THE HOWE-SPONG SEASON.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 93, 20 April 1894, Page 2

THE HOWE-SPONG SEASON.

"AN UNEQUAL MVTCII." The Howo-Spong Company's first essay in Tom Taylor's I'nmous comedy, "An Unequal Match," has boon lookod forward to with considerable interest by playgoers, and the stalls and circle had a largo quota of enthusiasts last evening in coneeqnenco. The comedy has been rehearsed, but very imperfectly, during the company's Wellington season, and under the stress of continual changes of programme. Yet tho result was a most agreeable surprise, and a triumph for Tnore than one of the performers. The part of Hester Glazebrook is one requiring marked and exceptional ability in its exponent, and as it is an admirable part in which to display this ability, it has long been a favourite with stars whose histrionic capacity and intelligenco was mated with personal charm. Miss Hilda Spong came to it without experience of previous exponents, and yet made of it a very fine and very promising character study. It was imbued with a riervons intensity whioh some of her previous performances lacked. So realistic was her acting in one scene, and so intense the hysterical emotion which sho showed, that it was feared by many for the moment that in the mental and physical strain which sho bad placed upon horself .simulated had merged into real hysteria. With further development and study, Miss Spong will undoubtedly make of her Hester a great impersonation, aud one in which she will bo remembered. The transition from tho chrysaliatic Yorkshire country lass to the butterfly of fashion was_ cleverly limned, tho actress skilfully indicating the true womanly nature beneath her mask of worldliness. MiBS Flora Anstoad, whose experience oovers many notable productions of Taylor's classic, gave a very clever and finished impersonation of Bessie, the translated country servant, playing it with rich humour. Miss Anstead's long experience of the comedy must have been very valuable to her confreros. Miss Gill, as ths fashionable coquette, Mrs. Moutreesor, gave the best performance she has yet shown us. Mr. Scot Ingliß has long been looked upon as one of our most rising young actors, and he deepened this impression by his clever and characteristic reading of the part of that bypochondriacal old humbug, Sir Sowerby Honeywood. Mr. Greenaway has given ns some good performances, but his Sir Harry Arncliffe was not ono of them. He played it carefully, but not impressively. It is a very good acting part, but Mr. Greonaway will require to much mature his reading before he realises its fnll possibilities and impresses its personality on the performance. Mr. Cathcart was a hearty bluff Yorkshireman as Hester's father, the blacksmith. Mr. Walter Howe oreated mnch amusement as the valet, Blenkinsop, but he had evidently not given the part the study it deserved, and it is one in which ho is not well auited. Mr, Charles Fabert, who played Dr. Botoherly during tho Langtry production, did not achieve its possibilities laßt night, though he made of it an amusing impersonation. He will no doubt soon re-develop his former business. Tofts, the footman, entrusted to Mr. Cecil Owen, is a very effective comedy part, and should have ranch greater study and development than Mr. Owen seems to have given it. Miss KochEort, as Lady Honeywood, was the most prominent of Arncliffe's minor aristocratic friends, the others being impersonated by Misses Gresham and Barrow, and Messrs. Lawrenoe and Sherborno. Mr. Spong had painted a very beautiful back-cloth, and the comedy was handsomely set,, the music provided by Mr. Conster'dine's orchestra also proving effective. To-night, the last of the season, there willbo an opportunity of seeing Miss Spong as Julliet, in the Balcony Scene, the Borneo being a well-known Australian exponent of the part in Sir. A. E. Greenaway. The fine oomedy "Stolen Kisses" will complete a strong farewell bill.