The Ancelon-Bentley Dramatic Company.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 July 1900, Page 74

The Ancelon-Bentley Dramatic Company.

body was glad to welcome Mr. Walter Bentley, who had not been seen in Auckland for some years, not only because of the actor's power and individuality, but also for the reason tliat.- the Company promised Shakes-

The Auckland public had the pleasure during three weeks of last month of witnessing some Shakespearian revivals, a clever dramatisation of Hall Oaine's remarkable book, " The Christian," and that fine example of stage

craft, " The Silver King." The opportunity , afforded by the visit of the Ancelon-Bentley Dramatic Company was not lost, and throughout the season large and appreciative audiences rewarded the management. Every-

peare — an intellectual treat not often offered to Ancklanders. whose lines in things dramatic are otherwise laid in very pleasant places. Mr. Douglas Ancelon, the manager of the Company, is a man of many parts. He is an

actor, he writes verse and prose, and he has been an explorer in Australia,- New Guinea and Borneo. His intention, when he formed the present Company, was to present highclass plays to the public. So far as New Zealand is concerned, he has carried out his resolve with the highest satisfaction to his

"The Three Musketeers," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," and probably fin adaptation |of Marie Corelli's intensely dramatic book, " The Vendetta." In Shakespeare's comedy Mr. Ancelon will play Sir John Falstaff, and Mr. Bentley will take the part of Ford. The Auckland public only saw Mr. Ancolou iv

patrons. After the present tour of New Zealand is completed, it is Mr. Ancelon's intention to revisit Tasmania and Australia, thence he "will journey to America, via Honolulu, and from the States travels to South Africa and on to England. Before leaving this colony Mr. Ancelon will stage

three parts ; as Alderman Ingot in " David Garrick," as Othello, and as Dr. Carr in "A House of Mystery." He gave a fine reading of the jealous Moor, an interpretation betraying much study and an intense appreciation of Shakespeare. Mr. Ancekm'e Alderman Ingot waß also a very praiseworthy

piece 1 of acting. Mr. Walter Bentley's study of Hamlet aroused much enthusiasm. His portrait of the melancholy Dane was the finest ever seen in New Zealand, and must rank with Sir Henry Irving's and Mr. Forbes Robertson's impersonations. As Matthias, in "Thepßells," ho scored a great triumph.

the subtle devilry of the false-tninded friend was most artistically brought out. Mr. Bentley's lago is not so gloomy as some I have seen. He puts more gaiety, more life into the man who, with vengeance in his heart, plays upon Othello's feelings until he has accomplished his full meed of foul

The performance was naturally reminiscent of Irving' s Matthias, for Mr. Bentley acknowledges thatthe eminent tragedian's pourtrayal of the Burgomaster was his model. One of the most telling performances during the season was this clever actor's lago. It was a fine conception admirably executed. AH

intentions. In addition to being an excellent tragedian, Mr. Bentley can play comedy most happily. As Dr. Bill in the absurdly-* comical piece bearing that title he acted very cleverly indeed, and proved that if he had never desired to attain higher honours he would have earned fame in this less classical

which necessarily go some way towards success, no finer production of the "Merchant of Venice" could be desired. For the last week of the season in Auckland, Mr. William Henry Maddox's adaptation of Hall Caiue's "The Christian" was staged. Tho book has, had such wide-spreading popularity in

branch of his art. His Jock Howieson, in " Cramond Brig," may be quoted if further proof of that assertion should be needed. It was a performance full of humour, not without some pathos, and generally an exquisite piece of pure comedy acting. Mr. Bentley's Shyl.ook was another fine achieve-

ment. Personally, I liked him best of all in this character. It was a clever, earnest and very dignified conception of one of the finest playing parts in Shakespeare's plays. Had Mr. Bentley had the support of a company stronger, in its ablity to interpret the Bard of Avon, and those scenic and stage effects

English-speakingcountrießthatdramatisation was sure to follow. The author has adapted it for the stage, Wilson Barrett has written his own version, and now Mr. Maddox has done it for Mr. Bentley. This latter adaptation is the first produced in Now Zealand, so we have as yet no means whereby a

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cOni^drifeon can be made. I may say at once thaf Mr) Maddox haS done his work well. The 1 narrow limit afforded the playwright miist be considered in criticising a play of this description: 'The adaptor has to condense and preserve the prominent features of the story, so that he may' present in two. or

Mr. Bentley, and probably he had the latter's experience to assist him. However, that may be, he has wisely selected John Storm and his vicissitudes as the motif of his work, and those episodes in the book in which Storm bears a part loom large in the play. Storm is a socialist and a dreamer, a moralist,

three hbttrs a life-history that would occupy as 'in' airy ■"■days in reading. The author can olealiy bring 1 out every phase in the existence of 'Characters, but the dramatist must condense andagain condense, so that he may ensure action and dramatic interest. Mr. Maddox- has evidently written his play for

a philosopher, and a man who, with all these attributes, is utterly unable to cope with the problems of life. He sees things with a distorted vision, and wonders why the world will not be led by him. Each new idea dominates him for the time being, till he finds out its impossibility in his case, and

then he discardsit, only to find new difficulties. He foolishly indulges in prophecy, and ultimately wrecks his life. The object lesson he presents is a powerful one, and depicted by such a fine actor as Mr. Bentley, makes an indelible impression on the auditors. At one moment he. is full.of religious enthusiasm

woman he loves, to save her soul, but again through the intensity of his humanity, ho fails, and ultimately the evil passions of the populace whom he has misled, overwhelm him. It is a strange stage picture enhanced by the powerful delineation yiven to the central figure by Mr. Bentley, who held the

and revival fire, the next he is in the lowest depths of despair ; the monastic idea is then seized on, but only to be discarded, and his humanity asserting itself, he seeks his mate, only to find that he has delayed too long, and another has taken his place. Urged on by passion, he believes it his dnty to slay the

audience from his entrance to the fall of the curtain by an exercise of stage art rarely seen on our local boards ; indeed no one in Australasia at least could have given such an interpretation of this many-sided jrardonage. From a psychological point of view, Mr. Bentley clearly discriminated in his delinea-

tion the loftier ideals and the baser passions, and very, distinctly established the principle that, as Hall Oaine says, the blending of the life of nature and the life of grace is the true Christian character. It is just there where Storm wrecks his life. There is no blending, or attempt at blending, till too late, and Mr.

so admirably that in one or two scenes she shared with him the triumph of. the situation. Though the Glory of the play is not the Glory of the book, Miss Woodhill presented a true womanly ideal. In other plays Miss Woodhill was quite as successful. Miss Helen Gibson gave an excellent representation of Jane

Bentley succeeded in presenting a vivid picture of a being torn to the heart strings by this mental conflict. Glory Quayle, though the seoondary oharacter in the drama, is au exaoting rSle, and was treated in a charmingly artistic manner by Miss Ada Woodhill,who seoonded Mr> Bentley'sefEorts

Oallender in "The Christian," and her Emilia in " Othello," and her Queen in •• Hamlet," were deserving of high praise. In lighter work, such as Mrs. Oarr in "A House of Mystery," and Mrs. Brown in " Dr. Bill," Miss Gibson was equally effective. A very promising member of the Company is Misa

Ethßl Htmt, who, in addition to being the possessor of personal charms, is a very clever and lively soubrette. She has humour, and knows how to make the most of it. As Polly Love in " The Christian " she has little to do but sob, but she does it well. MrOrlando Daly contributed an excellent

His Cassius in " Ofchello " was excellent, save that he would keep time to his speech with his right leg. I know lam acting the part of a candid friond in uttering this little protest against anything liko machinery in motion. Mr. Johnson Weir, who "was the Canon Wealthy in " The Christian," did not

character study in the part of Lord Robert Ure in " The Christian," although, perhaps, his idea was a little below the average man about town. ' I am sure Hall Oaine's Lord Robert Ure possessed a little more vigour than Mr. Daly invested him with. In several other plays Mr. Daly did really good work.

altogether attain the possibilities that the part offered, but as the week wore on he improved. As the Jew in "The Silver King," he was more in his element, for low comedy is evidently his forte. Miss Ivy Gorrick, who enacted the Matron of the Hospital in "The Christian," <wd other

characters during the season, is the possessor of a nice voice, and her singing at the Sundayrecital were much appreciated. A part in "The Christian " played with great effect was the Father Lamplough of Mr. Cyras Hales, whose 1 acting was of a high standard, and whose lines were delivered with much

Gallaugher first visited New Zealand some fifteen years ago, and in the intervening years lie has paid several visits to the Colony. One feature making for the success of the Company is the excellent stage management of Mr. Walter Bentley. He personally supervises every production, and gives the

feeling. Mr. Le Chateau is a member of the Ancelon— -Bentley Company, who merits praise, for; his. careful character studies. It woiil^flo.t ,do tdclose ..these reflections without mention, of Mr, ,E. I\ Gallaugher, the treasurer, of the- Company. His work is insYje&dpne, and he always does it well. Mr.

benefit of his valuable advice. Knowing Mr. Ancelon's determination to produce high-class work, Mr. Bentley puts his i heart into the business, and judging from what I have seen, I believe I am right in predicting great success for the coalition.