RICE DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1442, 1 May 1905, Page 2

RICE DRAMATIC COMPANY.

ao- “ STBUCK OIL." be ( | , ia ' At His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday ne evening there assembled a very apprecia on tive audience to witness the production by the popular Bice Dramatic Company of that celebrated drama, ,r Struck • Oil.” This piece is undoubtedly one of the beet ever presented by the company to Gisborne theatregoers, the stage of His Majesty’s being suited in every way for a proper presentation. Every attention was Siven to detail, and the play was mounted - on the same lines as the original produo- , l I0rl ! in fact, it is the attention paid to ' detail by the company in this and other plays that makes their productions,so successful. The characters of the drama ' ware most ably and successfully sustained. The drama is well known to the Gisborne public, and therefore needs no description. ' In the character of John Stofel (an old Dutchman), Mr Alfred Bice scored a decided success. His acting was ■ true to life, and won the hearty applause of all ■ present. As Lizzie Stofel (the' Dutchdaughter), Miss Bachel Bice did the fullesti justice to the part, her bright and vivacious acting winning the hearts of all. She scored a distinct success in her rendering of several songs, in which 11 The Laughing Song,” “ British Grenadiers," and “ Lizzie’s Farewell " were the most popular. During the singing of the lastnamed item, a very successful tableau—the old Dutchman bidding farewell to hi s daughter on his way to the war—was presented with limelight effect, the Gisborne Bifles Band playing a martial air. Miss Esther Dalroy proved herself a faithful Mrs Stofel, her acting throughout being of a high order. Mr Bichard H. Clark gave a splendid pourtrayal of the character of Deacon Skinner, an unscrupulous and crafty villain, who soon earned for himself the dislike of the audience—a compliment to a successful villain. Mr Thomas A. Holdsworth ably filled the part □f Sergeant Fiinn, ho being quite at homo ;n the character.' The minor characters veto well represented, each and all doing v heir host. Tho incidental music was : irraDged by Mr J. W. Gittos, who was ccompanied by a very efficient orchestra, ?hieh assisted greatly in tho euooeseful roduction of " Struck Oil." *