154
The University Courier.
dissent from the statement that none of those who took the principal parts have much surpassed the work they did in Twelfth Night. Mr. Russell Whitman as Malvolio was never so effective. He was almost too good a Malvolio, and put his friends in some alarm lest he had discovered some latent affinity for the part which they had never detected. Miss Brown has rarely been seen to greater advantage than as Viola, and if we were not afraid of turning Mr. Hall Riddle's head we should say that he looked enough like her twin brother, in the careful make up and exquisite costume that helped confuse them, to deceive others besides the actors who were predisposed to the deception by their lines. Miss Marcella Howland acted the part of Olivia as well as she looked it, and that is saying a good deal, and Mr. Ernest Robinson brought to the part of the Duke a good presence, a musical voice, and intelligent reading of his lines.. Mr. John Whitman again showed his versatility and his unusual comic ability in a role more difficult in some ways than any he has assumed before, and his Sir Toby Belch was admirably supported by the Sir Andrew Aguecheek of Mr. Fred Miller, who happily surprised those who may have some misgivings at entrusting the important and difficult role to a comparatively untried hand. Mr. Miller's Sir Andrew was a conspicusus success, and the same must be said with emphasis of Miss Don Bowersock's Maria, which was given with immense dash and spirit. Mr. Sears as Clown pleased us less, which is not saying that he pleased us not at all. Indeed we should not be surprised if the Shaksperian Clown and Fool were the very hardest roles to carry off successfully, and if Mr. Sears did not satisfy us that he was just the sort of being Shakspere was thinking of, that does not in the least call in question the sincerity and talent of his impersonation. This comic group, completed by the effective Fabian of Mr. Abe Levy, deserves great praise for the success with which it struck and kept the mirthful and mirth-provoking pitch of jollity so continuously sustained. We cannot go quite as far as the dramatic critic of the Journal, who found the only incentive to a laugh in the irresistible contagion of the jollity of the actors, and gave them the who e credit of redeeming by force of their good spirits the unrelieved dulness of a tame and ill- constructed play.
Our reading of Twelfth Night had not left with us, we confess, that melancholy impression that he seems to have derived from it, and we have to admit having been so undiscriminating
as to smile at Sir Toby and Malvolio even without the excusing contagion of their bodily presence. But even with this reduction, the measure of credit due the actors of the comic parts remains exceedingly generous.
The minor parts—and that includes those who have only to be in the proper place at the proper time and "dress the stage"—were satisfactorily filled, and if they could not contribute as much as the others to the effect of the play, they could have as effectually spoiled it; for the most insignificant part becomes very conspicuous when it is carelessly or badly done. The costumes were rich, and the pictures presented by the grouping of the actors were very pretty. The dance with which the final scene closed was extremely graceful and charming to the eye. The new scenery permitted several adjustments of the stage that gave effects agreeably varying what is within the traditional range of the opera house. The two scenes in Olivia's garden were essentially new in their impression. In the evenness of all these matters of detail it was evident how much was due to the patience and persistence in training and management of Miss Brown and to the attention and suggestion behind the scenes of Mr. Alfred Whitman, as well as to the efficient aid of their stage assistants. The music rendered by Prof. Saunders, together with Messrs. Blaker, Perry, Wehrner, Sherman, Alden and Green, all of the University Banjo Club, was of exquisite tone and melody, and added immeasurably to the success of the play and the enjoyment of the audience. Much of the music was arranged by Prof. Saunders and the most critical could not criticise their execution. The Athletic Association has once more to congratulate itself on the help that its friends have shown themselves so ready to extend it, and to express its great obligation.
Chinch Bugs.
The work in the chinch bug laboratory has begun and it is found that the infection is working on the healthy bugs with good effect, notwithstanding the fact that the cold weather hinders infection to a great extent. The demand for bugs is being made much earlier this year than last; the first batch of bugs sent out then was the 20th of May. The reports are that considering the poor condition of the wheat and the dryness of the soil, the damage which the bugs are likely to do will be great, and thus the early demand for infected bugs.