MISS DARGON’S READINGS, RECITALS, AND DRAMATIC SKETCHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7222, 18 July 1884, Page 8

MISS DARGON’S READINGS, RECITALS, AND DRAMATIC SKETCHES.

Miss Augusta L. Dargon, tho celebrated tragedienne, gave the first of her scries of 'readings and recitals, at the Theatre Royal, last night week, to a bouse fairly filled at every part, though not to the extent iu justice demanded by the extraordinarily high character of the entertainment. Many of those who would otherwise have been present were, doubtless, unavoidably absent elsewhere, on account of pressing political demands on their time ; and there were probably some who did not attend, thinkiu.g the published eulogies of Miss Dargon’s powers as an actress mo-t likely exaggerated. To all such we can state, with a full confidence that those who have witnessed the best acting and heard the best elocution of the last thirty years will most fully agree with us, that the lady who made her appearance last night week is, in the extent and variety of her powers, far and away the superior of any actress who has yet appeared on the Wellington stage, and may well compare with the best of those now living who have either acted or read at any part of the world. No matter how highly raised the expectations may be by the anticipations of her public entertainments those who listen to her aro not likely to be disappointed, though they may perhaps form a slightly different opinion from what they expected of the idiosyncraoies of her powers. She may he different from what they expected, but is not likely to be thought inferior. If it bo true that she has not the exquisite pathos of Fauny Kemble, or the profound thoughtfulness of Walter Montgomery, or the queenliness of Riatori, she excels them all in the wider range of her powers, extending from the depiction of broad Irish comedy in Hood’s “ Lost Child,” to the high tragedy of the betrayed and forsaken Queen Katherine in Shakespeare’s “ Henry the Eighth.” More than any actress we have known, she reminds us of Helen Faucit in that 'accomplished lady’s best days. In not one of her characters dues she sink as low as even to mediocrity, and, for versatility aud brilliancy combined, is the moat wonderful actress we know. During the two remaining nights of her brief stay here, every person in Wellington who has any taste for high art on the stage should certainly visit Miss Dargon’s performances. It ought also to he added that Mks Dargon has the special 'advantages of a cunminding figure, and pleasing, lady-like ah dress. Her voice, also, though penetiating, is by no means too loud. She* commenced last night week with a scene from tho ‘‘School for Scandal ” excellently well rendering the display of exuberent spirits, and occasional frivolity on the part of the young wife, Lady Teazle, but, as it seemed to u*, doing scarcely justice to Sir Peter, who was not represented by Sheridan as either morose or a boor, bub an old gentleman, foolishly jealous, a little peevish, and not able easily to bridge over by extent of human sympathy the difference in years between his wife and himself. The pathetic descriptive sketch “Beautiful Snow” followed, and was given with just appreciation of the subject and with much effect, though it was rather too rapidly spoken, and did not please us as much as some of Miss Dargon’s other efforts. Tho divorce scene from “ Henry VIII,” on the other hand, which came next, was a delightfully artistic -rendering of the great dramatist's conception, both the forlorn Queen and the wily, but dignified cardinal courtier beiug excellently true to the originals. The “Charge of tho Light Brigade” was given with superlative fire aud vigor, but ibis fine piece has been perhaps a little played out through the various incompenb amateurs and third-class professional* who have attempted it. In the second part of the entertainment, Mias Dargon gave another specimen of her marvellous energy in the rather overstrained “ curse scene ” from “Deborah,’’ and immediately afterwards effected a lightning-like change to Lady Gay Spanker’s sprightly aud vivid description of the Steeplechase in “ London Assurance. ’ Just after this came what seemed to us the most beautiful piece of elocution in the evening, Edgar Allan Poe’s quaint, poetical, and still pathetic, though often-repeated i “ Raven,” It is difficult to praise too highly Miss Dargon for this presentation of a really flue poem, often heard, but little, perhaps, generally understood in its hidden and higher meaning. Whittier’s simple sketch, “Barbara Freitchie,” an Incident iu the Federal and Confederate war, succeeded, aud the evening closed with a most perfectly humorous and intensely Irish reading of Tom Hood’s “The Lost Child,” given with the genuine brogue and natural accompaniments with which Londoners aro bo conversant as common among the metropolitan Irish peasantry in the great city. On behalf of the people of Wellington, we beg leave to tender to Mias Dargon our thanks for the splendid intellectual treat with which she favored us yesterday evening week.