HAWTREY COMEDY COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 998, 17 September 1903, Page 3

HAWTREY COMEDY COMPANY.

The remarkable and world famous play, “A Message from Mars,” will be staged for the first time in Gisborne next Monday night. Of all the plays in the repertoire of the Hawtrey Comedy Company, none stands out so prominently as Ganthony’s powerful comedy-drama. It was due to the enterprise of Mr W. F. Hawtrey that this fine production was brought before the notice of the Australian public, and when the piece was first staged in Sydney it made an immediate hit, and since then it has enjoyed a popularity in this part second. to none, and has obtained record runs in different localities. A feature of this charming and original conception is the strong hold it has obtained upon tho religious element of society, and it has been quite a common thing to see clergymen with their families enjoying and applauding this unique play. Several bishops have witnessed the piece in this country, and Bishop Barlow, late of North Queensland and now Bishop of Goulburn, New South Wales, has not hesitated to publicly express his appreciation of the moral value which such a play possesses. The Bishop remarked that “ a visit to tho theatre on such an occasion is calculated to’send men back in a strong, moral and elevated spirit.” This testimony was ouly recently endorsed by Canon Tucker, of Melbourne, who preached a special sermon on “ A Message from Mars ” at Christ’s Church, South Yarra, and subsequently took his choir boys to one of the matinees at the Bijou Theatre. Those who have not yet seen this play must not think it is heavy or sombre in construction. It is full of . most amusing episodes, and the dia- . logue is so clever, and at the same time so laughable that the audience is . fascinated. As already announced the t season of tho company opens on Saturi day night with v Burnand’s comedy drama “ The Lady of Ostend,” and 1 terminates on Tuesday night with the t three act farcical comedy Tom, Dick, I and Harry.”