WOODS-WILLIAMSON COY

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1377, 11 February 1905, Page 3

WOODS-WILLIAMSON COY

“ THE GARDEN OF LIES.” Theatre-goers will no doubt ba pleased to learn that Mr Alfred Woods and Miss Maud W.lliatnson, supported by their newly organised company, MU appear at His Majesty's Theatre, Gisborne, for a season of taree nights, commencing on Wednesday nest, the 15th lost., wnen they will produce the latest London dramatic success “ The Gardon of Lies.” The immense sensation, which Justin Miles Forman s remarkable book oi’eatsd in the social and literary world on its first appearance, was more than accentuated on the produolion of°the play at St, James' Theatre, Tinndon where it is now running to crowded houses. The Christchurch Press, speaking of the production -in that city, ®avs ” ‘ The Garden of Lies ’ as presented last evening must be considered ouite one of the best presentations the Woods- Williamson Company have given during their recent visits here, and the intereat and attention of the audience was easily sustained in its development. Not a small merit of the play is its romantic V and pretty setting, and the staging is quite ' eaual to the occasion, and on a lavish scale. Some excellent opportunities are afforded the principals, and it must bo allowed tnat Mr Alfred Woods and Miss Williamson made a great deal of them. Mr Woods impersonated Denis Mallory, a cleverly drawn character, in a thoroughly intelligent manner, and put-subtlety as well as manliness and power into the impersonation. Miss Williamson s Princess Eleanor was a thoroughly artistic and well studied presentation, and was another admirable example of her histrionic versatility. Some exceedingly wellacted and interest- ■- ing scenes occur between Denis and the _ Princess, in which the audience quite recognised the merit of the work of the prinoess’, notably the scene in wmch the ladv upbraids the hero for his deceit, after the real prince’s arrival. The other characters in the cast are well allotted, the pa-ts of the three authors of the plot in which Denis figures—namely, Sir Gavin McKenzie, tho brain specialist, Creigaton, and Von Altdorf, being capably taken by Mr H. Douglas, Mr C. Bryant and Mr L. du Chateau respectively, Mr J. A. Lambert filling satisfactorily the roll of Prince Karl. Mr P Lavier met well the requirements of the part of the adventurer, Von Kteiobrucklo, aod Miss May Roberts was natural in her impersonation of the American girl, Jessica Mannering, who fascinates Von Altdorf,m which connection some excellent comedy is introduced in the ' second act.” On Thursday, tho second anight of the season, tho Company will mresent ” My Wife’s Mother,” one of the aiiiost successful farcial comedies over avelaented. and which ran for 7oCI conso'vo nights at tba Globe Theatre, rrh-Jan. On Friday, the last night ofthe ? T *'V:company will appear in Hal / ®? er 2 Vte&fftSterpieoe, “The Christian.’ w tho season will bo opener 2i p O IO on Monday morniDg P Jr i '.kt thero was a change c Vj; —ja io tho weekly balf-holi ' will bn pre tty general dir !£?.- for ’ V Itfori until the Legislature takes u{ 'EpDEfitself to fix a day by statute, Tfc ■" hoiients against uniformity dro vei while , fchG disadvantages attendic '/i state of matters one day hei Jjgpv- another there—rare, sufficiently 0 jus.—-Dunedin . r J f );