HAWTREY COMEDY COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 999, 18 September 1903, Page 2

HAWTREY COMEDY COMPANY.

To-morrow night the members of the Hawtrey Comedy Company will appear at the Theatre Koyal in Bnmand’s latest London success, •' The Lady of Oatend,” a piece which gives full scope to the talents o f a strong combination of players. The plot iE of modern origin, and is acknowledged to be distinctly original, The troubles of Dick Whortles (Mr Gregan MacMaton), the Baron de Longueville (Mr W. F. Hawtrey), and Joseph Carbury (Mr Oily Deering) will furnish playgoers with endless merriment. The injured parties in the play are Dolly Whortles (Miss Elsie Austin) and Matilda Carbury (Miss Emma Bronton), who come outof trying ordeals with undoubted triumph. Miss Winnifred Austn, in a ginish part, and M’ss Mary Bancroft, in the title role, are said to be admirably suited in their parts. “There is no verdict upon a play” says the Otago Daily Times) “that represents more sincere y the conviction of the person who expressed it than the discriminating verdict which is pronounced by the patron who pays his shilling and expects his shilling's worth, and the opinions that were offered as the occupants of theatre went into the darkness at tbe close of the performance were wholly favourable to 'The Lady of Ostend.’ The declaration that the play is ‘ all right,’ such as was heard, represents supreme satisfaction with it, and the additional testimony that Mr Hawtrey was a ‘hard case,’ and that the other members of the company were ‘tip-t >p,’ was about as convincing proof of public recognition of the merits of the production as any manager could desire to have. There is indeed,” says our contemporary, “ no room for difference of opinion either as to the laughter-provoking qualities of the play itself or of the effectiveness of the performance of the piece which Mr Hawtrey’s company gives.” The local public will, however, soon have an opportunity of judging of the merits of the production, which is to be staged at The Theatre Koyal on Saturday evening next, and which should attract a large audience. On Monday night “ A Message from Mars ” will be produced. Of this great play a popular New York monthly says: “It is not the sermon it preaches, nor the bizarre effects it contains that has made it the great sue cess of the season, but its good honest fun* which leaves a moisture in the eyes and an impulse to better living in the heart.” “ Tom, Dick, and Harry ” will be staged on Tuesday, the last night of the season.