SHAKESPEARE SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1929, Page 4

SHAKESPEARE SEASON

"OTHELLO" PEESENTED

The ambitious" programme . of Shakespearean plays arranged by Mr. Allan Wilkie for his Wellington season was carried a stage further last evening, when the noted actor-manager presented "Othello," oni'of the most tragic of the great bard's works. It is to be regretted' 'that the audience last evening' was not larger,- tor the performance was full,"of merit, both in staging and in acting. As the "dark-skinned. Moor, who is the victim of tbe most deadly of the human passions, jealousy, Mr. Wilbie scored another triumph and gave further evidence of his great versatility. In every scene he lose to great heights of ,dramatic power, culminating in the scene in which, obsessed .with the false idea of his wife's infidelity, he smothers the innocent Desdemoiui. Mr. Wilkie acted with commendable restraint. Miss Hunter Watts made the unfortunate Do'sdempna a woman of great charm, and .111 the scene'in which she pleads the cause, of her.husband before the Venetian Council she was seen at her best. In the success of the tragic' climax, too, she' played no small part. "An outstanding performance was that of Mr. Alexander Marsh, who was called upon to portray the scheming lago, whose personal ambitions lead him to betray not-only, his -'master but Dcsdemona as' well. . Mr. Marsh' has a natural flair for; Shakespearean roles, and: to the part'of lago last night he brought'a skill and mastery which contributed in iio small measure to the success of the presentation. His lago was less a villain than the usually accepted lago, for there was. ever a 'suspicion-that he had his tongue, in his cheek, but his plotting was none .the less deadly and none the less effective. In the part of the youthful Cassio, who As deprived by, Othello of. his lieutenancy as the result of a drunken brawl arranged by lago,- Mr. Denni3. Barry - was well fitted. The scene in which he learns of the Moor's determination to disrate him was one of the most telling .of-the'play: Other parts were, well taken.by Mr. Herbert Sheklriok (the Duke, of Venice). Mr. William Lochhart (Brabantio), Mr. Vincent Scully (Gratiano), Mr. John Cairns (Lodovico), Mr. Arthur Keane fßoderiKo),'Mr. Milton' Sands I'(Montano),*.Miss.. Lorna . Forbes (Kmilia), and' Miss Mildred Howard (Bianca).■.'..'.. :.<-■■..-",. •■" '■....:•

This evening the company will appear in ''llomeo and Juliet." • • . ...

To-night and at.the matinee' to-morrow Mr. Wilkie presents "lioinco nnd Juliet," with. n" p'articiilai'ly strong cast,' including Miss Hunter-Watts as Juliet, Mr. Dennis Barry as Komeo, and Mr. 'Alexander Marsh as Mcrcntio. Miss Lorna I'orbes will play the ancient Nurse, and Mr. Wilkie will himself assume the.role of Friar Lawrence.-. The eagerly-awaited production of "Coriolaivus," the'first, staging of the Roman drama hi the '.Dominion,' will take place to-morrow evening. In the' annals of. the stage the, only gi-eat. ones' notably associated with the role of Coriolanns are Macready, and Kemble, and Mr; Wilkie has the physique, stage manner; and voice suitable for ;,the grandeur .ofl'thc character. Other .characterisations which 'excite anticipation are" the Voluinnia of Miss Loriia Forbes and the Menehius Agrippa'of Mr,' John Cairns. The box plans are at the .Bristol. • • . . .'.- '■'.'■ '•",