"CAMILLE"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2368, 26 January 1915, Page 8

"CAMILLE"

BY THE WILLOUGHBY COMPANY "Camille," a drama in five acts, by Dumas, fils. Cast:— ■Armand t Mr. George Oross Mons. Duval Mr. D. A. Drayton Count de Yarville ...... Mr. Donald Riley Gaston Kieux Mr. Frank Neifl Gu6Uv ; Mr. Buderich Camille Miss Vera Remeo Nanino Miss Oriol Hotson Nlohctte Miss Nell Holroyd Madame Prudence Mite Connie Martyn Olymphe- Mies M'Pherson "Camille" will never die. As an emotional drama it is amongst the immortals, and no play that Dumas wrote has been half 60 popular with the theatre-going publio of the .past quarter of a oentury. It served as the basis of Verfli's beautiful opera "La Traviata," and has: formed the argument in many an "original" novel. Why it has acquired such renown is a query not difficult to elucidate, as it deata in a masterly manner with a woman's frailty, her redemption through a great love, _ and following that comes the renunciation of that love in a spirit of the purest sacrifice. This is the drama with' whioh the Willoughby Company has Beleoted to close its season in Wellington, perhaps an ambitious effort, for we have grown accustomed to regard "Oamilkr' as a play demanding exceptional qualities in the players entrusted with the leading roles. We have seen the Majeronis, Mrs. BrownPotter, and Mr. Kyrle Bellew, Miss Nellie Stewart, Miss Nance O'Neill, and other stars of varying magnitude in the play, and consequently have our illusions as to Camille Gautier and Armand Duval. Still it was interesting to see the Willoughby players in the Dumas play, as. it at least gave them the opportunity to prove their capabilities beyond the scope covered by melodrama. Tho performance was an exceedingly meritorious one as far as the protagonists were concerned. Miss Vera. Remee, who has shown gleams of histrionic talent whenever the rather poor plays in which she has been employed allowed, gave a distinctly appealing performance of Camille Gautier—a slight, girlish, lissome Camille— in which she portrayed, with skill the nature of the giddy, artificial "daughter of joy," transformed by a great pass'ion: She acted the fine scene of renunciation with Armand's father with delicacy and deep feeling, and the final scene, where Camille glides out to the infinite, was graced with ■ tenderness and refinement, without the least straining for' effect. Mr. George Cross shook himself free from the shackles of melodrama, and presented a convincingly impassioned Armand Duval, rising with dignity and force to the important dramatio ■ moments in which the part abounds. Of these, the conclusion of the fourth act is famous, and it was acted by Mr; Cross with a fervour that was never overdone. Armand Duval in certainly the'finest performance this actor has given us. De Varville ws.s lightly sketched by Mr. Ronald' Rile?, and .Mr. Frank Neill was quite admirable as the good-hearted Gaston. Miss Oriel Hotson was an efficient Nanine, and Miss Connie Martyn a burlesquey Madam© Prudence. .

'Camille" will be played again this evening. It will be the final performance of the company in Wellington.