WOODS-WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1058, 27 November 1903, Page 3

WOODS-WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

“THE GATES OF BONDAGE.” As “ Tho Gates of Bondage ” which wil form tho opening bill of the Woods-Wil-liamson Season at the Theatre Boyal on Saturday evening next claims attention of theatregoers tho following will be of interest : The Auckland Herald, of August 31st, speaking of “ The Gates of Bondage ” says :—“ A definite success was achieved by the Woods-Williamson Dramatic Company at the Opera House on Saturday night in “ Tho Gates of Bondage.” The piece is one of the most moving and powerful that has been seen here for many a day. In this clever dramatisation of Hall Caine’s •' The Deemster,” Miss Maud “Williamson has made use of a quiet uncommon gift of adaption. The result is a drama in five acts, each one of which has some strong point to command it. Often melodramatic, 11 The Gates of Bondage ” is, nevertheless, remarkably free from claptrap. Its situations are powerful because thoy are human, its incidents not one iota less tense and. enthralling, because they are natural. Very little imagination on the part of tho spectators is required, for the simple excellent reason that the story unfolded appeals to genuine emotions, and has tho saving grace of seoming actuality. Seldom do wo find stage-productions nowadays which make the unanimous appeal, pleasing both gallery and stalls, but to the rare type that do “ The Gate of Bondage ” undoubtedly belongs. Even to those familiar with Hall Caine's book, or with its other dramatisations, this latest version will reveal now grooves of interest, and, not improbably, many improvements. From first to last, it is an absorbing, clever, play. Tho audience on Saturday night was a large one, and its appreciation was groat. Bounds of applause greeted tho principals on their first entrance and throughout the evening, whilst the curtain bad to be repoatedly raised at the close of overy act. Tho picturesqueness of the scenery was also specially singled out for applause. Miss Maud “Williamson’s conception as Mona was truly womanly and sincero throughout. There was an eloquence in voico and manner which mado the impersonation convincing, natural, impressive. In tho great scene of tho second act Miss Williamson was tragic in the portrayal of Mona’s heart-rending grief on hearing of the killing of Ewan. The piercing shriek with which she received tho news, the uncontrollable fit of woeping that followed, ] and the gradual working of the mind to see tho matter from her lover’s standpoint, were intensely clever phases of a powerful pieco of acting. Mr Alfred Woods was very fino as Dan. His descriptive powers were well shown in the first act in his clever relation of bis killing of tho oxen. Tho impersonation was manly, and naturally colored with many a little human touch. In tho second act Mr Woods’ work was forcefully dramatic and convincing, Dan’s poignant grief at the discovery that Ewan was dead being terribly truo to life, and making a vivid impression. Also, in his later scone with Mona, his acting pulsated with emotion. Mr Woods’ great opportunity came, however, in tho fourth act. Here his portrayal of tho appalling effect upon cf hIS life on the island was thrilling in its dramatic power. Tho culmination of a lengthy scone was a fine piece of work on tho actor’s part, in tho depiction of Dan’s fervid joy in his •wolcomo of Davy."