MR. J. C. WILLIAMSON'S NEW COMEDY COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1999, 7 February 1907, Page 2

MR. J. C. WILLIAMSON'S NEW COMEDY COMPANY.

Tho box plans for tho performances of “The Squaw Alan,” “Tho Virginian,” and “Under Two Flags,” will be opened at His Alajesty’s Theatre to-morrow morning at 10 o’clock. “The Squaw Alan” is a very novel play, interesting, humorous, and thrilling, dealing as it does* with the adventures of an Englishman on the AVosfcern Plains. The play affords great scope for scenic effects and report speaks of the lavish manner in which Air AVilliainson has laid himself out foy display in order that it may possess the required atmosphere. Tho first act opens in ail English country house, and ill strong contrast tire tho scenes shown . in tho following three acts. These scenes aro described as true pictures of tho wild frontier life, and these tho author paints with a free, facile and tlirillingly accurate pen. The plot teems with an interest that holds the attention of the audience as in a spell. The second and third acts particularly present crises and climaxes that aro as strong as any that have been shown on tho modern stage. It is tho realistic characterisation which gives tljo play its chief charm. The company is made up of the best procurable artists in America, England, and Australia, with the result that lias completely taken playgoers into tho atmosphere of the surroundings of a most attractive and charming play. Tlie second attraction will bo tho famous American drama, “ The Virgfilian,” a play which is also particularly congenial to this company and in which they havo achieved an equally sensational success as they scored in “The Squaw Alan.” “The Virginian” is a dramatisation of Owen AA’isters’ wonderfully popular novel, and —unlike other works of this class is said to even surpass the book —ill realistic character drawing of a most fascinating and romantic story. Both Mr AA’aldron and Aliss Ola Humphrey are accredited respectively with making tlie big honest manly Virginian and tlie sweet womanly Alollie Wood “live” in actuality before tlieir audiences ; while report speaks in the highest terms of tho artistic work done by members of the powerful company supporting the stars. So that both in “The Squaw Alan” and “ The Virginian” we may confidently look for two presentations of superlative merit, unflagging interest, and exceptional charm. The third and last night of tho season is fraught with very great interest, inasmuch as a stage version of Ouida’s famous novel, “Under Two Flags,” is announced as the attraction. Few who havo road the story will forget its thrilling interest, and a stage version of the picturesque romance cannot fail to attract.