THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9648, 13 February 1892, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

"STILL WATERS RUN DEEP.” A capital house assembled at the Theatre Royal la,st night, when Tom Taylor's comedy Still Waters Bun Deep was presented to a Christchurch audience by Mr Walter Bentley’s Company. Those who have witnessed Mr Bentley’s clever acting will readily understand that hia assumption of the part of John Mildmay would be au artistic one. From the commencement of the plot, where the country gentleman is absorbed in growing cucumbers and training hia roses, to the point where Mildmay eaves the honour of Mrs Sternhold aud defeats the adventurer Captain Hawksley, Mr Bentley never loses his thorough grasp of the part of a quiet, clever, true English gentleman. The opposing interest of the play centres in the part of Mrs Sternhold (Miss Alice Deorwyn) and that lady must be congratulated upon her success in the character. The transition from the domineering aunt of the young wife, to the culminating point where she has to admit that Mildmay is a man as well as a gentleman, was conscientiously carried out. Mr A. Clifton Alderson is a good Captain Hawksley, though a little heavy in parts; but it must be admitted that the role of an organiser of bubble companies and a disturber of family happiness is not the most pleasant. The Mrs Mildmay of Miss Laura Hansen is a satisfactory ote. The affection for her husband is thrown into bold relief by her fear and hatred of Hawksley, the gradual development of the sterling worth of her husband being well reflected in her acting. The only other important part is that of “Uncle” Pottex-, taken by Mr Lachlan M'Gowan, who depicted the garrulous old gentleman, slow to admit the strength of Mildmay’a character, very well. He showed thb character as that of a man manifestly under the rule of his sister, without exaggerating the part or rendering it tedious. The minor parts were creditably filled. Although the audience was not a particularly demonstrative one, the usual recalls evidenced the pleasure afforded by a most capable Company. To-night the Company will appear in Sir Walter Scott’s national drama Rob Boy.