ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20629, 30 July 1930, Page 4

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

ALL-FEMININE CAST. GRAFTON CLUB'S VENTURE, A reversal of the Shakespearean order, by having an all-feminine cast, was ventured nt a reading of Antony and Cleopatra, | which vvps given by the Grafton Shakespoaro and Dramatic Club in tho Cameo Clubrooins last evening. The play, which is probably ono of the j most diflicult of tho works of Shakespeare j which could have been chosen, was admir- j ably given, and although tho ladies who j undertook such difficult parts as Antony and Caesar naturally could not produce I tho depth of voice required, yot they j entored thoroughly into tho spirit of their | roles with very successful results. The 1 stately lines with their occasional gloams of humour were spoken with full sympathy and understanding of their import, and in spite of the fact that tho players read their parts and were riot in costume, the lines wero spoken with such feeling that the atmosphere appropriate to Shakespeare was present throughout. | Tho titlo roles wero taken by Miss Helen Scabrook as Antony and Miss Nance Redstone as Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian syren. Both these parts called for very skilful handling and this thoy j thoroughly received in their hands. Other j narts wero equally well taken by Mrs. Lovoll, Miss Mary Pilkington, Miss Maisie Free, Mrs. GaynoC Jackson. Miss Cherry. Miss Winifred Todd. Miss Harpsnape, Mrs. J. Stevenson, Miss Alice Kealy, Miss Roseanne Lovell and Miss Dorothy Buckingham. The play was produced by Mr. Mervyn Rattray.