HIS MAJESTY’S.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1371, 3 August 1916, Page 32

HIS MAJESTY’S.

GREAT SHAKESPEARIAN FESTIVAL. The news that a company of Shakespearian players is to open a season in Auckland, beginning on Tuesday night next, at His Majesty’s Theatre, has been received with great satisfaction by those who are likely to see the plays of the world s master dramatist presented in the true setting and interpreted by artists whom the Melbourne and Sydney critics have united in praising. The Auckland public will see “Hamlet,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “Twelfth Night,” “Othello,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “As You Like It” presented. Mr. Allan Wilkie and Miss Frediswyde Hunter-Watts have scored so successfully in Australia that no one can deny to them the right of being considered in the first flight of Shakespearian artists. Melbourne and Sydney from being at first incredulous of the success of a Shakespearian season have joined in unanimous adulation, not only of their quality as artists, but in the enterprise of bring-

ing them to Australia, and they are supported by a finely balanced company of Shakespearian artists, while the staging’ of -each production is sumptuous. A leading Melbourne daiiy wrote: —“Rarely has such a demonstration of approval been heard at a Shakespearian performance as that which irresistibly broke iorth on Saturday evening after the second act of ‘Hamlet.’ The cheers and cries and clapping lasted for minutes, the curtain having to be raised many times for Mr. Wilkie to bow his acknowledgements. Here is an actor who has the temperament and intellectual endowment in a remarkable degree, wedded to the physical gifts which make for popularity. His delivery of the lines is so natural and dramatically effective that even a child could follow and understand them, and the beauty of the rhythm, and the dignity and forcefulness, are fully retained. Mr. Wilkie’s Hamlet is an outstanding performance which will live as long as memory, for it is grandly impressive and satisfying.

As Ophelia, Frediswde Hunter-Watts was also very fine, probably the best Ophelia Melbourne has seen within present memory.” The following magnificent programme has been arranged for the season of sixteen nights:—Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August Bth, 9th and 10th, “Hamlet”; - Friday, Saturday night and matinee, and Monday, 11th, 12th and 14th, “The Merchant of Venice”; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 15th, 16th and 17th, “Twelfth Night”; Friday, Saturday night and matinee, and Monday, 18th, 19th and 21st, “Othello”; Tuesday and Wednesday, 22nd and 23rd, “Romeo and Juliet”; Thursday and Friday, 24th and 25th, “As You Like It.” The box plans for the first two productions will open at Wildman and Arey’s on Saturday morning at 8 o’clock. Special concessions will be made to colleges, schools and clubs. For particulars apply to the box office. WILLIAMSON’S PICTURES. Messrs. E. and G. Williams, in presenting the Williamson 'film depictingsubmarine life, opened up a new phase of the cinematograph, amazing large audiences at His Majesty’s Theatre last week with some remarkable revelations. A trip along the bottom of the sea unfolds the mighty wonders of the deep in a superb series, giving vivid emphasis to the title, “The

Forests of the Deep,” while the piscatorial inhabitants are revealed with a realism that is almost uncanny. A fight with ocean monsters puts the finishing touch to a sensational showing that blends interest with instruction. A contrast was struck on Monday night, when the American comedy “Officer 666” took pride of place and caused many a hearty laugh. The piece has special interest, as the characters are taken by Fred Niblo and his “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford” company, who were such favourites when they performed “Officer 666” in Auckland some time ago. Mr. Niblo takes the part of the young millionaire, who assumes the role of a policeman to watch his own home, and the complications that ensue can be imagined, and they lose nothing in their pictorial telling. There is a graceful love story interwoven, and altogether it catches Teady favour.

Mr. J. W. Hazlltt is manager for J. C. Williamson. Ltd., at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney.