SHAKESPEARE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 32, 9 February 1929, Page 7

SHAKESPEARE

"MERRY WIVES"-

'—"KING- LEAR"

Sir John Falstaff's attempt to make both sport and profit out of the two "Merry Wives of Windsor," with the result that they made sport of him, has been shown on many stages, but rarely (if ever) has it been shown in New Zealand with so strong an all-round cast as that which, gave a really delightful performance at the Grand Opera House last evening. The centre of gravity in the Allan Wilkie Shakespeare craft used to be at the top, but the strengthening of the lower structure by the inclusion from time to time of many capable actors (the latest Mr. Marsh) has lowered the point of balance, with the result that the ship sails better. At the same time, the lustre of the stars is by no means dimmed, and Mr. Allan Wiikie and Miss Hunter-Watts have seldom played with more humour, drollery, and all-round success than in the roles of Falstaff and Mistress Ford, whose crosspurposes, mingled with the pangs of husbandly jealousy,.are the mainspring of the play. Not only Miss Hunter-Watts but also Miss Lorna Forbes (Mistress Page) shone as the "Merry Wives," and demonstrated the immemorial ability (sometimes) of the fair sex to play with fire without being burned. Mr. Alex. Marsh, seen the night before as an acid ancient, put some quite youthful energy—although jo a fair way to become a grandfather— into the jealous Ford, who goes to the length of hiring Falstaff to corrupt his wife as a test of the latter's fidelity. Mr. Marsh likes to pepper up his parts; he has the immense and somewhat rare advantage of making himself heard. Other of the supports that proved real factors in the success of the performance were Mr. John Cairns as Dr. Cains tho Frenchman, and Mr. Herbert Sheldrick as the Welsh parson, Sir Hugh Evans. There is: very little left out in a Cairns impersonation, especially when in the comedy vein. Mr. William Lockhart, as the innkeeper, had the sort of John Blunt part that he plays so well, and Mr. Arthur Keaue was sufficiently foppish as the shy suitor, Slender, in vain pursuit of Mistress Page's daughter Ann (Miss Mildred Howard). •

Ifollowmg upon the matinee to-day of "As You Like It," Mr. Wilkie produces for the first time in Wellington the stupendous drama which was indeed Shakespeare's crowning glory, "King Lear." It is in "King Lear" that the almost superhuman acting opportunity occurs, when King Lear, bordering upon delirium, calls down the curse of heaven upon his terrible daughters. The-plot, however, is by no means overshadowed by. the wonderful language of the play, and the callous villainy of Edmund is matched with the faithful service of Kent and Edgar, > and the hideous ingratitude of Regan and Goneril are set off by the sweet-natured Cordelia. Mr. Allan Wfikic will play King Lear, Miss Hunter-Watts has the role of Cordelia, and Mr. Alexander Marsh will be seen as Edmund. Of all the jesters that Shakespeare conceived, the fool in "Lear" iB the most interesting, the character being constructed on pathetic lines. Mr. Arthur Keane will be entrusted with this role. The production should be a notable one, but only two performances can be staged, to-night and Monday. Bos plans for tornight's performance arc at the Grand Opera Confectionery.