BRANDON-CREMER COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3101, 4 June 1917, Page 5

BRANDON-CREMER COMPANY

'THE SILENCE OF DEAN MAITLAND."

"Tho Silence .'if Dean Maitland," -a drama in a prologue and three acts, beinw a dramutisntion of Maxwell Gray's novel. Cast:— Alma Leo Kathleen Arnold Marion Everard Alice' Rede Cyril Maitland Maurice Tuohy I)r. Henry Everard Edgar Keuna Sir Lionel Swnynstono ... Albert Massey Ingram Swaynstono ... George Henderson Rev. Dr. ilaitluud YV. J. Coulter Uranfer Frauk Neil Everard Maitland Evelyn Marsh Benjamin Leo Robert Lo Roy Jaoob Hule Victor Paul Lilian Maitland Mabel Hardinge Marion Everard Alice Redo Winnie Maitland Irene Marsh Winnie Maitland Biddie Hawthorne Lady Louise Swaynstone 1 .... Mona Leslie Mrs. Benson Annie Symons It is a far cry back to tho time when Maxwell Gray's powerful novel, 'The Silence of Dean Maitland,' was the "best seller" of tho year, but that which is intrinsically dramatic never dies, and the play has been played several times in Wellington at long intervals, seldom without reviving that interest which always attaches to a much-rend . story. The present adaptation is that of Mr. Brandon-Cremer's, who is to be congratulated on the excellent result of his task, for tho play, as produced on Saturday afternoon and evening at the Grand Opera House, is quite a good one, and was well suited to the capacity of the players. _It is nnique, too, in a way, for hero is a fine play witn a-well-sus-tained interest in which there is,-, for a wonder, no villain. Indeed, if there bo a worker of mischief, as there must -Hpr to illustrate virtue's shin- ' ' -son is embod':in ''y enoi"J i, is «i - ■' troys the K. ,-c, arv' ... .identally shoots '. ged fatlu and whose silence js the impriimment of tho innocent ;/r. Everard. But actually, Cyril Maitland is neither villain nor Lero, but just a very Tinman person, who sins deeply, suffers the tortures of a racking conscience that whitens his hair and cripples his happiness, expiates his wrong-d6ing by a full, confession, made in the pulpit at a moment when he has been honoured with a bishopric, and falls dead upon tho chancel floor,before the faces ot the horrified congregation, who had revered tho sinner as a saint.

The play was very presentably performed indeed, and being clean, -wholesome, and well-written, it should attract audiences during the present week. As tho Rev. Cyril Maitland, llr. llaurico Tuohy gave a well-studied and sincere performance. There was never an inclination to rant or over-emphasise, and his poise was as natural as his restraint was commendable. Mr. Edgar itenna was only moderately effective as Dr. Everard, and Mr. W. J. Coulter gave weight to the role of the Dean's father. A couple of good old men sketches were contributed by Messrs. Prank Neil and Paul Victor, and Mr. Lo Roy made a spirited Ben Lee in the prologue. Miss Mabel Hardinge, whose broad methods n<iver Jack a certain primitive force, was excellent as Lillian-Maitland, and Miss Alico Rede was sweet and natural as Marion Everavd. Miss Kathleen Arnold appeared with success in the brief role of Alma Lee in the prologue, whilst tho juvenile part of Winnie Maitland was cleverly acted by little' Irene Marsh. The "loom that is naturally a part of the play was lifted by the merry Christmas party scene, in which tho stage glowed in tho vari-colciured. lights of a prize Christmas tree, under whose toyladen branches a bevy of bright children played .blind-man's bnff very prettily. "The Silence of Dean Maitland" will be played for the next few nights. It will bo succeeded by the melodrama, "The Girl Who [Took, tho Wrong Turn, ing."