HAMLET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4046, 24 February 1892, Page 3

HAMLET.

"Waltor Eontlov at tie Opora Houso, Wellington.

A crcwded house greeted the first appearance in Wellington of the j eminent actor, Mr Walter Bentley. Shakespeare's sublime tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, ;■ Wis the play staged for repro- ) sentation, Seldom, if ever, have we witnessed such a powerful, scholarly and realistic piece of acting as that ot Mr Bentley in the iilh role of the melancholy Dane. Mr Bonl 1 - ley's perfortnanae is yividly noticeable from the fad that he steers dear of the old stage traditions that have characterised the performance of Hamlet in the past, Ho has conceived an altogether different rendering of the part, and there is much in his reading which is diametrically opposed to the opinions of many well kfcown students d the marvellous psychological' mystery preseuted to us in Hamlet. Mr Bentley brings into strong prominence the fact that Hamlet is only simulating madness in order to carry out h"s ends, eveu to the close of the play, where, in tbe boat of bis combat with Laertes, and his discovery of his uncle's further perfidy, the aotor never, for a moment, allows it to appear that therd is anything else but" method in his mad- £. ness," .{pr lakon altogether the performance reminds us very much of Henry Irving's conception of Hamlet, shorn of Irving's mannerisms and affec tations. The text Ims also been very materially altered in places and many of the scenes with which tbe ordinary • playgoer is familiar have been altogether eliminated—for the better we think. For instance, the first scene on the battlements of the Castle of Ekinore, where the ghost apiiears to Horatio and Marcellus, is loft out, the play opening instead in a hall of the castle, Again, the scene showing tho King at bis devotions and Hamlet debating whether to stay him or rutin the aciof prayeris deleted, Several other scenes have also been re-arranged, altered, and oondemed, thus considerably re- / duoing the length of the play without detracting in any way from the interest of the story, Mr Bentley has a pleasing stane presence, a melodious voice, and his

. actions and gestures are perfectly j£ natural and free from the mannerisms which often mar the performance of Hamlet. The play as produced has been specially arranged by Mr Bentley from the folio edition of 1828. Mr Bentley is ably supported by Miss Laura Hansen as Ophelia, Miss Hansen has a very graceful appearing and is endowed with considerable hiatorionic ability. Her. rendering of the mad scene was really a fine piece of acting—strictly of the realistic school. We are nevertheless of the opinion, much as we admire her representation of Ophelia, that Miss Hansen's forte is not tragedy. We shall look forward lo her appearance in some of the lighter plays that comprise the repertoire for the season just begun. The important parts of Laertes and Horatio were oapably filled by Messrs Greenaway and Stevens respectively, and their performance was of a very high order of merit. Mr Charles Holloway played the part of King Claudius with his

accustomed vigor and he scored a 4very" palyable hit" in the player's scene by his clever exposition of terrified remorse and horror on seeing . the poisoning done in the garden by the players. Miss Alice Deorwyn was Queen Gertrude, and, taken altogether, hers was"» very creditable performance, although at times she evinced a tendency to be Bomewhat shrewish in her style, Our old friend, Mr Lachlan McGowan, was completely in his element as Polonius—a part he has played" many a time and oft," In fact, we doubt whether a better exponent of Poloniua has ever been seen in these Colonies, The ghost, as rendered by Mr Clifton Alderson, was a very careful and efleotive study, although occasionally there Was a tendency to sink his voice too much, often rendering him almost inaudible to the audience. All the minor parts were effectively filled, and the di

IreaHea and appointments were rich and appropriate, and free in a great , measure from the anachronisms often Lieen in travelling companies. P The scenery nai extremely good, the jfu>« e» scene on the battlements pf the castle, when Hamlet speaks to the ghost, being especially worthy of DOtioe, Taken all in all, a finer actor than Mrßentley, or a better oonipany than that now most admirably sup^ porting him, has seldom been seen on the boards of a New Zealand theatre.