HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1988, 25 January 1907, Page 2

HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

“THE COAL KING.” - The above company last night, in His Alajesty’s Theatre, gave the second of their series of four entertainments in Gisborne, the milling (liama, “The Coal King,” being put on the boards. Tlio part of the Coal King (Sir Reginald Harford) was ably taken by Air John Hesford, while that- charming young actress Aliss Beatrice Holloway had the leading lady’s part of Grace Shirley, a remarkable contrast to the boy parts in which she has been so successful, but one nevertheless to which she was able to naturally adapt herself, being a winsome Grace who always did the right thing in the best way, whether it was in the love-making scenes or in the flouting of the villain. Air Robert Inman had the hero’s part of Tom Roberts, who fortunately always turned up at the right moment and bested the villain, sometimes with a blow and always with the right on his side, and a fine, manly part was acted in a way that ensured the hearty enthusiasm of the audience. The thankless character of AA’alter Harford, the polished villain, fell to Air Godfrey Cass, who acted it most skilfully. Aliss Rosa Conroy most effectively portrayed the part of Alad Ann, and Air Jefferson Taite was excellent as Dick Shirley. Air AVilton Welch as Jim Williams and Aliss Mabel Russell as Araminta Green were responsible for much mirth as a relief to the more serious aspects of the drama. All the other parts were satisfactorily filled. The drama abounds in thrilling situations, and tlie scenic effects were exceptionally good; helping to impress the realism of the scenes on the audience, who followed tlie unravelling of the plot with .the keenest interest, and were ever ready to bestow applause when the hero was triumphing or the villain being denounced. The explosion scene and the entombing and subsequent rescue of the miners was most realistic, but there is good scope for controversy as to whether the hymn and prayer is not going too far in the direction of realism. There is this to be said, that the liymu was sung with seemingly more earnestness and the prayer given with more apparent fervor than is sometimes the case under what ought to be more reverential conditions. It certainly seemed to inspire a feeling of fervor in the audience, one of whom at least joined in the “Amen,” but when alnmst immediately thereafter the curtain falls and the orchestra strikes up a tinkle-tinkle-tum with various popular airs tlip feeling of fervor is rudely shattered, and the questions at once occur that justify a controversy as to whether the border-line is overstepped. Some of the scenes were very pretty, a particularly striking one being that of the woman whom the villain lias cast from the bridge, o-niphi there will be presented, special arrangement with Air. J. V' " illiamsoii, the-intenselv exciting four-act drama, “Tlie Shadows of a Great City. There is an undeniable sagacity in gauging public taste, and it cannot lie doubted that Air. Charles Holloway, who has a long theatrical career behind him,' should be able to gauge the taste of playf°m rs I? a , lllcet .v- The revival of the Shadows of a Great City” is more than judicious. Who that can recall the late Grattan Riggs as Biddy Roonan does not hanker to see the same character again? In the hands o) . l j' J 1 r - John P. O’Neil the pourtrayal \viil lose for his performance is said to .be inimitable. In consequence of the success of the season in Gisborne, Air. Holloway lias decided as the company does not leave the ])ort till Sunday for Napier, to present on Saturday night another of his dramatic successes in the shape of tlio exciting drama, “Under Remand.”