Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 129, 12 January 1893, Page 3

Music, Drama.

(By

Orpheus.)

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis dmtct ? The Bentley Company. Mr. Walter Bentley’s “ Macbeth,” while remarkable for many good and original points, is not one of his strongest impersonations. The play was capitally staged, and taken all round the performance was a very satisfactory one. Unquestionably the success of the piece was Miss Emma Bronton’s Lady Macbeth, a powerful, spirituel and consistent interpretation throughout. Mr H. R. Roberts made a fairly good Macduff, but must be careful about exaggerated force, which is liable to develop into tant soil peu of rant. Mr Lachlan McGowan’s Duncan was full of dignity, and his lines were delivered with splendid enunciation and correct emphasis. Lennox and Ross, in the hands of Messrs. Seaton and Brian England, were well rendered, and Mr Charles Field, as Banquo, spoke and acted effectively. The weird sisters, taken by Mr W. F. Clitherow and the Misses Leighford and Hardy, were also good permances. One bit of business I think is scarcely in accordance with the true meaning of the text. When Macbeth, speaking of the Chamberlains, exclaims, “ 0, yet I do repent me of. my fury that I did kill them,” all drawing swords, ask in threatening chorus, “ Wherefore did you do so ?” implying a suspicion against Macbeth, which so far there is but little to warrant. In the text the question is in Macduff’s mouth alone, and I think is asked rather in astonishment than in a tone of threatening inquisition. Mr T. E. Foster’s conception of the drunken porter, while causing much laughter, is not quite in accordance with tradition. On Thursday evening “ The Lady of Lyons” was capitally staged and acted. Mr Walter Bentley’s Claude Melnotte is a very fine performance of Bulwer Lytton’s not altogether satisfactory hero. Power, passion, and a refined ironical humour are qualities which the character demands, and which Mr Bentley’s genius displays to perfection. Miss Emma Bronton’s Pauline is to be ranked among her highest suecesses. In her hands the character wins sympathy by some pleasing and original touches. Mr H. R. Roberts did full justice to Beauseant, and Mr Brian England made a dry and amusing Colonel Damas. Mr Lachlan McGowan’s Deschappelles was an effective impersonation, and Miss Georgie Leighford. as Madame Deschappelles, ipade genuine fun out of the vain and silly dame. The other parts were capably filled. On Friday evening “ Richelieu” proved a big hit. Mr Walter Bentley in the title role ranks among the best of the numerous actors of reputation whose impersonations of the great Cardinal statesman it has been my privilege to witness. The blending of force, humour, subtlety, vanity, pathos,

dignity, passion, and affection which the iole demands can only be adequately supplied by an actor of consummate skill and boundless, resources such as Mr Bentley abundantly proves himself to be. That he satisfied his audience in every respect was testified by the numerous and enthusiastic calls before the curtain. Space will not permit me to mention in detail the masterly manner in which point after point was made. The sword incident was one of the most effective passages. As Julie de Mortemar Miss Emma Bronton largely shared in the triumphant success of the star, and added yet another to her already long list of finished impersonations. Mr Lachlan McGowan’s Joseph was quaint and characteristic. Mr Harry Hill’s Louis XIII., though in looks perhaps hardly the thirty years which the monarch numbered at the crisis in Richelieu’s career, was in other respects eminently satisfactory. Mr H. R. Roberts as De Mauprat was an admiable success Mr W. F. Clitherow made a comic De Beringhen. Mr Brian England came out well in the part of Baradas, the king’s favourite. The remaining characters were satisfactorily taken. Miss Edna Eden’s Francois displaying some excellent features.

On Saturday evening lovers of a lower flight welcomed the staging of the romantic melodrama “My Partner.” This class of play does not perhaps suit the company quite as well as the more legitimate drama, but nevertheless the performers proved their versatility by rendering the play most effectively. Mr Walter Bentley as Joe Saunders and Mr

H. Roberts’ Ned Singleton, the partners, looked and acted distinct types of the Californian digger with considerable originality and success. Major Henry Olay Britt, the lawyer and candidate for election, found an excellent exponent in Mr Charles Field, whose stump speeches were given in true high-falutin style. Mr Lachlan McGowan was impressive and natural as the injured father Matthew Brandon. As Josiah Scraggs, Mr Brian Ennland distinguished himself in a by no means easy role. Perhaps a trifle more of the sanctimonious puritan unctuousness would improve his rendering. Mr H. Hill as the ex-circus performer Sam Boraler was first-rate. Mr W. F. Clitherow made a really funny Chinaman, and as Wing Lee created roars of laughter with his antics and comicalities. Amongst the ladies Miss Emma Bronton was again fitted wtth one of those strong yet pathetic parts which she plays so well, and Mary Brandon excited the pity and won the sympathies of the entire audience. Miss Katherine Hardy had rather a colourless part in Grace, but played it with pleasing simplicity and delicacy. Miss Georgie Leighford again made good fun out of the queer and quaint old housekeeper Posie Pentland. The other small parts found capable exponents, and “ My Partner ” altogether delighted the immense audience. On Monday evening “ Hamlet,” by drawing a large audience, again proved that, in Mr Bentley’s hands at least, “ Shakespeare does not spell ruin !” Last year I had the pleasure of witness-

ing Mr Bentley’s finished interpretation of the title role, and need only say that “ everything you do still betters what is done!” As I anticipated Miss Katherine Hardy’s Ophelia proved a brilliant success, but with more experience she will approach still nearer to the ideal character. Her snatches of song were admirably given in pitiful and heartbroken tones, but the enunciation was not quite distinct in places. Miss Emma Bronton’s Queen was a powerful and pathetic impersonation. Of Mr McLachlan McGowan’s Polonius 1 have already spoken in high terms of praise. Mr H. R. Roberts proved a capital Laertes, but should practise fencing He also doubled the part of First Player, and spoke his lines admirably. Mr Harry Hill played Horatio very well indeed, infusing into the role a grave earnestness with telling effect. Mr Charles Field enacted the Ghost fairly well, but omitted some fine lines. Miss Lily Hegarty as Osric displayed a charming figure, and played the mincing fop with great fidelity. The gravediggers, Messrs Clitherow and Foster, were funnily quaint. The former gentleman doubled the part of the second player who murders Gonzalo in the play within a play, and certainly looked the blood-thirsty ruffian to perfection. As a whole, “Hamlet” was an excellent performance, the mounting and stage arrangements being well conceived. On Tuesday evening “ The Lyons Mail ” was the bill of fare. On Wednesday “ The Taming of the Shrew ” was given and “ David ' Garrick ” repeated.

To-night (Thursday) “ The Merchant of Venice ” is sure to fill the house, and the season terminates with “ The Silver King ” on Friday and Saturday evening.

Last night, but too late foi a notice this week, Madame Bahnson and Mr T. Jackson with strong support, were to give a good programme in the City Hall.

On Monday next the Dampiers, with a dramatic company which has received very favourable notices in the South, open in the Opera House with “ Hearts and Homes,” an Adelphi drama, by Henry Pettitt and George Conquest. Mr Dampier visited New Zealand some years ago, when he achieved a great success, and since then he has earned kudos as both manager and actor in Melbourne. Coming from the South, he and his company have drawn big money in each New Zealand town they have visited, and, as most of Mr Dampier’s pieces are new to Auckland, he should draw well here.

In this issue we publish a striking likeness of Mr R. W. Greville, who is well known throughout Australia and New Zealand both in his present capacity as treasurer for Mr Walter Bentley, and as an actor of undoubted talent. He is the younger son of the ever popular comedian and manager, Mr J. R. Greville, whose performances are too familiar to most of our readers to require us to refer to them in any way. Mr Greville, jnr., is a native of Ballarat, and

was educated at the Scotch College, Melbourne, so he may be claimed as a thorough colonial. The many friends he has made while on tour by his unfailing courtesy and genial manner will be pleased to see so good a reproduction of his handsome and kindly face.