THE WALTER BENTLEY COMPANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4908, 21 December 1894, Page 2

THE WALTER BENTLEY COMPANY.

;..■;*' Hamlet" ■ '■''■' . _j. '■ ~' ■ Seldom indeed, hasMasterton seen suCk an enthusiastic audience, as tliafc assembled at the Theatre Royal last evening, when the Walter Bentley Company produced" Hamlet," with Mr Walter Bentley himself as the Prince of Denmark. . Throughout the whole piece applause was most unstinted, and when the Curtain fell at the 'dose' of the last; act, the audience would not leavethc building until Hamlet, and other of tbb.principals,' Jmd again come before the curtain. Of the performance wo can onlysay thatitis butseldoniresidents of Masterton get the opportunity of attending such a production without travelling at least to Wellington, Mr Walter Bentley's reputation was fully sustained by his acting last night, in which the varying moods of Hamlet were porhayed with.a master hand .and with deepest intensity.; his love for his dead father and his hatred of him who had usurped his place, his love for his mother, and his anguish for her conduct, his contempt for, the two spies who are sent to watoli him, are all faithfully and graphically portrayed, from his entrance until his tragic death brings a most remarkable performance to a close, Mr Bentley is ably supported by a strongandcleYercompany,each equal to the task alloted, the characters King Claudius (Mr Alt Booth'man), Laertes (MrtSL Majeroni), Polonius (Mr Reg. Rede) Queen Gertrude (Miss Mildred Balton) and Ophelia (Miss Ida Gresham) being especially well sustained, and quite meeting with the favor of the audience. The other principal parts (all well-filled) were: - Horatio, Mr A, Money; The Ghost, Mr T, Anderson;The Priest, Mr P. Murison; First' Gravedigger, Mr J. Martin; Second Gravedigger, Mr J. Martin, junr.; Kosenorantz, Mr P. Orossley; Guildenstern, Mr Gilchrist; Osriok, Miss Minnie Brandon. To-night the season will conclude with the great drama "The Silver King," and as the attendance will no doubt bo large, seats should be booked early.