Fay Compton’s Artistry

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 42, 19 February 1938, Page 3

Fay Compton’s Artistry

‘•VICTORIA REGINA” A COLOSSAL PRODUCTION “Victoria Regina,” the brilliant English comedy-drama, in which the foremost London actress, Fay Compton, will make her appearance here under the direction of J. C. AVilliamson, Ltd., at the Opera House on Monday and Tuesday, ] February 28 and March 1, resolves itself into f 0 impressive scenes —3O intimate cameos which the author, Laurence Housman, painted with affectionate brush to dramatise the life of Queen Victoria. So gracefully written are these biographical fragments, so humanly and tenderly is the Queen presented, and so reverently moving is Housman’}} sincere aud simple dialogue that it is difficult to defend the motives which prohibited the performance of such a patriotic play upon the British stage for several years. “The lifting of the censorship at the request of the Duke of AVindsur (when he was King E award AT11).,” wrote a Melbourne critic, ‘* releases emotions which, as Saturday night’s memorable performance showed, do more to secure the bonds of affection between monarch and subject than all th» political preachments ever penned or spoken.” The New Zealand production is outstandingly important for three reasons. First, it introduces Miss Fay Compton in a great acting role. Second, it adds a scene ( : ‘ Bereavement”), in which Mrs. Gladstone calls on Queen Victoria after the death of the Prince Consort, which was not in the London production, thus increasing the number of scenes from nine to ten. And third, it offers N ew Zealanders the unexpurgated text, which cannot even now be performed in England. The Lord Chamberlain’s ban upon the references to Prince Albert’s parternity (they occur in the second scene, entitled “AVomau Proposes”) does not apply to New Zealand or Australia. The line attributed to Ernest, Prince of SaxeCoburg, in the unexpurgated edition, “Listen, Albert—you my brother, but you are not the son of my father,” and the dialogue which precedes it, are forbidden in the London production, but they wore spoken in Australia and Auckland, and it is unlikely that any official steps will be taken to prohibit their utterance. Actually they have an important, though perhaps uot vital, influence upon the action and situations of the drama. “Miss Compton’s beauty, voice and personality,” wrote a critic recently, “oast a spell over the piece from the moment when, candle in hand, she steals down tho stairs of Kensington Palace in the grey dawn of a morning 100 years ago to receive the news of her accession, and mutters, with childish uaivette, “Now I am Queen . . . . Poor Mama.” Fay Compton’s magnificent acting in the role of Queen Victoria created a sensation in Auckland and the other roles in “Victoria Regina” are taken by nine brilliant ; London artists, together with some of Australia’s best comedy and dramatic artists.

The box plans will be opened at Messrs. Collinson and Cunninghame’s on Friday morning next at 9 o’clock. A queue wilL be formed from 8 a.m.