"VICTORIA REGINA."

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 7

"VICTORIA REGINA."

The success achieved by Miss • Fay Compton and her London company in Laurence. Housman's world-famous comedy-drama "Victoria Regina" in Auckland is almost without a precedent in the history of that city. There was a record house on the first night, and the enthusiasm ,of the audience knew no bounds. "Victoria Regina" resolves •'. itself into ten impressive scenes —ten intimate cameos which the author painted with an affectionate brush to dramatise the life of Queen Victoria. Miss Fay Compton came to New Zealand with the reputation of being England's foremost actress, and her performance of Victoria certainly proves this fact. It is a tremendous role, entailing the demands of half a dozen ordinary characters and involving delicate gradations of voice and' deportment. Mr. Bruno Barnab'e, who appear? as Prince Albert, is also a brilliant artist. The Auckland season will finish on February 19, and the company will then' present "Victoria Regina" at Hamilton on February 21 and 22, New Plymouth on February 23 and 24, Hawera on February 25, Wanganui on Saturday afternoon and night, February 26, Palmerston North on Monday and Tuesday, February 28 and March 1, Hastings on Wednesday and Thursday, March 2 and 3, Masterton on March 4, and the Wellington season will begin.on March 5.