THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2428, 17 January 1882, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

“STRUCK OIL.” Last night Mr and Mrs Williamson made their debut in Christchurch in the play of “ Struck Oil,” which, one way and another, has been rendered pretty familiar to Christchurch playgoers. As a piece it is not remarkable for any great amount of literary ability, the first two acts being, as it were, merely padding to the third, which is in reality the essence of the whole play. Like most American pieces, also, the principal characters elaborated by the author are but few, the rest being sketches serving to carry on the action and dialogue. Of the principals, Lizzie Stofel is decidedly in the foreground of the dramatic picture, and Miss Maggie Moore, by her bright vivacious acting, at once established herself as a prime favorite with the audience. Full of life and, as our American cousins would put it “real smart,” Miss Moore gave us a very charming and realistic picture of the young German girl, fond of fun and mischief, but through all dearly loving her old father. She sang two songs excellently, and being encored gave a dance in such a manner as to make one believe that she, as well as the audience, most thoroughly enjoyed it and entered into the spirit of it. Nor was Miss Moore deficient in the more pathetio parts of the piece. In the scene where she takes leave of her father it was hard to believe it was the same bright girl who had carolled her songs so blithely. As a whole, Miss Maggie Moore, in the character of Lizzie Stofel, made a decided success, Mrs Stammers did what little there was to do in the part of Mrs Stofel very well. Mr Williamson’s John Stofel did not present any very striking features until the third act, which, u we have said, really forms the piece. In this he showed how thorough an artiste he is by the almost painful fidelity with which ho oourtrayed the lunacy which aAicts him on lie return to his native village. This was a most wonderful piece of acting, inasmuch as it was so real as to remove from the mind of the spectator the idea that it was acting. From this to the close of the piece the character was drawn with a master-hand, and Mr Williamson, equally with his talented wife, scared an undoubted success. Mr S. O’Brien played Deacon Skinner in an appropriately rascally manner, and deserves credit far his performance. He was the hypocritical self-seeker to the life. Mr Vincent had but little to do as the judge,hot he spoke two or three lines with the true ring of pathos. The other characters were well filled. Mr and Mrs Williamson were called before the curtain at the end of each act and loudly applauded. The management deserve the utmost credit for the admirable manner in which the piece was put on the stage, the smallest details being carefully attended to. The light on the stage was also increased, which was a great improvement, and the eoenery, especially the camp scene, was excellent. To-night the same piece will be repeated.