“MERCHANT OF VENICE”

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6408, 15 August 1947, Page 7

“MERCHANT OF VENICE”

NEXT WEEK’S ATTRACTION HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS Next week the strenuous activities of members of the Te Awamutu High School Dramatic Club extending over the last 11 weeks will reach a climax when the High School Players present two public performances of Shakespear’s famous comedy, “The Merchant of Venice.” No effort has been spared by the players and the assisting members of the staff to make their presentation a worthy one. The audiences who attend at the School Assembly Hall next Wednesday and Thursday evenings need I have no fears that the players will not be seen or heard in comfort. I Great care has been taken with the i performers’ audibility, and as the pro- | duction is so arranged that most of; the action takes place on a specially | constructed interior raised platform,; the players should be clearly visible to all. A special feature of the production is the way in which the play develops steadily from scene to scene with no unwelcome breaks at the close of acts, and the first interval does not occur until immediately before the famous Trial scene in the Court of Venice. The Art and Woodwork j departments at the school have been! very busy preparing adequate set-; lings, and the lighting arrangements' should leave little to be desired. The! delightful moonlight scene at the■ close of the play with its pleasing i musical background should prove 1 specially effective. Mr R. C. Judd will provide orches- ■ tral music for the play, including the compositions of Rosse for the Garrick ' Theatre production. In the famous; casket scene when Bassanio comes to j make his choice for Portia, the solo, i “Tell me where is Fancy Bred,” will | be sung by Mrs A. Wishart. A chorus of senior girls under the direction of j Mr R. Blennerhassett provides a • pleasing arrangement of Ford’s • “Since first I saw your face,” supple- L meriting the orchestral music in the Garden Scene in the concluding act. A cast of 19 promise to present some very fine portrayals. The difficult role of Shylock is played by Mervyn Haines with considerable distinction, his sustained dignity under ill-treatment and his tempestuous moods under a torment of hate being' strong features of varied character-: isation. Margaret Perrott as Portia i has an extremely difficult and arduous ■ task, but she reveals in the part an; easy grace, an intellectual bearing and a lovable simplicity in the roman-! tic scenes highly creditable in such a i young performer. The lighter, more humorous elements in play are provided by Bruce Berry and David Sterritt as Lancelot Gobbo and Old Gobbo, his father, and their scene together should prove popular with audiences. John Blennerhassett, as Gratiano, brings to his role a bright and yet gallant manner which befits the talkative gay jester of the play, and he and Nerissa, Portia’s companion (Ngara Mackley) make an admirable <pair in every way. Their work in the final quarrel scene is particularly well done. Barbara Lawson as Jessica eminently suits the part of Shylock’s daughter, and with Lorenzo, the lover role capably handled by Marie Parker, provides one of the most beautiful scenes o£ happy lovers in all Shakespeare. Mae Owens proves equal to the task of presenting an accomplished and dashing Bassasino, a worthy suitor for Portia, and the sad but kindly Antonio is presented by Brian Verner with a touch of the arrogance so necessary to a court gentleman of his day. Other interesting and tinctive characterisations are given by Brian Moisley (Salarino), Brian Salmon (Salavio), Alister McCorkindale (Prihce of Morocco), Rodney Sutton (Prince of Arragon) and Lance Bedford (Duke of Venice). Another special feature of the production is the care with which the costumes have been prepared. Photos in local shops give some indication of the attention to detail in the settings, lighting and costuming of the play. Moreover this play provides in remarkable degree a rare combination of light comedy, tense drama and beautiful romance blended in a manner rare even in .Shakespeare. This new school venture in dramatic art is worthy of full public support.