SHAKESPEARE CLUB READING 'MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING'

Evening Star, Issue 23340, 9 August 1939, Page 14

SHAKESPEARE CLUB READING

'MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING'

Failure to make the most of lines which should have sparkled with comedy and a lack of vigour in the majority of scenes resulted in the reading of * Much Ado About Nothing,’ given by the Dunedin Shakespeare Club in His Majesty’s Theatre last night, being one of the club’s less prominent performances. The play is not numbered amongst the strongest of Shakespeare’s comedies; consequently an assuredness of attack and a subtle emphasis on the humour are absolute essentials to carry to success a presentation which is not aided by setting or by costume. The initial attack was weak, shaky, and marked by a colourless inflection of speech especially on the part of Mr M. Joel, as Don Pedro, on whom principal interest was focused in the opening lines. Nor did Miss M. Randle, as Beatrice, niece to the Governor of Messina, help to create a realistic or confident opening atmosphere through a too-rapid delivery, a strong tendency to “ elooute ” rather than read, and a lack of appreciation of the laugh value of her lines. In the early 7 scenes it is necessary for the audience to understand "that Beatrice is a light-hearted creature, and to a certain degree Miss Randle did convey this impression, but in her own manner rather than in the manner Shakespeare intended with the aid- of the written word. However, both Mr Joel and Miss Randle recovered after a while, and the former gave a very pood account of himself indeed in several of the later interludes. Miss Randle marred nearly all her performance by overlooking the fact that she was taking part in a reading and not an elocution recital—a point .which has detracted from the work of some of the women members of the club in the past. She_ gave an indication of her true ability in the scene in which she was pleading with Benedick to kill Claudio. Easily the most sincere, most natural, and therefore most convincing reading was that given by Miss A. Hoseit as Hero, daughter to Leouato and cousin to Beatrice. Hers was a sympathetic part—in itself an asset—but her response to its true significance was the work of an artist. As her lover Claudio Mr J. W. Hayward can perhaps be credited with the second best reading, and his interpretation was marked by a naturalness which equalled that displayed by Miss Hoseit. Together they lifted each other’s parts to a high plane, never once striking a discordant note. There was something really charming about their work in the scene in which Claudio, thinking Hero dead, married in penance, as he supposed, Hero’s cousin, only to find that it was Hero herself who was “ dead but while her slander lived.” Mr H. W. Hunter, as Benedick, friend of Claudio and Don Pedro, revealed his sterling worth, as he has done on so many occasions in the past. If he was older than his part in the script commanded, that was the most severe criticism which could be made. Jn the role of Leonata, Governor of Messina, Mr H. Chapman was both avuncular and paternal to Beatrice and to Hero,, and was well cast. Mr R. Herbert was entrusted with the part of Dogberry 7 , reading with characteristic vim. A little of that vim could hare been distributed among the others, for Air Herbert made even the pompous constable somewhat too forceful. Air C. N. B. French was never at home as the scheming Don John, but was more assured as Verges in the second half. Air W. B. Quennell was a little shaky as Borachio, and read his lines with an obvious paiilstaking care that detracted from their merit. As the Friar Air B. E. Dickinson was duly ponderous; Air R. Bradley capable as Conrade and a messenger; while Air D. C. Rose as the Sevton and Air I. J. Templeton as the Watch were satisfactory in minor parts. Apart from Miss Hoseit and Aliss Randle there were two other women in the east, Miss S. V. Seelen as Ursula, a pleasant little performance, and Airs J. T. Thomson, who had two small parts as Balthasar and Alargaret. In her former impersonation she was called upon to sing a sonnet, 1 Sigh No Afore, Ladies,’ and she acquitted herself with honours, all the more merited in that she sang unaccompanied. She had one fairly big scene in the second act. and it was a pleasure to hear how clearly she enunciated every word. Aliss A. AI. Gapper was chorus, and the chairman for the reading was Air H. Chapman.

During the interval Mr Les. Dunbar was heard in two Schubert numbers, ‘ Thou Art My Rest ’ and ‘ Impatience,’ his splendid ’bass-baritone voice being well suited to his selections. His accompanist was Miss Marion Jeffery. .