shakespeare

Inkwell owned by Walter Bentley According to the donor, this inkwell was presented to the actor Walter Bentley from the city of Newcastle, NSW, in 1914. Walter Bentley made his professional stage debut in New Zealand in 1873 before returning to Britain determined to be a successful actor. After becoming one of Britain's leading Shakespearean actors, including three and a half years working with Henry Irving, he founded his own theatre company and starred opposite the famed Italian actress Adelaide Ristori. In 1883 Bentley left Britain for the USA and toured there for three years playing at first Wilfred Denver in the popular drama 'The Silver King,' a character he created in many important US theatres, followed by leading roles in 'Burr Oaks' and then 'Love or Money' which he wrote. The role of Wilfred Denver was one of the great triumphs of his career and was considered the most successful in his repertoire when he toured Australia and New Zealand between 1891 and 1900. In 1891 he played at George Coppin's Theatre Royal in Melbourne as Rob Roy and Hamlet, a role he performed in Sydney in 1893. He appeared as Richelieu in 'The Three Musketeers' at Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre. Australian audiences at this time also saw him play Matthias in 'The Bells', Hamlet and David Garrick. After a ten-year absence, Bentley returned permanently to Sydney in 1909 to perform again as Hamlet. The 'Sydney Morning Herald' wrote 'Mr. Bentley held the crowded audience, and he must be classed amongst the few Hamlets of the day whom all good judges of acting would make a point of seeing'. Around 1912 a Melbourne publisher produced an edition of 'Hamlet' 'arranged for stage representation from the 1623 folio edition by Walter Bentley'. He played Hamlet again at Sydney's Theatre Royal in 1913, but he was reportedly past his prime. Dr. Sue-Anne Wallace, granddaughter of Walter Bentley is currently researching for a biography of Walter Bentley. She believes it was probably the Scots community in Newcastle who, delighted to have such a world-renowned Scottish actor in their midst, organised to have this Inkwell presentation piece made to honor Bentley's skills and versatility as an actor. (Conversation with Curator Glynis Jones 9/02/2021) Source: collection.maas.museum/object/9448

Thanks for this Vesna Verencevic. The State Library was looking for information to advertise "World Theatre Day" on the 27th March 2022. Your information on this photographs will assist. Keep up the great work ...

Statue in the Botanic Gardens Sydney. (Wiki) A memorial in Sydney, Australia was built in 1926 by Sir Bertram MacKennal. It was commissioned by Henry Gullett (d. 4 August 1914), a former president of the Shakespeare Society of New South Wales. It depicts not only Shakespeare but five of his most famous characters – Hamlet, Romeo, Juliet, Portia and Falstaff. It is located in Shakespeare Place, between the Mitchell Library (part of the State Library of New South Wales) and the Royal Botanic Gardens. In 1959 the statue was repositioned to make way for the Cahill Expressway.Frank Hurley photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorials_to_William_Shakespeare#me...

English theatre professional; his Wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Granville-Barker

a slight smile, nice looking young man:)

pennylrichardsca: thank you for the information. We will update the record.

From www.imdb.com/name/nm0335766/otherworks it would appear that Granville-Barker was in New York in January/February 1915. Lillah McCarthy (mentioned in the cast lists) was his wife. "Androcles and the Lion (1915). Comedy. Written by George Bernard Shaw. Wallack's Theatre: 27 Jan 1915- unknown (unknown performances). Cast: Eric Blind, Horace Braham, Lionel Braham, Cecil Cameron, Kate Carlyon, Ernest Cossart (as "Centurian"), Walter Creighton, Phil Dwyer (as "Lion"), Gerald Hamer, O.P. Heggie as "Androcles"), Edgar Kent, Wright Kramer, Arnold Lucy, Ian Maclaren, Hugh MacRae, Lillah McCarthy. Produced by Harley Granville-Barker. The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife (1915). Written by Anatole France. Scenic Design by Robert Edmond Jones. Wallack's Theatre: 27 Jan 1915- unknown (unknown performances). Cast: Edmund Banks, Ruby Blythe, Horace Braham, Lionel Braham, Cecil Cameron, George Carr, Ernest Cossart, Gerald Hamer, O.P. Heggie, Isabel Jeans, Edgar Kent, Eva Leonard Boyne, Manice Lewis, Arnold Lucy, Lillah McCarthy, Hugh McRae. Produced by Harley Granville-Barker."

The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, February 07, 1915, SECTION FIVE, Image 61 printed this photo with the caption: "Granville Barker, the noted English producer of plays, has come to the United States to present a series of plays he gave London with great success. He has produced all the Shaw plays In London - in fact it was he who first gained for the Irish cynic a hearing with the British public. The first play he will give In New York, beginning next week, is "Androclss and the Lion" by Shaw, which has not been given before in America'. He will give also "A Midsummer Night's Dream.' His production of this in London aroused great enthusiasm. He will do "The Doctor's Dilemma," Anatole France's "The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife" and Barker's own play, "The Madras House." Barker la as well known as a dramatist as he is as a producer and he is one of the most important figures of the English theater world. When the New Theater was planned by rich New Yorkers, Mr. Barker was asked to take charge of It, but he declined. The backers of the old New Theater project are much Interested In his present venture." oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1915-02-07/ed-1/se...