Theatre Royal.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5161, 17 November 1884, Page 4

Theatre Royal.

"Jane Shoee." Mr W. G. Wills, painter and playwright, an. Irishman, and now in the prime of life and intellectual powers, is scarcely known to us here by more than name. It is curious that some of his beautiful historical plays, which have had such tremendous success in the Old Country, lave not found greater favour at the Antipodes. Is it want of appreciation on the part of the Colonial public, or are managers and actors at fault ? If the latter, then Mrs G. B.Lewis certainly removed a cause of reproach against i!tu profession by presenting one of them >n Saturday evening for the first time in Curistchurch. " Jane Shore " was produced at the Princess' Theatre, London, eight years ago, ran for nearly half a year, and was revived again soon after with greater triumph than «ver, so that it is no unknown, obscure play. Whether Mr Wills has not drawn too much upon the stock of that poetical license which is the privilege of those who vrrit« historical plays i^; is far too late now to inquire. The interest of the piece is not sustained by the dramatist from beginning to end with a force gradually increasing to a well-devised climax. Still, his version of the story of the fourth Edwards beautiful mistress is full of ?: x-ne3 tender, toacuiug and pathetic, 'i'se firit two act.- iv particular are muat excellent, and the language elevated and poetical. Mr V." ills' verse ia often really musical, and fillet: with lines that ring upon the ear and heart at once, vigorous and rich in simile as they are. Were " Jane Shore " as cleverly constructed as it is well written, especially in these first two acts, there is no doubt that it would be a most powerful play. As it is, it contains many beautiful passages, and many emotional scenes, in which are couched moral lessons clear to read. Mr Wills fulfils both the poet's mission of instruction and the playwright's task of amusement full well. His principal characters are well marked, and afford opportunity to the actors of individualising them successfully. Of course they are all over-shadowed by the central figure of Mistress Shore herself. She is painted in the hour of her glory and power, and in the hour too of her darkest misery and degradation, with a skilful fcand. There is something; -o real and human about the character ■■■( the piece, that ita effect is very great. .-Irs Lewis, in ■undertaking the impersonation had to bear the burthen and heat of the day. She has evidently made a most careful study of a part demanding the exercise of all an actavss' emotional powers, and was certainly as successful as such a thoroughly vreil-t-r.iined. capable artist was snre to be. In such a part there is alivay ..temptation to overdo the harrowing sc. ;.=?, nnd this temptation Mrs Lewis resisted. Her playing wa3 most enthusiastically received, a^.'kiuse being unstinted _ throughout th-; rn'.'ce, arid "?i ; :- : ' '>■■":•■■■: '_;.•.:. fvd hsc "after every tali or tne cur-

tain. They were not ' undeserved. The scene in which she pleads with her husband to be received again into his home, was well worth the honour. Mr H. Lawrence, who took the part of Henry Shore, unfortunately did not resist the temptation above referred to. Some of the most beautiful lines of the play are put into his mouth, but he often marred them by ranting. At other times his acting was forcible and good. The villain Glo'ster was excellently played by Mr Harry Douglass, and his audience were not slow to perceive it, calling him back once or twice to give him a complimentary storm of hissing. Mr Wilson Forbes scored quite a hit as bluff, honest, true-hearted John Grist — one of the best characters in the play — who befriended poor Jane in her extremity. His acting was just what it should have been ,- the part was never forced out of its proper level, but yet was always prominent. Mrs J. P. Hydes has not very much to do as the Queen, but did that little well. Lord and Lady Cootes were taken by Mr Haygarth and Miss Peachy, Cates by Mr Henry Hoyte, and Lady Stanmore by Miss Young. Miss Marie Brooks deserves a word of commendation for the way in which she played the Hostess.