"CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1181, 17 July 1911, Page 3

"CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA."

ACCOEDING TO 3IE, G. BEENAED SHAW. . Distinctly clever, bright, and interesting, was the. entertainment given bv the PJ'P'ls ■attending' Mrs. Hursthouse's classes at bt. i s Hall on Saturday evening, luo first part of tho programme consisted of a miscellaneous scries of items by various performers—piano soli, pictures choruses from "Patience," and recitations —among whom were Madame do Cleeno and Mdlle. Hclone do C'lcene, who have lately come, to Wellington from Duncdin to engage in the teaching of the French nnguage and literature. Madame's number -was "La Fiancee du Timbalicr," and Mademoiselle's "La Cigale etla fourmi," and "Lno"alcove'au soleil levant." Both ladies showed by their interpretations that they have graduated from tho cultured circlo of the best literary salons. For tho rest, tho performers wero very good, and their items rjuito enjoyable. The second' part of tho entertainment consisted of a performance, in costume, of selected portions of George Bernard Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra." Mis. Hnrsthouso's pupils have been studying this yoar tho works of living writers .of note. Last year they linderlook a study of famous French Salon women of the 18th century. Such a-subtle and extraordinary genius as Bernard Shaw is.a complicated study for anyone, and it speaks highly for the aims of Mrs. .Hursthouse's classes that they have ventured thus far. Although to unsophisticated youth "Caesar and Cleopatra" may havo presented mystifying problems, and ■ certainly was rather "out of depth" for the amateur stage, yet one relished tho idea that.the fiery-headed challenger of the Bard of Avon had at least been introduced to them; that they had nibbled, if ever so little, at the Shavian philosophy. However, the young players did as well as might be, and were at least interesting, if not quite understandable. During the .evening, a short address was delivered by Professor T. H. Easterfield, of' Victoria College, who mentioned that Mrs.' Hursthouse's pupils had asked that the proceeds of the_ entertainment might be handed to the University Reform Association as a contribution to the cost of publishing the pamphlet, which is now

being prepared for the education of the public on the subject of university reform, and for the presenting, in perfectly plain language, of tho criticisms of the opponents' of the existing system. He congratulated the pupils on the standards they had set for themselves, and enlarged upon the value of tho influence which women were now exerting in their desire for higher learning and literary accomplishments, in tho general movement for a reformed university system.