The Walter Bentley Company.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 93, 13 October 1894, Page 2

The Walter Bentley Company.

The Feildiug Assembly Rooms were crowded last evening to greet Mr Walter Bentley and his popular -dramatic company on the occasion of their production of that pathetic drama " The Silence of Dean Maitland." The expectations of the audience were fully upheld and the continued applause was a proof that those present were not only satisfied, but delighted with the representations. Mr Walter Bentley, who assumed the title role, acted his part to the life and many could not resist a sigh at the tragic death at the cathedral altar, of " Cyril Maitland " after his having attained the exalted position of Bishop. The scenery in the last act was very good, and the singing of a hymn, previous to the confession by the Dean, by an iuvisiblo choir, had a very pleasing effect. Mr Mario Majeroni as "Ingram Swaynestone," Miss Ida Gresham as " Lillian Maitland," Miss F. Holloway as " Marion Everard," each filled their part with credit to themselves and the company, while Miss Winnie Brandon as " Cyril Maitland's " youngest sister " Winnie " caused some amusement with her playful pranks. Other characters were well represented and the whole piece passed off in first-class style. At the conclusion of the drama Mr Walter Bentley and Miss Ida Gresham kept the audieuce in roars of laughter in their portrayal of the laughable comedietta "Is marriage a failure." Between the acts and previous to starting Mr R. F. Haybittle's String Band contributed some good selections. The organ used in the cathedral scene was very kindly lent by Mrs Oliver, of the Empire Hotel. [Some considerable dissatisfaction was caused by altering the position of the forms so that those who had reserved seats to have members of families together, were unable to occupy the numbers they had taken. These seats were let on a box plan and no circumstances whatever could justify the change. The stupidity of the thing lay in the fact that the sitting space was not increased a single inch by the change while many persons were unnecessarily annoyed.J