BRANDON-CREMER COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3101, 4 June 1917, Page 3

BRANDON-CREMER COMPANY

"THE SILENCE OP DEAN MAITLAND." "Tho Silence of Dean Malfland," a drama in a prologue and three acts, being a dramatisation of Maxwell Gray's novel. Cast

Alma Leo Kathleen Arnold Marion Everard Alice Redo Cyril Maitland Maurita Tuohy. Dr. Henry Everard Edgar Kenna Sir Lionel Swaynstone ... Albert Massoy Ingram Swaynstono ... George Henderson Rev. Dr. Maitland W. J. Coulter Uranfer Prank Neil Everard Maitland Evelyn Marsh Bonjamin Leo Robert Le Roy Jaodb Halo Victor Paul Lilian Maitland Mabel Jiardingo Marion Everard Alice Redo Winnie Maitland Irene Marsh Winnie Maitland Biddio Hawthorne Lady Louise Swaynstone .... Mona Leslie Mrs. Benson Aiinio Symons

It is a far cry back to tho time when' Maxwell Gray's powerful novel, 'The Silence of Deun 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 aW ways attaches to a much-read story. The present adaptation is that of Mr. Brandon-Cremer's, who is to be Congratulated on the excellent result of his task, for the play, as produced on Saturday afternoon and evening at tho Grand Opera House, is quite a good one, and was well suited to the capacity of tho players. It is unique, too, in a way, for hero is a fine play witn a well-sus-tained interest iu which there is, for a wonder, no villain. Indeed, if there bo a worker of mischief, as there must bo, in order to illustrate virtue's shining qualities, that person is embodied in the Dean, who, paradoxically enough, is I also the hero, for it is ho who destroys i tho honour of Alma Lee, and accidentally shoots her outraged father, and whose silence causes the imprisonment of tho innocent Dr. Everard. But actually, Cyril Maitland is neither villain nor hero, but just a very liuman person, who sins deeply, suffers the tortures of a racking conscience that whitens his hair and cripples his happiness, expiates his wrong-doing by a full confession made in the pulpit at a moment when . he has been honoured with a bishopric, and falls dead upon the chancel lioor, before the faces of the horrified congregation, who had revered-the 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 the Rev. Cyril Maitland, Mr. Maurice Tuohy gave a well-studied and sincere performance. Thero was never an inclination to rant or over-cmphasiso, and his poise was as natural as liis restraint was oommondablo. Air. Edgar Xenna was only moderately effective as Dr. Everard, and Mi*. W. J. Coulter gavo ■weight to the rolo of tlio Dean's father. A couple of good old men sketches were contributed by Messrs. Frank Neil and Paul Victor, and Mr. Lo Roy made aspirited Ben Lee in tho prologue. Miss Mabel liardingc, whoso broad methods never lack a certain primitive force, was excellent as Lillian Maitland, and Miss Alice Redo was siveot and natural as Marion Everard. Miss Kathleen Arnold appeared with success in. the brief rolo of Alma Leo in tho prologue, whilst tho juvenile part of Winnie Maitland was cleverly acted by lit'tlo Irene Marsh. Tho gloom that is naturally a part of the play was lifted by the merry Christmas party sceno, in which tho stage glowed in tho vari-coloured lights of a prize Christmas tree, under whoso toyladon branches a bevy of bright children played blind-man's buff very prettily. "Tho Silence of- Dean Maitland" will be played for the next few nights. It will be succeeded by tho melodrama, t Tho Girl Who Ifook tho Wrong Turning. '