THEATRE ROYAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3236, 14 November 1881, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

TWELFTH NIGHT ; OH, WHAT YOU "WILL.

Notwithstanding that the Pomeroy Company only arrived in Napier on Saturday afternoon, and that they must have been necessarily wearied with their lengthy sea voyage, their appearance on Saturday night was an unqualified success so far as regards the rendering of one of Shakespeare's most charming comedies. The house was a good one for Saturday night; the floor of tbe theatre being well filled, with a sprinkling in the circle. We feel sure that we express the feeling of those present when we say that no such dramatic treat has been offered to tht playgoing portion of the Napier public for a long time as the performance ot the Pomeroy Company on Saturday night. There is perhaps no play in the whole of works of the great dramatist that has a greater charm for the play-going portion of his admirers than " Twelfth Night." Containing a continuous flow of the keenest and most subtle wit, it abounds in situations both romantic and ludicrous. It is by no means a one part play, but affords ample scope for a display of high talent, to at least six performers. And to say that these parts were all admirably filled on Saturday night is giving a meed of praise to this company such as we have not been able to offer to any company that has previously given Shakesperian performances in this town. Of the performance of Viola by Miss Pomeroy we are unable to speak in too high terms of praise. From her firet appearance in her true character of Viola, as a shipwrecked wanderer on the coast of Illy* ria, she gains the sympathy of hen audience, and with every scene in which she appears that sympathy grows. In the most trying ecenes "there is the absence of anything like staginess, but the naturalness of the true artist. When disguised as page to the Duke Orsino, in the interview with her master, with love growing up in her heart, there was a thorough repression of any exhibition of that love, and yet a repression which left the audience with a perfect knowledge that the lore existed. Miss Pomeroy'a success in this particular gave every evidence of consumate art. The interviews with Olivia, when pleading her master's cause, whilst concious that love was dawning in Olivia's breast for her, in her assumed character of a man, were charmingly natural and effective. The comedy element in the character was managed with

equal success. There are few scenes we have witnessed so thorougly enjoysble and laughter-provoking as the duel between Cesario and Sir Andrew. From beginning to end there was a genuine relization of every phase of this charming character that left nothing to te desired. At the close of several acts Miss Pomeroy was called before the curtain, and received with hearty applause. As Olivia Miss Grey made a remarkably pleasing impression. With a charming appearance she combines a correctness of expression and a power of displaying strong emotion which gained her many friends on Saturday night. Miss Douglas played the pert and mischief-making Maria with wonderful force and effect. The Malvoiia of Mr Hoiloway waa a carefully studied and successful representation. After the finding of the letter laid to entrap him his assumption of dignity was admirably done, and when acting upon the hints contained in the letter he assumes an attitude of familiarity wjth his mistress, the part in Mr fiollo way' 3 hands became irresistibly humorous. Of Mr Hbskias as the clown all we can say is that he followed closely the advice of one whose advice on this and all other subjects is worth taking— " Let those who play your clowns say no more than is set down for them: for there he of them that will themselves laugh to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too." Every phase of the dry caustic humor of the character was brought out with a care and success which could only have been achieved by one of Mr Hoskin's ability and experience. On his first appearance the kindly feelings with which he is regarded by Napier playgoers found vent in loud and continued cheering, and at the close of the perfdrmanc'e there were continued criee of " floskins, ,, which, however, were not responded to. The Sir Toby Belch of Mr Hamilton was a capita! representation of the roystering, rolicking, drunken old knight depicted by the dramatist. At times the assumed thickness of utterance made it difficult for the audience to catch the text, but oh the whole it was an admirable performance. Mr Wallace as Sir Andrew Aguecheek played in a manner which stamps him as an actor of very considerable ability. There was a breadth and coneistancy about the conception which made it one of the most enjoyable of the eveping. The constant echoing of Sir Toby waa managed with skill, and the sending of the challenge and its results were performed with exquisite comicality. Mr Flemming's Sebastian was a most careful and thorough piece of acting, that placed him on excellent terms with the audience. Mr Jewett as Duke Orsino acted with dignity and success. We need scarcely say that under such a thorough mistress of her art as Miss Pomeroy the piece was admirably dressed, and this charming dressing was well brought out in the quaint dance with which they concluded the performance, to-night will be presented " Romeo and Juliet," with Miss Pomeroy, of course as Juliet, and Mr Flemming as Eomeo. Mr Flemming has received high praise for his excellent conception of this character.