SHAKESPEARE CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 18044, 11 August 1922, Page 7

SHAKESPEARE CLUB

‘THE WINTER’S TALE.’ The Dunedin Shakespeare Club chose for its third reading ot the season ‘ The Winter’s Tale,’ and selections were made from scene ii. of tho first act, scenes ii. and lii. of the second act, and scenes ii. and hi. of tho third act. - ‘ The Winter’s Tale ’ has been described as romance slightly woven into,dramatic action rather than a regular drama. It is a romance, however, into which a considerable amount of comedy is' introduced, and this aspect was not overlooked in making tho selections for last night’s reading. Indeed, it was occasionally emphasised to an extent that some students of Shakespeare might deem undue. However, the performance of tho thirteen members taking part was a distinctly (meritorious one, and, despite tho absence from the cast of two of the best-known and usually most prominent members, tho reading may safely be regarded as quite up to tho club’s high standard. This success was largely duo to Mr J. Fleming, Miss Bessie Thomson, and Mrs Wakefield Holmes, and to the almost comic relief supplied by Messrs H. Chapman, J. B. Flynn, and J. 0. Stephens, whose contributions were responsible for a considerable amount of merriment among the audience. Mr Fleming has given us many fine interpretations of Shakespeare’s more robust characters, but nothing better than his reading of Leontes, King of Sicilia. Tiro task of conveying to the mind, of tho hearers the picture of this almost insanely jealous- man who is restored to reasonableness only by the news (false news, as it transpired) of the death of the wife he had so deeply wronged, was not an easy one; but Mr Fleming got inside tho part "and handled it in masterful style, making the very best use of his natural gifts. Miss Thomson created a wonderfully good impression .-by her reading and her intelligent handling generally of the part of Paulina. This young elocutionist has many successful platform performances to her credit, and her reputation was distinctly enhanced by this, her latest, effort. The scene in act iii. in which she upbraids Leontes for his harsh treatment of the .Queen and dispels his jealous rage by the sight of his infant daughter was the best of the many good scenes presented, a-nd evoked enthusiastic applause. Mrs Wakefield Holmes could not be anything but satisfying; her finished methods forbid it, and her reading of the lines of the unfortunate Hermione—a character that somehow does not usually make a very deep impression on an audience—was such as to bring out every possible point. She was at her best in the quieter passages, such as those pertaining to the later stages of the Queen’s career. Mrs Low was quite good in her delivery of the lines allotted to Perdita, the gentle shepherdess, and provided _ an excellent contrast to the fiery Paulina. Mr Chapman was cast as the old shepherd, tho reputed father of Perdita, and sustained the accent and mannerisms throughout tho reading in a style that frefluently dreW appreciative applause. Mr Flynri, too, was good and consistent in his reading of the clown, whom he never made too clownish, while extracting every ounce of humor from the part. Mr Stephens may almost be said to have danced through the part of Autolycns, the merry pedlar. He was full of fun, and kept his audience highly amused with his acting and by bis singing of the quaint pedlar songs. When tho shepherd, tho clown, and Autolycns together held the boards tho atmosphere was charged with merriment. - Mr Harold Hunter was thoroughly at home in reading of the lines of Florizel, the ardent lover; and Mr E. J. Smith was correct, though a little “light,” in bis rendering of Polixenos. Mr. 11. 11. Wilson (Antigonus), Mr 0. P. Williams (Camillo), Mr A. G. Fleming (Cleomenes), and Mr W. A. Harlow (Lord in Waiting, etc.) all did good work, evidence of careful study being present in each case. Miss Sumner did all that was required of her as Chorus. During the interval Mr J. Leech sang ‘Lend Ms Your Aid,’ that well-known aria from ‘ The Queen of Sheba,’ and, though this is not usually suited to a tenor voice, Mr Leech gave it with good effect, and had to respond to persistent demands for an encore.