SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 33, 2 May 1927, Page 12

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

PROCEEDINGS THIS YEAR PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION Referring to the birthplace of William Shakespeare an English paper states that when the new Memorial Theatre is erected, many old buildings will be torn away to provide a more harmonious setting. Thus' it will command a better view and more attractive entrance through Bancroft Gardens than did the old theatre ruined by fire last spring. BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL TO OPEN IN APRIL Shakespeare’s birthday festival opened on April 18 and continues until May 14. The regular summer festival will begin July 11 and continue till September 11. Cass Gilbert, New York architect, will co-operate as a judge with two British architects in passing opinion upon plans for the new theatre, which will be submitted in competition by British and American draftsmen. Both the Corporation of Stratford and the Great Western Railway have co-operated with the governors of the memorial theatre in plans to erect a monument to the famous dramatist and retain the Elizabethan atmosphere of the town. NEW HOTEL IS UNDER CONSIDERATION More than 100,000 visitors from all over the world went to Stratford-on-Avon last, year. A new hotel is under consideration. It is proposed to be a low building in harmony with the seventeenth century surroundings and probably will* be built about a great court. Dame Ellen Terry always attends the festival in the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, and her recovery from a recent illness has given joy to the village which hopes to entertain her again at its spring festival in April. DAME TERRY PLAYED SHAKESPEARE’S HEROINES In her acting days Dame Terry played nearly all of Shakespeare’s heroines with the Memorial TheiH-e Company. Her brother, Fred Terry, also played Shakespeare comedy roles here countless times. The company this year will give the following Shakespearian plays: “King Henry the Fifth,” “Twelfth Night,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Much “Ado About Nothing,” “As You Dike It,” “Hamlet,” and “Macbeth.” A GENEROUS AMERICAN The United States, owing to the generosity of Dr. Willett E. Dentinger, is likely to make a big show in reverencing the memory of Shakespeare. Speaking at a luncheon gathering of the Youth Extension Society of America at the Hotel Astor, Mr. Dentinger announced in the presence of Archibald Flower, Mayor of $ Stratford-on-Avon, England, that he was going to raise 2,500,000 dollars for a Shakespearian repertoire theatre on Broadway before the autumn. He promised Mr. Flower, who is visiting America in the interests of rebuilding the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford which was burned down several years ago, that he would turn over 250,000 dollars to reconstruct the theatre in Shakespeare’s birthplace. “ I have visited my friends in Wall Street,” sair Dr. Dentinger. “ and I think I can pledge that I will have the necessary funds by next fall.” Dr. Dentinger said he planned to form a mutual corporation with an authorised capitalisation of 2,500,000 and “no watered stock.” “ All but 250,000 of this,” Dr. Dentigner went on, “ will go to purchase a theatre now erected on Broadway that can be had at the price. On April 23, at a meeting at the Hotel Brevoort, I hope to announce the completed plans.” PLAYS FOR SIX MONTHS There will be nothing but common stock in the new Shakespearian theatre, said Dr. Dentinger, and one share will sell for 12 dollars cash. In return for the 250,000 dollars that will go to Mr. Flower for the English theatre, the Shakespearian players of Stratford-pn-Avon will come to America for six months of the year to play in the Broadway house. The other six months of the year Dr. Dentinger’s theatre will be leased for moving ing picture and vaudeville purposes to defray the running expenses. Tickets to performances of Shakespeare will sell for the standard prices of 50 cents, 7o cents and one dollar, Dr. Dentinger declared. Mr. Flower, who succeeded Dr. Dentinger on the dais, told his audience why he was in America. “I am here,” he said, “to acquaint you with the information relative to the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon.” The Mayor of Stratford referred to himself as a business man who was extremely fond of fox huntwho had become interested in Shakespeare so much that he had ‘raised his children on the works of the dramatist. “Youth Foods” were served at the luncheon. The diet consisted of a compote of raisins, figs and whipped cream, broiled salmon, spinach, beets and fruit salad. According to Mrs. Dentinger who is president of the Youth Extension Society and who served as toastmaster, such a diet, if continually practiced, wid enable a person to live for