WILSON BARRETT SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1902, Page 2

WILSON BARRETT SEASON.

Among-st the many successes which the eminent English actor, Mr Wilson Barrett, has achieved, that of Pete QuiUiam in "The Manxman," with which he begins his .season on "Wednesday evening next, seems to rank amongst the most popular. Speaking of the production in Melbourne, and of Mr Barrett's individual performance, the "Age" wrote: — "It may safely be said that few plays performed here have been received with such enthusiasm. 'The Manxman' is a line study of human emotion, of passion, and seif-sacrifice of those higher and i.ic?f?per feelings that teach the lesson of life. It would be impossible for the coldest or most pleasure-loving theatre-goer not to feel the beautiful sentiment, the i misery of a thoughLless attachment, the degradation of a lie, and the heroism of noble devotion that run through the j dramatisation of Hall Caine's great work. ; The success of the drama was assured from the rising of the curtain, and at the ! end of every succeeding scene the cheers| of a delighted audience kept the prin- j ■cipals bowing their acknowledgments. I Mr Wilson Barrett displays the fuil range ■ of his great histrionic powers in the part ! of Pete yuil.iiam. It has been said that: the greatest of tragic actors iiave been j excellent comedians, and one might a-ttri- ; bute both these merits to Mr Barrett's j performance of Pete, lie had his audience in a simmer of merriment by his droll way of looking at things, and when • goaded to madness by the suduen discovery of his wife's deception his acting rose to a power and intensity that held ' his hearers spellbound. As vie crushoii tuid wounded hustaud from wh- i'•!■■■ ■ igiit of life has gone out, Mr Barrett gave a picture of a lue^um u.w »*/«*>_.*» cterelict that deserves to stand bi's.uc the - greatest creations of the stage." "The Aianxman" wil be piayeii lor four | nights, after which Sheridan Knowles' | great masterpiece, "\ iig^uius" will oa! Staged for one 'night only. The box pian ; for the initial piece will be opened on j Monday morning.