THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12425, 14 February 1901, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

“CAMILLE.” In the modern rush for dramatisations it could 1 not be expected that a novel of such dramatic construction, and with so strong a human interest as Dumas fils’ bitterly pitiful “La Dame aux Camelias ” could escape. It has been done into English- by several playwrights, with varying degrees of success, and -the version, specially prepared for Miss Nance O’Neil by Mr Barton Hill, will compare favourably with other versions. It is a- book which required exceptionally delicate handling, for tender and pathet-io as. -the story is it belongs to that shadowy borderland of the seamy side whose confines are socially taboo. No one but a writer of Dumas's calibre would have dared to tell the wonderfully human story of the pure love of a courtesan, wide, unselfish and ennobling as that of even- the best of her sex; none but an actress blessed with a genius of infinite reserve and tact would 1 darve give to it the supreme reality of stage personation. In many respects it was the most trying part Miss O'Neil has yet played, not -only on account of the variety of emotion she is called upon to express, but because it makes excessive demands upon the central character, who is rarely absent from the stage for more than a few minutes. It is a more womanly part than most of them which Miss O’Neil essays, but-it remains well within her scope. Loving, tender, remorseful, hopeless, unselfish with the least modicum of happiness it is almost inexcusably harrowing. As it was the most human, so in very many respects it was the finest- performance Miss O’Neil has yet given us. It was all woman, and called for the maximum of that dramatic quality of reserve which has already been so strongly displayed by the tragedienne. And. the demand found her fully equal to the occasion. There was most of tragedy and heai't-aohe in what, with the true spirit of the artist, she left unexpressed save by suggestion, and though there are niceties of hypercritioism which might be urged against her, the whole performance was so vivid, and so strong, and withal so delicately shaded, that it would be ungrateful to search for spots upon the sun. Her scene of renunciation Stands out as one of the best items of -her season. Mr Kingston’s support was again a feature of the play. He was intensely powerful in the climax of the fourth act, where he heaps reproach and insult upon the woman who •has abandoned him. Mr M’Kee Rankin, who made his second appearance during the tour, as “M. Duval,” materially helped Miss O’Neil in the dramatic renunciation act by his quiet, but forceful acting. Others who stood out by reason of excellence were Mrs Braoy, as Madame Prudence, Mr George Becks, as Saint Gaud eras, and Mr W. Bernard, as Gaston Ri-eux. To-night “Camille” will be repated, and for to-morrow night possibly the most interesting performance of the tour is announced, Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” being billed.