SHAKESPEAREAN SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 20129, 20 March 1929, Page 5

SHAKESPEAREAN SEASON

THE ALLAH WILKIE COMPANY When Mr Allan Wilkie opens his Dunedin season at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday, March 30, he will have associated with him one of tho strongest companies he lias yet presented in this city. Ho will again have the support of Miss Hunter-Watts as his Jedding lady, and in addition to such past favourites as Dennis Barry, John Cairns, Arthur Keane, and Miss Lonia Forbes, a number of English artists will make their debut before Dunedin playgoers. Prominent among these is Alexander Marsh, a well-known Shakespearean actor, who for live years toured his own Shakespearean company iu England and later played leading roles witn Sir Frank Benson. Particular interest will bo aroused locally by the first professional appearance hereof Miss Hilda Scurr, a Dunedin girl, who as an amateur was prominent as tho winner of many competitions, dramatic and elocutionary, both in this city and in Wellington and Christchurch Althougn sho has been with tho Allan Wilkie Company barely a year she has made great strides iu her profession, and her work, particularly in character parts, has called forth high praise from Prcrs and public alike. Her initial performance in her native city in the role of Mistress Quickly in ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor ’ will be watched with very great interest. Of the twenty-six Shakespearean plays tha 4 - constitute Air Wilkie’s repertoire, eighteen will be staged during the Dunedin season, four of which—‘King Lear,; 4 Much Ado About Nothing,’ * Coriolauns,’ and ‘ All’s Well Thai Ends Well,’ he has not previously produced iu the dominion. When, during the company’s record-breaking season of twenty-two weeks in Sydney last year sixteen plays were given in ’ the course of the first ten weeks, tho ‘ Sydney Morning Herald’ described it as “ an amazing achievement,” and devoted a column leader to “tho wonder of this feat,” Mr Wilkie seems bent on breaking that extraordinary record, for at His Majesty’s a different play will bo presented on each night of his three weeks' visit. Wr Wilkie has made a general reduction of his usual prices to meet the many requests for season tickets received during his present tour. At the popular prices being charged Shakespearean enthusiasts and playgoers in general will be able to see as many plays as they desire without undue expense.