AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

“FAUST” AT THE THEATRE

ROYAL.

Mr Rignold has accustomed his audiences to expect that every fresh play which he produces is to be mounted with care, taste, and liberality, and, when it was made known that be was about to follow in Mr Henry Irving’s footsteps in putting on. the stage the newest version of “Faust,’’ it was commonly anticipated that the exhibition would be such as Wellington audiences had not hitherto witnessed, This anticipation on Wednesday night was more than fulfilled. From a scenic point of view the display was wonderful, and, when the limited stage accommodation of the theatre is considered, it iB most surprising that such perfection and elaboration is attainable. Tbroughont there is the utmost attention to harmony of color, picturesqueness of grouping, and to archaeological propriety of costume. The figures and dresses are such as Retzseh himself must have had in his mind when he conceived bis admirable outline illustrations of Goethe’s immortal work, £ The students drinking, the girls troopiDg into church or assembled in the street, are all highly characteristic of old German life, and there is nothing to jar or to spoil the illusion bv calling the spectator back to every-day life. The scenes are unusually well-painted. Marguerite’s garden, the street, the cathedral inside and out, and Faust’s laboratory, being each in its way a picture. To try to compile a new version of “ Faust ” is rather a dangerous experiment, as from the days of Marlowe downwards no story has been pat into such variety of dramatic form. The present version is a very good one, however, sticking close to the traditional lines. Faust as the aged scholar, is played -by—Mr_Cathcart, who acts very fairly, as does Mr Hatubro, who represents him after the metamorphosis. Mr Rigmold, of course, takes the part of Mephietopheles, and gives a most effecti?e repreaenation of it, In which there is

a good deal of originality. Mephiatopheles in Goethe’s drama is a scoffing, sneering fiend. Mr Rignold makes him jeer in a truly diabolical manner, his laugh having the ring of utter wickedness and mischief. His cynical allusions to himself are given with much dramatic ability. Ou one occasion Martha Bays to Mephistopheles “ Yon are lame I see,” to which he answers “ The result of a fall I had a few years ago—from a considerable height.” The air of indifference and coolness with which this was spoken was highly appreciated by the audience. Miss Kate Bishop, as Marguerite, bad a part which suited her to perfection. Never in Wellington has she had the same - opportunity of showing her power as an actress. In tbe last act, when the heroine is in despair and loses her reason, nothing could be more touching or finer than Miss Bishop’s acting. The terror and horror were extreme with which she spoke the wordß “ Faust, Faust, why do you stand behind that aged man so fall of years and care ? Now, you have changed places, you and he. And now again, and now so rapidly you pass that both are merged in one. And now the evil one has joined the other two and mingles in the dazzling passing to and fro, till all becomes a cloud of many colored vapors that mix and twirl and seethe before me like\never ending fires. O, God protect me !’ 1 This is the climax, and the effect is not spoiled by adding anything superfluous. Mr Tolano played very well as Siehel. His sense of humor is very great, but he 18 a good enough artist to know when it ought to be -suppressed, and last night, as on previous occasions, he showed that he is perfectly fit to act with spirit, propriety, and feeling in situations where fun would be entirely out of place. Mr Marsh took the part of Valentine, but had not a great deal to do in it. The fencing scene with Faust, however, was very good, and must have been carefully rehearsed. The concluding picture of the ascension of Marguerite with four angels was a most striking one, and does the.greatest credit to the scenic artists and the mechanist. In fact, to the latter gentleman, Mr Huntley, the . utmost praise is due for the manner in which the scenery was worked. To remove the elaborate machinery for “ In the Ranks ” and substitute the still more complicated arrangements for “ Faust ’’ in leas than four and twenty hours is a feat of which he may well be proud. The music throughout was from Gounod’s opera. Several of the choruses were effectively sung. 'ln the scene when Siebel returns from the wars the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Cemino, appeared and played the “ Soldiers’ Chorus.’’. In the spin-nihg-wheel scene Miss Bishop sang “ The King of Thule” very sweetly. The audience was a large one; and evidently appreciated the piece the chief performers being vigorously recalled before the curtain. The arrangements of the company have been made so that there can be only three more representations of “ Faust,” so that all who desire to see a famous old legend in good acting form, well played, and mounted with the utmost elaboration, taste, and skill, will do well to avail themselves of the opportunity.