CHARACTERS OF DICKENS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1924, Page 3

CHARACTERS OF DICKENS

THE WITXIAMSON ENTERTAINERS"There ;ia an ;odd disposition in this country to dispute as improbable in action what are the commonest experi. ences in fact," wrote Dickens, in his preface to "Our Mutual Friend." There ia no doubt an. "odd disposition" in this country, too, to dispute the likeness of ft{ r- Bransby Williatas's impersonations at the Upera House on Saturday night, several of Dickens's 'characters to living, sentient men. It is strange, but true, that there are plenty of men and ! women to whom Dickens makes no ap- ! peal, and they, are frank enough to say I so; but the generality read him to-day, ! and over and over again, as much as'they 1 did a half century and more ago. He is not so much/quoted, perhaps, as ho used to be in political' speeches and in eadmg articles, but if the experience of . booksellers may be taken as a guide he is still read with the keenest relish by youn<* and old. People who do not care for him° ' are not to be blamed, not to be pitied, nor should efforts-be made to induce themrto'become better acquainted wito the master. They simply can- -. T™?f,™ llate him. For such the J. U Williamson Entertainers had othei- and - excellent fare to offer; but for the genuine lovers of Dickens, Mr. Bransby Wil- •■•■ lams furnished a rich and unforgettable banquet. Ike theatre was crowded to : the doors, and the large audience was in ■. a helpfully receptive mood. Mr. Will.l? lns"took fow characters'as follows-— i Montagu* Tigg, from "Martin Chuzzlei', ,an J lJe»gotty.: from ' IDavid Cop- ; pel-field'; Bill Sikes, from ■>Oiiveif.^jst J Grandfather Smallweed,_":Crom -Bleak House." He "made up"wthe ■'• basis' of- illustrations' by > George-Gruik-' s'lank' "PbiV (HaWot K. Browne)',.and / 1< rank Barnard. The passages selected were (1) where Tigg borrowed- half, a sovereign from Tom Pinch; (2) WhVre'old feggotty curses Steel-forth and goes :6ut : into the night to seek Little Enrly ;■ (3) - where Sikes admonishes Fagin; (4)Avhero old Smallweed alternately converses1 SvitU Mr. George and abuses his deaf wife. Mr. Bransby Williams made up on the stage' with his back to the audience' Ho was astonishingly rapid in eifectin^ his changes, and they were living copiss of their originals, not only, as the illustrators depicted them, but (if-the fact -were '' ascertamable)as Dickens conceived them -*"■■ .Bransby Williams obviously ■ ha.l studied the. characters from every point • of view. . He displayed an amazin- '■.-• facility for changing his voice. Was hu over-melodramatic in his presentations' Not at all.' He adhered to Dickens aa all careful, thoughtful readers-of tlia novel 3 -would agree. Dickens was melodramatic, and that deliberately and with sound.reasons for being so.. The impersonations by Mr. Williams .were.artistic m the highest degree, and proved of great educational value. 'In "The -Difference," a pathetic colloquy that took place on a seat in Hyde Park ■ between a Cockney whose face had been disfigured at the Battle of Jutland, and a°n officer who had been blinded at Cambrai, whicn Mr. .Williams recites before open-" ing hu Dickens impersonation, thero ■ was a wonderful chango in voice, language, and pronunciation. Generous fare.for those who might not ■ be ardentDickensians was also provided in an exceedingly clever company—all ' stars m. their own particular way, not omitting the fine orchestra, under Mr • Harry Jacobs. Spencer Ward, a fine - baritone, and Gertrude Long, an accomplished piani B te, opened the programme. They were followed by a clever comedian, Arthur Lucan, aB an Irish "dame" and eccentric dancer, in association with Kitty M'Shane, a comely colleen with serviceable voice and bright personality. Together they had the house rockmu- , with laughter. Came next a couple oi highly-finished dancers, Mdlle. Solange Landry and M. .Jules, by. turns, thrilling and graceful, comic, and daring in Apache, ballroom, ■ and semi-acrobatic items. A brilliant and remarkably clever j turn was that of Anna and Louis, especially the latter. They were genuine musicians, Louis proving 'an artist with' ' jsaxophone, trombone, concertina, and violin.. ' , His .'..associate", '.was " a saxophonist and.an admirable foil. Louis was not only a genuinely funny comedian but a contortionist with elastic muscles - especially of. the face. „ George Castles and Signor Torzillo (harpist) delighted with. Lolita and "La Donna c Mo^ bile," and 5...W..."V. Robinson, a Canadian artist, made a great impression aa a raconteur and • mouth organist: - ; The entertainment concluded with a splendid '"* acrobatic scene, in which the Hadjo Kadir Arabs, seven of them, appeared. They were each and all'beau ideals of" men in development and strength. They rivalled cats in their springs and vaults, and danced like whirling Dervishes. They finished in a perfect tornado of applause. ' There is not a. weak- turn- in- the bill. Williamson's .Entertainers are really so, in fact as well as.in name. They reappear this evening.