MR WALTER BENTLEY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11703, 13 December 1892, Page 2

MR WALTER BENTLEY.

&- "THE SILVE a KING." When Mr Bentley advsrfcise-i the fact that he had taken the Drill Hall for Mb tbiee performances in Wanganui most people were agreed that he had done a wise thing, but we scarcely think that even the most sanguine of his admirers ever contemplated the possibility of his filling that large building. However, last night the building was filled, and that before 8 o'clock. A good company, headed by a brilliant star, and supported by excellent scenery, might naturally be expected to attract a large audience, but in a small community such a great as., semblage must be characterised as phenomenal. The applause which was frequent, and the groans which were no less frequent, heard from innumerable throats, recalled the volume of sound one hears in the more capacious of English theatres, and far-off memories must have been awakened ia many a breast no less by the presence of such a large concourse of people than by the fact that the play which was in progress before them. . nas " The Silver King," one of the greatest dramatic triumphs of the century. " The Silver King " is well known to all who indulge the .taste for theatrical representations, and many such last night must have thoroughly enjoyed the pleasure of accompanying so able an actor as Mr Bentley through the many vicissitudes and touching Bcenes which make up the sum of life for the widely known and universally loved hero, '.' Wilfred Denver." Many, perhaps, had seen the play before, but never, we think, could they have seen it under better circumstances than it was seen last night, for never could it have been played in a manner more calculated to rivet .the attention and sustain the warm interest always felt in the stirring pictures of life it affords. Mr Bentley's '• Wilfred/Denver " (the Silver King) is beyond praise. He reveals a powerful grasp not only of the necessities of the character, but in its more subtle possibilities, and so his acting uader the great sorrow which comes upon him supplies nothing which the quickest imagination could wish to be otherwise than it is. From the moment he appears on the stage as the drunken and reckless wastrel he commands the closest attention. The groat crises in the life of " Wilfred Denver," and the strong emotions they engender, are brought out in the most vivii manner. When " Denver," after chasing " Geoffrey Ware," his sneering rival, in a drunken fit to shoot him, comes to his senses (from a sleep brought on by-a dose of chloroform supplied by the villain), and finds " Ware " dead at his feet with his own revolver lying on the table, the whole of the plot opens itself out before the au'lience. " Denver " assumes that as he had gone to " Ware's " house to kill him he must have actually taken his life in his drunken fit. In this scene,' wheu the drunken man returns to his senses only to see before him what lie .thinks are the very proofs of his guilt, his paroxysm of anguish and remose raise the audience to a high pitch of sympathy for the unhappy horo and admiration for the actor who portrays his feelings with such art. "Denver's." meeting with a dearly-loved wife, after this scene, is depicted with equal power, and the expression of shrinking horror ho shows during the whole interview could not be surpassed. In the third set, when "Denver" visits tlio poverty-stricken home of his |wife, Mr Bontloy had a very different piece rf acting, and the extreme pathos and tenderness ho brought into the inteiview with his own child, " Cissy/ were most affecting. In his appearance in tho fourth act, ns deaf " Dicky," m one who had not seen the play before suspected Mr Bontloy, so complete was the disguise not only of tho person but of the voice. Mr Bentloy's acting from first to last must bo termed one of the finest exhibitions of histrionic art over witnessed in Wanganui, Foremost among the rest of the characters must, of course, ha mentioned "the' Spider," ' or "Captain' Herbert Skinner," so admirably played by hfr Brian England. Mr England was inimitable as tho gentlemanly burglar, who lived m grand style on tho profits of jewel robberies. His f.'matus" " Elijah Coombo " and •' Cripps,'- played by Messrs Clitherov? and Piold, weie quite of a different stamp, but each showed a good conception of his part, and made the best of it. Aliss Emma Brontpn niaybospociallypomplimontedonthemauuer ju which Bhosuppnilt"! tho character of "Nellie Denver" tho hero's wife. Her's was a rqle which calls for most dolicnto treatment, and in her hands it was playfld with skill and effect. In tho scene where "Denver" tolls her ho is a murderer, her painful access of grief had nothing of sfaginess in it, and her bearing was thaj; of a loving woman in real life affected by a sudden crushing l>lb\y, Jjittlq Bosje Mjtchell, wl)o played Nellie'R daughter, "Oissy," deserves a word of commendation. HrMcGownn,as"Jaikes,"gare a very touching picture of php faithful old servant, and Mr 11. H. Roberts, as ''Henry Cmkett," played tho harnilosa young " sport" with commondablo fidelity. Miss Catherine Hardy, as lf Olive Skinner," and MrCloment Wakefield, as '' Samuel Baxter,' 1 tho detective, both aoted well, and tho efforh ol the principals altogether were ably supported by the secondary ohaiacters, T->-niol)t Mr Bentley produces " Uamlet," and we hope to see no less an assembly in tho Drill Hall than was thoie last night.