THE THEATRE
" HENRY IV " (PART II) AT OXFORD
TIME was when but for the intervention of certain military matters of graver import, even I was to have played Benedict for the O.U.D S As I slipped over Magd%len Bridge. last Saturday, nosing my way forward through a myriad Beatrices on bicycles, I wondered in what way, if at all, the methods of the famous old Society would have changed. But fourteen years . . . and the world's face altered ; a world still rich in lovers and yet so sick at heart. The changes I observe in the methods of the Society are of an increasing tendency towards the professional, not only in the production itself but in all the subtle arts of the publicity agent, so that it grows annually more difficult to know what standard- of criticism to apply to the O.U.D.S. productions. Miss Clare Greet and Miss Olga Lindo are West End actresses of the front rank, but it gave me no thrill to find their names in heavy type on the playbill. Are we to assume that there are no amateur ladies in Oxford capable of dealing adequately with Mistress Quickly and Doll Tearsheet ? Of course there are. Then why not have them ? And is there never to come a time when the women students will be admitted into member- ship of the older University clubs on an equal footing with their fellow-men ? So be it, however, and on this occasion I propose to offer the O.U.D.S. none of the kindly patronage that critics are apt to bestow on amateur societies. For here indeed in this production of the seldom-played second part of Henry IV is something of which Oxford—yes and England too—may well be proud. I challenge any country in the world to produce a company of University students to do so fine a thing. How noble a mixture of tragedy and comedy is this long and difficult play. The lingering malady of a weak, romantic king with his gaze fixed hungrily on Jerusalem, the rough manliness of the northern Percys, the girlish naughtiness and then the new-born pride in king- ship of Prince Hal, the ripeness of Falstaff, 'the usury of Shallow, the jolly swagger of Bardolf, the harlotry of Doll —how the supreme artist in Shakespeare knew how to merge them together into a perfect pattern. The battle scenes are, I think, the least satisfactory. They were in consequence the only scenes into which Mr. Bridges Adams was unable to infuse either life or colour. They were underplayed, and the warriors, in spite of their armoured knee-caps, looked like chaSiened school-gills. This was the only flaw in a productiOn that proved once again that Mr. Bridges Adams is a master- .hand. His crowds were the best crowds I have ever seen in 'the theatre. Each individual was alive and doing something. In the twinkling of an eye he converted a jeering, mobbing, rushing crowd, itching to tear the clothes from Doll Tear- sheet's back, panting to have her whipped, into a joyous; hat- throwing, rollicking, good-humoured riot with no other , thought save the royal coronation. A superb . gesture with which to close the play.- His Boar's Head Tavern was a vivid picture of Tudor London, I felt the wide sweep of the Cots- wolds in Shallow's orchard, and the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster was beautiful in its simplicity.
Mr. Bridges Adams was assisted by two performances of outstanding merit. The part of the dying king is an obscure and difficult 'one. Mr. H. Grisewood played it as if he had been on the stage for years. There is a moving quality in his voice ; he has personality. He delivered the " Sleep " and Crown " speeches with an exquisite feeling. If, as I believe,
-Mr. R. W. Speaight is of a small physique his remarkably riah and robust performance. becomes all the more astound- ing. Here was the completely satisfying Falstaff— a thing hard enough to find. Mr. Speaight avoided the common mistake of making the jovial knight nothing more than a tavern roysterer. The fellow was fundamentally a gentleman and of a lion heart. Mr. Speaight played him in the right key and put an infinity of pathos into his fall from kingly favour. --I say without hesitation that in this part Mr. Speaight can hold his own with any actor on the London stage at the present moment. Of the smaller parts, many were on a high level. Mr. Gillies stood out from the rest as Baldoiph, a bold, spirited piece of acting. I liked particularly the Silence of Mr. Williams and the Lord Chief Justice of Mr. de Laszlo. The Shallow of Mr. Franklin was extremely amusing ; he over-did it a :bit. The rascal was not a doddering maniac and though Mr. Franklin's little skips were -diverting, I sub- mit with respect that one ought not to skip after drinking `sack ! Mr. Nye—an Adonis so fair that he outrIvors Novello —just missed being very good as Prince Hal. His voice in the 164.s:eerie With-his dying father—surely one of the loveliest in Shak-espeare.:----was not under control, but it is only fair to add that he was under the influence of his own :emotion. Miss Esnie Vernon had her little moment as Lady Percy, and took it so 'Well that' she Played every One elk clean off the stage. 'A liocal amateur, I suppose, and a-good example of my argu- ment. And what of the professional help ? Miss Clare Greet, Nit lately mistress of The Man with a Load of Mis- ihief,.had little- difficulty in going back three centuries to tic; likewise for The Boar's Head. A bright, lovable peiforrnance characteristic of this actress. Doll. Tear- sheet 'is a ludicrously small part with which to tempt a Star from London; and I'm sorry to say that Miss Olga Lindo 'M , ade a co. lossal hash of it'. She was, of bourse, theatrically
. . effective. , No one can tear virtue or a passion more bitingly . _
into shreds, but her interpretation of the -part was entirely Wrong.: -She was foe modern, too American, she Was back 'again in Prigo-Pago, Sadie Thompsoning it with "Reverend Davidson." I thought her performance in Mr. Maugha in's bitter comedy-the best bit of acting in the past theatrical Year. Most of us, I' think, have high hopes of Miss Linde, but it is Clear that she needs.a rest from this kind of part.
. state . Let me state again that this production of Henry IV was
. _ highest _ . _ of the highest quality. A brave adventure, bravely . met, 'rich in humour and nobility. It has not alway-s been my fortune to feel spiritually hapPy in the elusive atmosphere Of Oxford, biit I came out of the theatre on Saturday evening wniking on air and exalted by'the company of great things, prouder, I.think, of my University than ever in my life before.
Cambridge can have the Boat Race now for all I care!
E. S: A.
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