AMUSEMENT.

North Otago Times, 20 July 1908, Page 4

AMUSEMENT.

filif'jriramatisatioii.oi Anthony! llqpjo'r,., |)tfcV{ul .nortlV'Tlip.'Pi'isonei'iof.Zen-'.-; ilftj-' Svliipli Mu Julius - Ivnight'fl ,-oin- ■ '■ pnuv ;jiroiduoad in tho Opera " I on . Saturday evening/; may be.i'ejjnrrt'"' ctUtis ;a« entirq- Tli&noyelis remarkable for tha,inaintcnanco 'of.its," intermit- and the qitainthess .of. itsiiwl-'-' ■ .Mii'jsyarid those foatnivp .have, foeon hdy mirnbly prMcrved, ; •though. l somc\Vl)ilt : contracted, in -the.'drama. To Mr .hi. ; litis; Knight fcll.tiio task' of •playing tliroo distinct parts, n task that ; domnn'ds sensibility and versatility, mid that ho. should jbq successful Calls for much commendation, As Prince Hurlolpli in thbVprolo'guo his work stood out with a distinctness that compensated for a littlo weakness on the pari, of his- supporters. In tho .play proper, the- characters:. of Kudolph Russendnll and •Ihi'lnlph, Kitiij of llurilnnin, are artistically complete, and they provide independent studies, Very few actors .would undertake; two distinctive and diverse personalities, but Mr, Knight is a. tower' of strength, and his grasp of the relative merits of thq filial .characters proves his keen appreciation of the, author's intentions. It is in the second act—tho forest scone near Zeiula —whore the king is discovered drugged (at the instigation of Michael, the Duke of Strelsan so that ho may gain., his crown) tthat Rasscndyll n p. pears, and owing to his remarkableK/.cncss to tho king is ipersuaded by the royal followers to);C) ci'owncd'tcniporarily in place of the King (who has 'been placed in the prison of Zcn"cfo by tho Duke) that Michael's plans may be defeated. This clover change by Mr Knight in his dual capacity completely mystified tho audience, ,lii the later scenes, where the intensity of the Englishman's character (levelopes, Mr Knight was signally successfuf. Miss Ola Humphrey, in her re- I presentation of Princess Flavin, im•parts a delicacy and gracefulness into her acting ifkl proves her, high qualities and ability in her profession. l n - tho subdued' Jovo passages she was most effective, while in the mono strenuous scones she imparted a commendable degree of artistic restraint. .In the iinul scena in 'li er love passago with Rasscndyll she accomplishes her part with a degree, of refinement. Her declamation, «s tho curtain is descending, that" Her King ran do no wrong " is especially pralk"worthy. The part-of Antioiictte do Maiibnn, ],y Miss Elsie Wilson, calls for considerable sustained effort, and observes on her part a scrupulous, proportion, avoiding theatrical exaggeration ; while Mis,) E.- Harvey (as (he Countess in tire prologue)'* was worthy of commendation, Mr Dudley Clinton, in the part of Colonel Sapi, ; as the grizzled martinet, was simply excellent. Thera wast 'thorough «pp ro .. cialion of tho possibilities of his character, which marked, Wm «s, a worthy mcml.cr of his profession. Mr 5 IT. I'limmer (Duke of Strelsan). und Mr K. Ucnniston (Yon TaiTcnheiim cschjraVc cjiicfully studied,representations,', 'i.nd flie subsidiary roles were all well siiftnined. i(, goes' without. Mving that/the plajtwast excellently, mounto I. the forest.scene, itho. Winter, l\il;:co;)rd tho C'astlo.of TniTonhcim rn?h |;. ( i„g I'll'ective. Tho dressing, especially in (ii u coronation scone, was nil in kceii'.mr with the occbifcn, whilst the incidental music by iho orchestra vas most pleasing,