"THE SHREW”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 615, 18 March 1929, Page 15

"THE SHREW”

SHAKESPEARE’S WIFE-TAMING ADMIRABLE PERFORMANCE "The Taming of the Shrew,” a comedy by William Shakespeare. Presented at Ilis Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday evening by Allan Wilkie. CAST Petruchio - -- -- -- - Allan Wilkie Baptista John Cairns Vincentio ------- Vincent Scully Lucentio ------- Dennis Barry Gremio ------- Herbert Sheldrick Hortensio ------- John Cameron Tranio ------- Alexander- Marsh Biondello - -- -- -- - Arthur Keane Grumio - -- -- -- - Milton Sands Bianca ------- Mildred Howard Katharina ------ Lorna Forbes If anything spoiled the performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” on Saturday evening it was the noise of crunching ice-cream cones. The audience in the dress circle consisted mostly of schoolgirls. After tho interval each girl cooled herself by eating ice-cream, and the noise became so loud that it was almost impossible to hear the players on the stage. So much for a true appreciation of Shakespeare! Apart from that the performance was an admirable one. “The Shrew” is one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, full of vigorous action and amusing scenes. Mr. Wilkie’s Petruchio is one of his most delightful performances, equalled only by his Malvolio. It is excellent comedy work, admirably sustained through tho whole play. Though the part could easily degenerate into farce Mr. Wilkie never allows his character to fall to that low estate. He swaggers, he cracks his whip, he storms and woos his tempestuous Katherina with a freedom and lively force which are delightful to watch. Miss Forbes also gave one of her best performances of the season. She does not make Katherina a screaming virago. Her outbursts of violence were suggested with subtlety and admirably subdued. One felt her bitterness and liked the more her transformation to a gentle wife. Miss Forbes’s beautiful diction is always to be admired. Mr. Barry and Mr. Marsh gave the delightful performances one has come to expect from them. Tlieir work lias a charm and a flavour which suggests the best in Shakespeare. Miss Howard’s Bianca was a pretty study, played with grace and gentie-

ness. Mr. Sheldrick. an elderly love“r, and Mr. Cameron, a t ore youthful one, played with a true appreciation .of the value of their parts. Mr. Cairns gave us another of his dignified and finished performances. Mr. Sands and Mr. Keane extracted full value from the low comedy roles. Miss Scurr presented one of her characteristic studies of ah old woman. The smaller roles were capably played by the subsidiary .cast. This evening, "Henry VIII.”