PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9141, 13 June 1891, Page 3

PRINCESS THEATRE.

•' SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER."

The Otago University Dramatic Club made their first appearance in public last night, when, in the presence of a crowded house—standing accommodation even being unobtainable downstairs before tbe curtain was raised—they produced Goldsmith's famous classical comedy of "She Stoops to Conquer," which has been termed tho best comedy of the eighteenth century. It is instructive to note that, like many othor plays tbat havo achieved a wonderful amount of success, this comedy was not looked upon with favour by the managers to whom it was submitted by the author; and ifc was only after many delays, mortiQcations, and misgivings on the part of tbe elder George Colmin that the first production of the piece took on the 15th March 1773. Its success was instantaneous. Thachrouiclerof the time reports tbat ifc wjs "received throughout witb fche greatest acclamation," and Horace Walpole even, who had declared that it was " the lowest of all farces " and that, set up 5n opposition to sentimental comedy, it was "bid as the worst of them," was forced to admit that "it succeeded prodigiously." Dr Johuson said of the piece that " he knew of no comedy for many years that had so much exhilarated an audience, that had answered so much the great end of comedy—"making an audience merry"; and Goldsmith's biographer, John Forster, remarks that never was anythiug Jike a tono of doleful distrust, such as the author displayed, so littld &-.11-J for as in the case of this comedy. " Goldsmith had here," he afc&fces, " taken his stand on the sincere, broad ground of character and humour, where time had fixed him so firmly. The final critical verdict had pass-id, which saved auy further criticism on this last legacy of laughter he left us." Since those days performances of "She Stoops to Conquer "hove beeu frequent enough in Great Britain, and it was only lasfc year that there were two revivals of the play—witbio a week of each other—iv Loudon, the one at tho Vaudeville, and tha othor at the Criterion -Theatre. Ifc is a considerable timo, however, ■since the comedy was last acted in New Zealand, ; and ifc was a capital, even if somewhat ambitious, idea of those who are in authority in the Uniweraity Dramatic Club to select it as the piece ior reDresentation on the occasion of the initial -appearance of the club. It may be assumed that the plot of " Sbe Stoops to Conquer " is well known, but there are perhaps some peopie who aro not aware that tho leading incident in tbe play was founded upon an episode in Goldsmith'u own life. It happened, when the author was a lad of nearly 17 years old he set off during his holidays on a borrowed hack and witb, we arc told, " o guinea, store of unaccustomed wealth, ia his pocket," that, being benighted, he was directed by the wag of Ardagh to the squire's houso a3 being " the best houeo" in the place, and that, on his arrival there, be gave his orders with a pompous air and did not discover his mistake until tho night was far spent. It will be conceded that it was not an easy task which the University Dramatic Club undertook when they determined to produce "She Stoops to Conquer," but they fulfilled it in a way that was, for amateurs, wonderfully satisfactory. The blunder! and mishaps that are almost inseparable fcom an amateur performance were there as usual—the curtain was rung down in tbe middle of an act, the prompter's voice was not a stranger, the admonitions of the stage manager to " speak louder" were heard at the back of the theatre, the evening dress of the stage manager was seen lurking behind the drapery in Mr Hardcastle's house, and a performer i r two experienced a difficulty in maintaining tbeproper gravity—but, taking ifc all through, the production was one upon which the club may f »;rly look for congratulations. The scenic appointments bad received the attention which they .need aud were admirable, and the performers ,were suitably—somo richly—costumed. The -pourtrayal of tho various characters was accomplished in a manner tbafc calls for no serious fault-finding, the principal parts being very creditably sustained. The dignified, jovial old squire, Hardcostle, with his stock of stories, and his love for '- old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine," was represented by Mr C. Mouat, who had evidently given the part careful .ond painstaking study, and who is entitled to credit for his able impersonation of an exacting .character. Ifc may be perhaps urged against jhim that he erred on the side of fassiness, which would be a justification for Marlow and . Hastings mistaking the squire's house for sn ijnn; but that i 3 a point upon which little stress -can be laid, because the contrast has to be .sharply drawn between Hardcastle's indignation and the impudence of his visitors' supercilious demeanour. ' Mr J. M'Donald, who was cast for the part of YouDg Marlow, played with case and discrimination, and skilfully marked the transition from tbe sheepishness of the bashful rake in company •with Miss Hardcastle to the rakishness of the man of the world in company with the supposed barmaid. Marlow's friend, Hastings, was not so successfully impersonated, Dr Jcffcoafc, io whose hands the character wss placed, being inclined to be stagey, aod delivering his lines too rapidly. Mr James Montgomery, as Toi°y Jjumpkin, exhibited an amount of confidence tbafc -was quite surprising in an amateur making his first appearance behind thj footlights, and he brought to his interpretation of tho part an admirable perception of its_ requirements. Though his performance had its rough edges and was not thoroughly well sustained, tbe booby imbecility of the loutish, uncouth, young squire, with his fondness for the low company to be found at his favourite reeorfc of tho Three [ Pigeons and his lack of genteel manners was .spiritedly aud truthfully emphasised. Mr *5V*. D. Milne performed the small part ■of Sir Charles Marlow acceptably; Mr P. H. Campbell's Diggory was rather lacking ; in the quality of stolidity, and so also was Mr Haydon's Landlord, but both contributed their quota to the general fund of merriment. The ; representation of the female characters wsb .■such as to afford cause for gratification. Miss ; Sreeman, though somewhat overweighted in the .part of Mrs Hardcastle, in the representation of which she was apparently suffering from succeeded so well that it may seasonably be anticipated that in a part, which : •does not make such demands upon its imper- ' ■senator for the simulation of anger—an emotion ; that is one of the most difficult: for amateurs to ; present—she would bo Been to much advantage, i jtfiss Alexander made for the most part a i pleosiog aud graceful Kate Hardcastle, spoke - out distinctly, and showed a fine perception of ■ the character, Her assumption of the airs of a j barmaid was, however, somewhat colourless, , even when it is remembered that Kate remains ( a lady all the while she " stoops to conquer," and , the business of the shifted chair, in the first scene with young Marlow, though traditional, was overdone. Miss Fodor is to be complimented - -upon her bright aud charming representation of - Miss Nevill, and in the pretence of love-making ' ■with Tony displayed a knowledge of stage 1 husinesa snd an aptitude for acting that tended .greatly to enliven the scones. Miss White sus•fcained the part of a maid, and Messrs Stephens ; and Adams filled tho parts of Hardcastle's ■ servants, Thomas and Rodger. Tho students' < orchestra, conducted by Mr A. E. A. Palmer, ( performed tbe overture, and also contributed ■ selections during the intervals, playing creditably , if unsteadily; but the intention to give some students' songs during the evening had to bo : .-"■indoned, as owing to the crush in the stalls it - was found impossible to get the students in a •compact boay. This was explained to the audience by Mr S. Solomon, tbe stage manager, i who in the last interval came before the curlain, : end expressed the thanks of the club to those present for their patronage, adding that the club hoped that on their next appearance the .good nature of the public would find a great deal more to applaud, and their candour _ great deal less to condemn.

" She Stoops to Conquer" will be repeated ■to-night.

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