Mrs. Brown Potter —Miss Waldorf gives, in the writer's opinion, a better and more pleasing impersonation. She is earnest and thorough throughout, and certainly never spares pains cm herself in tbe stronger scenes, which she contrasts well with the levity, gaiety and abandon of her moods in the earlier and lighter portions of the play. As Armand Duval Mr. McGregor works hard and with a considerable measure of success, but he is not at his best in ardent love scenes such as abound in this play. In the famous climax to the third act, where in a passion of jealousy and rage he pelts Camille with his winnings from De Varville., Mr. McGregor did exceedingly well, and was rewarded with well-deserved applause. The other parts were fairly filled, the Madame Prudence being, specially good, and the De Varville as cynical and polished as could be desired. The scenery and staging are excellent. "Camille" will be repeated this evening, and to-morrow the company will appear in "As You Like It," when there should be a full house. Unless we are. much mistaken, Miss Waldorf should make an ideal Rosalind.