Holloway Dramatic Company

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 47, 24 August 1893, Page 2

Holloway Dramatic Company

The above talented oouipany renewed their acquaintance with Feilding playgoers last evening, when Frank Harvey's five act sensational drama, " The Workman," was presented to a large— and to judge by the unstinted applause — delighted audience, "The Workman" like all the author's dramatic compositions, is skilfully constructed, and contains a clever dialogue, while some of the scenes are intensely dramatic and interesting. Miss Alice Deorwyn, as the affectionate wife of John Tressider, was really excellent in every respect. Her acting in the fourth act, where she fiercely denounces the heartless Rachel Westward, was powerfully dramatic, and well merited the applause bestowed upon it by the audience. Mr Charles Holloway made his first appearance in Feilding last evening, and fully upheld the excellent reputation he brought with him. His interpretation of honest John Tressider was first class in every detail, his acting throughout being most effective and natural. As the haughty Lady Chesterton, Miss Eva Jackson proved herself a capable actress. Miss Marion Medway, as Mrs Barton, a bright and breezy old gal with a " gab of her own," was very successful. The avengeful Rachel Westward was cleverly portrayed by Miss Linda Raymond who is deserving of commendation for the skilful manner in which the character was sustained. Mr George Melville gave an easy and dignified impersonation of Sir John Chesterton, and also sustained the part of Peter Crank, a blind old gentleman with a weakness for fiddle playing. Mr E. G. Coughlan was not afforded much scope for the display of his comic powers last night, but what little he had to do was done well. Mr Olley Deering, the evergreen and always popular Oily, who — as a soaking individual with an almighty craving for anything in the shape of a stimulant — kept the audience in roara of laughter while he was on the stage. The bibulous Phil Tressider could not have been in more capable hands, and we have much pleasure in congratulating the oldtime comedian on his last night's success. The part of Gilbert Craven, was successfully interpreted by Mr Henry Willard, a gentleman posessing a rather pleasing stage appearance. During the first act Miss Alice Deorwyn rendered a vocal item in pleasing style, the effort being rewarded with great applause. We have no hesitation in saying that the dramatic combination now in our town is infinitely superior to the average run of companies touring the coast. Speaking of the drama to be produced by the Holloway Dramatic Company to-night, the Otago Daily Times says : — " The Land of the Living," by Frank Harvey, to be produced this evening, is another of that author's works which have found such considerable favour with Dunedin playt>oers. The dramatist, by vigorously written dialogues and well devised situations, manages to thoroughly hold his audience. The separation of husband and wife through the instrumentality of a treacherous enemy the toils and dangers of the husband in a foreign land, the suspense and misery of the wife at home, the return of the wanderer, his bair breath escapes from the malignant plots that are laid against him, and the ultimate reunion of the couple — all these form a chain of incidents singularly attractive and interesting. The manner in which Mr Charles Holloway depicted the bearing of the unfortunate victim of all these troubles has been spoken of as being highly artistic, whilst he is ably supported by the various artists who have done already such excellent work.