DUNEDIN SHAKESPEARE CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13579, 28 April 1906, Page 8

DUNEDIN SHAKESPEARE CLUB.

"MACBETH." Tim Duncdin Shakespeare Club Inst, night gave one of its populai readings, tlio piny chosen being "Macbeth.'' As usual, tliero was a very large attendance. Mr A. Wilson, M.A., delivered an interesting introductory address, in which ho analysed the pari of Lady Macbeth.

Of 1-ho reading, thus graciously and luminously prefaced, nothing distinctive can fairly ho said % way of criticism. Indeed, to readings of this kind it is obvious that the standards of dramatic! criticism can only bo applied with a deliberately delicale discretion. The readers rend; and then thry are immediately at a disadvantage. Gesturo is necessarily cramped and fettered; oven elocution is essentially in Fomo measure barred. The readers have tho advantage of no ordinary theatrical accompaniments, aids to the illusion. They have no sconerjv Their costume is modern. On a fair review of last night's reading ono suggestion in especial must be made. All the readers slick too slavishly to their hook. _ When they miss a word iii tjie running line of type, tliev b0?7,1e n. lino in ihe flowing lino of speech. That, is not us it should be. Lovers of Shakespeare, rending in public, should liavo so close u knowledge of llie play as serves to make the printed hook only necessary as a prompter, in case of accident. The laskof memorising these parts is not difficult, or certainly should not be difficult (o enthusiasts. However that .may ho, the suggestion is reasonable, nnd made in good faith. Last night the part-s were distributed i-lms:—MncbotJi, Mr Hanlon; Uaiuiuo, Mr C'allan; Macduff, Mr Stephens; Malcolm, Mr Itunter; Boss, Mr L. T.' Burnard; Lennox, Mr Barretl; Aligns, Mr A. V. Burnard; Doctor, Mr AVathen; Murderer and Servant, Mr Morion; Porter and Messenger, Mr Davey; Lady Macbeth, Miss M'Kechnie; Gentlewoman, Miss Dullon; First Witch, Miss Ford; Second Witch, MiflsOulvenvell; Third Wilch. Miss Roberts; Chorus and Apparition, Miss Hilda Burton'. Tteferencc to the. wishes will immediately f.ervo to make clear the difficulty under which platform readers labour. Hero w« have three neatly-gowned and personable young women, speaking dainty and precise English, standing forth to represent the three foarsomo boys of the "piny, "so withered and so wild in their attire." The. effect is necessarily to import into the ?OTne a cerlnin advontiiious humour which, perhaps happily for him, Shakespeare never foreraw. Now, an audience is like. any other crowd—it is bad fo got it giggling. In this scene the merry jest of the three winsoinely-frocked damsels presented a-S feai'soino witches e.o tickled tho onlookers that Mr Hanlon, as Macbeth, was immediately placed at an unfair disadvantage. In such a public reading the witch scene _ might discreetly bo left out of the selection. Any praise' of Mr Hanlon at. this dal-o savours rather of supererogalie is so very well known. He combines, with an admirable intensity of the true drainat-io instinct, exceptional arquired skill in elocution, and a voice pleasantly virile, flexible, and magnetic. His performance lust night was, on the whole, excellent. When it fai'.ed lo ho excellent it was bccauso the limitations overpowered the possibilities. Miss M'Kechnie gave an intelligent and forceful reading of Lady Macbeth," but her conception of the character at this stage is notably lacking in force and subtlety. That, of course, is quite natural, anc! as it should he, Lady Macbeth being impossibly far beyond the scope of the amateur in any case. Distinctions between the other readers would he merely invidious. Songs wero contributed by Mrs It Hudson, jun., and Mr Bonner. Mrs Hudson sang "It was a dream." and so showed strikingly hoiv differently the same song may be, as treated by two differing: singers. This song, a pretty thing enough, was brought to Australia more years ago than one cares fo count, bv that, very charming vocalist, Miss Marion Hood, of the First Gaiety Company. She sang it superbly, delightfully, perfectly. In this comparison tliero is nothing intentionally damaging. Mrs Hudson, albeit deficient in sympathy, sang the song with intelligence.