REPERTORY THEATRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 115, 18 May 1938, Page 8

REPERTORY THEATRE

•THE MERCHANT OF VENICE"

Risks of unfavourable comparisons are always run by those cast for the principal parts in Shakespeare's betterknown plays. One playgoer, or groundling, in his day may have seen many Hamlets, Falstaffs, Othellos, or Shylocks, and from these taken his ideal, or even idol actor in the part. But the Wellington Repertory Theatre rightly ignored this human or personal weakness, and took' the risk in selecting "The Merchant of Venice" for its latest production. The presentation was made at the Concert Chamber last night, and it may be stated at the outset that it was a praiseworthy achievement. Rare enough is Shakespeare now, honoured on the New Zealand stage, notwithstanding the zealous efforts of I Shakepeare societies to keep him in the news. The Repertory Theatre since it began its cultural career in Wellington, in a quite modest way, has given an excellent account of itself in plays of the present time, some of'them provocative, and now it pays homage to Shakespeare; and in time Goldsmith and Sheridan may ..have their turn. Ibsen has had his, andvPinerp in "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" is ' to have his in due time. - , Considering the band-box dimensions of the Concert Chamber and its cramped stage-room, together with the inevitably limited resources of the Repertory Theatre as to people and material, it is - wonderful how it manages to put on its plays as well as it does. Even from the front of the house—as it was last night—it must often be apparent that an immense' amount of work in detail has to be done which the audience cannot see, being .concerned with the general effect. Much thought, hard work, and enthusiasm had evidently gone to the presentation and performance of "The Merchant of Venice." There was not and could not be the elaborate mounts ing of an Irving or a Tree, nor could there be overmuch "haberdashery" (as Oscar Wilde called it) obscuring the work of Shakespeare himself; but the play was staged with good taste and small mea'ns, undoubted sincerity, and a sense of its beauty. The cast's the thing, and the most difficult, thing in "The Merchant of Venice." In this respect the Repertory Theatre was fortunate in its selection of Mr. E. J. Maule, as Shylock, He delivered his lines deliberately, v with expression and. quick changes of feeling. His gestures were right and proper. Shylock was the villain of the piece, but he was never allowed by Mr. Maule to be the whole piece; his human nature was preserved, and as Mr. Maule Conceived the Shylock's discomfiture should have evoked pity from the stoniest heart, for the Jew was shown as hardly treated, and his punishment, though deserved, more than equalled'.'..' his offence. Mr. Maule was always audible and he gave an understanding version of his part. ' '■■'•■' 1 '.■: The Portia of Mrs. Sinclair Ronald was excellent in the discernment of the dramatic possibilities of the part and displaying them to the au,dience. She is endowed with a lovely voice for Portia, womanly-,.clear, and used with discretion. How Portia appearing before the Court deceived the Duke, and his ttiagnificoes, to say nothing'of Bassanio, as to her sex is the affair of Shakespeare himself, but Mrs. Sinclair Ronald did all that ifcas reasonable to appear as "a Daniel come to judgment" and' at the same time preserve the feminity of Portia, woman and lady. She delivered the "mercy speech" with rare beauty of diction; Dignity and a due sense of importance with clear-ly-spoken lines characterised Mr. A; D. Priestley's presentation as the Duke. Bassanio was presentably played by Mr. John Roberts, who looked and acted the part. Sound acting was seen in the handling of the parts of Gratiano (Mr. R. Hogg), Solanio (Mr. Charles. Johnston), Salarino (Mr. John Proudfoot), and,Lorenzo (Mr. Stanley Vinsen)., Outstanding *am<>ng the subsidiary characters were Old Gobbo (Mr, H. Painter) arid /the Princes/of Morocco (Mr. E. Hirrowell) and Of Aragbh (Mr. . James i Crawford). Tubal ?Mrvß. Withers), small part as it, is, was conscientiously played.„ As Latincelot Gobbo, Mr, Ernest Le Grove capered and grimaced and let slip jio chances offered by the part, to the manifest delight of ,the audience. Antonio was .allotted to Mr. Arthur Heany, who played it along melancholy lines. A delightful presentation of Nerissa was given, by Miss Leslie Jackson. Jes sica was pleasantly played by ' Misr ROsalind Chadwick. LCsser parts were

allotted to Messrs. G. Hooper, G.' Wiggs, C. Trim, J. R. E. Bennett, F. M. Renner, G. Baldwin, and Misses M. Eberlet, D. Barr, and P. Luckie. Some o|, those taking part spoke their lines too quickly, the poetry or humour in... them being blurred. Others spoke without'expression or with little sense of the wit or beauty of the sentences; but the voice of the prompter was silent. ( The play ran sweetly, as they say of a good motor-car, and it was astonishing how quickly changes in scenery and furnishings were effected. The principal soene, a canal in Venice and tall houses on its bank, was a masterpiece in perspective, colour, and design, taking the small stage into account. • The lighting was always well timed and appropriate, especially in the "On Sujch a Night" garden scene. The costumes, designed and made by Miss Mollie Cook, would be approved at Sadler's Wells or the "Vic." The singing of "Tell Me Where is Fancy Bred" was a very pleasant feature In the play, the singer being Master Joseph Lyons.' Rosse's incidental and other music was competently played by Mrs. Chas. McDonald and Misses Olga Burton and Ormi Reid. The producer, Mr. W. S., Wauchop, was called before the curtairi at the close, vigorously applauded, and in his turn thanked all who had been associated in the production of the * play, mentioning the stage manager, Mr. C. Wright, wardrobe mistress, Miss P. Shotlander, electrician, Mr. G. Colledge, scenic specialists, Messrs. W. J. Johnstone and W. J. Cbnroyv and especially Miss Mollie Cook."The Merchant of Venice" will be repeated throughout the week, with • matinee performance on Saturday.