"CYMBELINE."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 966, 5 November 1910, Page 13

"CYMBELINE."

WELLINGTON SHAKESPEARE . CLUB A public reading of Shakespearo's romantic drama, u Cymbeline n was given by the Wellington Shakespeare Club last evening in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall,-before a, fair attendance of the public. The recital was' a very successful one, and of unusual interest as affording a study of Shakespeare as a playwright of tho rcmantic school. Though' their somewhat formal treatment of the drain* necessarily. gave to tho reading a certain degree of stiffness, as uunh as was possible to be ' done in the portrayal of the . characters was occompli lied by -the ctfmpany. Mus Mary Butlor, as the Queen, and Mrs. Darling as Imogen, showed in their readings evidence of careful end conscientious preparation and some facility for absorbing tho atmosphere of the play. As Clofcen, Mr. Leo Buckeridge gave to his interpretation a distinct and at times rather amusing character. For the nonce he was, temperamentally, the Cloten whpso assiduous endeavours, to win the favour-of Imogen are spurned, and to say this is to express a compliment. Mr. H. E. Nicholls, as lachimo, gave a painstaking presentment of tho. villain of the piece. Another commendable reading was that of Posthuraus, by the "Rev. W. Jellic, who at short notice took the, place of Mr. K. S. Baldwin, the latter being indisposed. Mr. VI. G. Gorham, who interpreted the parts of Pisanio and tho first gentloman, and Mr. AY. E. Fullor, who took tho triple part of Cornelius, the first lord, and the second gentleman,, each gavo a studious reading. Of the remainder of company it may suffieo to say that their readings boro cvidcnce of careful preparation and thoughtful study. Mr. W. R. Bock was Belarius, Mr. P. P. Webb represented Cymboline, and Mr. J. C. "Webb the sccond lord, a Frenchman, and the Roman captain. The part of Guiderius was, entrusted to Mr. C. Mill, Arviragus to K. Shorneyj the woman Helen to Miss Parkin, and Caius Lucius to' Mr. N. Phillips. A pleasant feature of tho recital was tho incidental music contributed by Mr. J. F. Carr, whose singing of Schubert's • 'Hark, tho Lark" (from act 2, scene 3) aiid "Fear no More the Heat of tho Sun," tho music for which had been composed specially by Mr. Merewoather Meadows, was very much appreciated.