THE HOWE-SPONG SEASON. "AS YOU LIKE IT."

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 82, 7 April 1894, Page 2

THE HOWE-SPONG SEASON. "AS YOU LIKE IT."

It was an excellent house which greeted Shakaspoare's famous comedy last evening, and those who went wero agreeably impressed by the interpretation which a oompany not bpecially got together for Shakespearian work was able to give to it. Miss Hilda Sponp was the Rosalind. It is a trying and difficult part, burthened with the tiaditions of performances by the most famous aotrosses of the century. Miss Spongplayed the part prettily, and, for so very young an actress, cleverly. She bad evidently given to it considerable study. She was letter perfect, and a feast to the artistic eye throughout, but she was not tho Kosalind created by her great predecessors. She lacked the depth requisite for the part, and while delivering her lines with musical' voice and charming elocutionary effect, did not show full grasp of their significance or render them instinct with the passion they are capable of conveying. Her magnificent costume, too, in the first act, was distinctly a false note. Koßa md, as daughter of the banished duke and companion to Celia, the daughtor of the usurper, is the " poor relation " of the family. She certainly would not be attired with the magnificence of a princess while the heiress to the reigning duke is plainly garbed and unjewelled. Tho bestowal of the chain upon Orlando by " one out of suits with fortune, that could give moro but that her hand lacks means," loses all its meaning when the giver is clothed in satins and flashing in diamonds that would " mike a king's ransom," and bestows, instead of the greatest, the least of her possessions on tbe man wno has so suddenly won her regard. She was warmly applauded throughout, howevor, and was twice called, an honour shared by the other members of the oompanj'. The great feature of the production was the mignificent performance of Mr. James Cathcart, probably the only remaining Shakespearian actor of the old Bohool -a man who has been saturated with Shakespearian tradition, and whose sister (Fanny) has been desoribed by The Times as the best Rosalind the English stage had seen, with tho single exception of Helen Faucit. Mr. Cathcart has played with all tho great Shakespearian actors from Charles Keau and Maoready. Last evening he thrilled tho house with his splendid presentment of the melancholy Jaquea. It was a performance which, while toning down the exaggeration of voice and gesture of the old Fohool, retained all its splendour of declamation and elocution. Into every line was instilled its full meaning, and the great " Seven Ages " speech was given so that tho audionce wished to encore it. Of the other characters it may be said that there was much evenness of production. Mr. Walter Howe, while not an ideal Orlando in either appearance or manner, yet played the part well, playing woll up to Rosalind. He would not be a success at a wrestling match, however, outside of Shakespeare. Miss Ida Gresham, the Celia of the east, was lettorperfeot in her part, and pave her lines with fine elocutionary o licet, affording evidenco of good training, bnt tho impersonation was without' depth. She is, however, a very young actress, and will improve Mr. A K. Greenawny played very intelligently and artistically as the exiled Duke, his good voice and excellent stage presence, together with his familiarity with tho Shakespearian sohool, helping him much. Mr. Inglis doubled the parts of the usurping ,duko and Sylvius, the shepherd. The former he played excellently, the latter not well. Mr. Cecil Owen was not a success as Oliver. Of the fine and important part of Adam, Mr. Seagra\_e gave a very good impersonation, and Miss Anstoad's performance as the country wench Audrey, was also excellent. Mr. Fabert had tho groat part of Touohstone. He gave the famous lines with much humour and good effoct, but his style was hard, and lacked tbe unction which is expected in the ideal Touchstone. Miss Barrow, while playing intelligently, was not at home as Phebe. Miss Gill was Le Beau, and played the dandy oonEOtentiously. Mr. Calvert was Charles, tbe wrestler. The production was splendidly set. Mr. Spong's scene in the Forest of Arden quite came up to expectations. It is a beautiful set, complete in all its details (with the exception of some foliage "wings" not in keeping), and the effect was so beautiful that it was some timo before progress could be made with the drama after the curtain rose, and Mr. Spong was called forth to receive tho plaudits his splendid work had ovoked. Messrs. Hitohie, Lowers, Waters, and Day sang Bishop's setting of " What shall ho havo that killed tho deer?" in tho forest scene, pleasingly, albeit unevenly, and Mr. E. J. Hill's tenor voice was heard to advantage in Arno'o sotting of the solo "Undor the Greenwood Tree," in the same scone. 'As You Like It " should draw a crowded houso if playod again this Benson, but it is to be taken off to-night in favour of " Harbour Lights," in which the company is understood to appear to exceptional advantage.