"STRUCK OIL."

Kumara Times, Issue 1343, 20 January 1881, Page 2

"STRUCK OIL."

Had the audience at the Theatre Royal last evening been in any way commensurate with the merits of the performance, the house would doubtless have been crowded, as of all the pieces presented by the Comedy and Burlesque Company, “ Struck Oil” may fairly be said to be one of the grandest and most admirably-acted dramas ever played on this Coast. The plot of the piece, which is simple in the extreme, affords a large scope, however, for genuine acting, as the diversity of characters brought into play, together with the change of situation, gives ample opportunity for the performers engaged to pourtray their respective casts to the best advantage, John Stoffel (a Dutch shoemaker) agrees to act as substitute for one Deacon Skinner, who, bus been drawn iu the conscription in connection with the civil Wav in America, 1 for which Deacon Skinner hands over to Stoflfel the deeds of a farm certain sum of money. Doubtful of the integrity of the Deacon, Stoflfel, for security, places the deeds under the hearthstone of his cottage.' Meanwhile he departs for the war, where, ‘becoming wounded and eventually insane (9wing to incompetent medical treatment), he is sent to an asylum,-During his absence, Deacon Skinner has used every endeavor to obtain possession of the deeds, as oil has been struck on the property, and failing which he avows to the wife and daughter of Stoflfel (who are ignorant of their existence) that the farm has never been disposed of by him, and asserts his authority as owner. At this stage Stoffel returns to the scene, still insane, but, through accidentally meeting with a Dr. Brown (who has made insanity a special study in his profession), Stoffel, under his. treatment, is eventually restored to reason. At the very moment when the scheming Deacon believes his swindling plans are proving successful and the wife and daughter of Stoffel are about to leave the property for ever, Stoffel appears, rushes to the hearthstone, produces the deeds, exposes the villainy of the Deacon, and lives happy ever after, having become a millionaire through oil having been struck on his property. The cast of John Stoffel, in the hands of Mr J. Wilkinson, was pre-eminently admirable, bis humorous delineations of the Dutch shoemaker, his pathetic leavetaking of his wife and daughter, and his pourtrayal of the unfortunate man when deranged, being all master-pieces of acting ; in which approbation, however great, would but inadequately convey the pleasure he afforded the audience. The part of his wife, Mrs Stoffel, by Miss Lizzie Lawrence, was splendidly played, the depth of feeling evinced in the parting scene with her husband being rendered with a life-like truthfulness that brought tears in the eyes of more than one in the house, her acting throughout being characterised by a quiet self-possessed demeanour that added greatly to the effect of the piece. As Lizzie Stoffel, Miss Amy Johns was the beau-ideal of a wilful, wayward, warm-hearted Dutch girl, her rendering of the songs of her native land being enthusiastically applauded, and when, in attempting to console her imprisoned father by playing as of yore “ Home, Sweet, Home,” on the harmonicon she allowed her feelings to overcome her, there was for a moment a hushed silence

and then the house shook with fap'turous applause. The part Of Deacod Skinner was most ably sustained Mr R-. W. Red(”, his povirtfayal of this cringing, crawling specimpri of the chhnffi being so effectively given that it is difficult to believe that Mr Bede has not played the part of principal in the character he assuihed'~la&V night; Sergeant Flynn found an able exponent in Mr Love* who, both in this cast and that of judge, played hid part with that ease and thoroughness that always stamps the finished actor * arid the aanib may be said of Mr Alexander, as Dr. Brown. The minor characters were well filled by Messrs Warren hficl Shields. To-night Botlcictult’a great drama of “ The Octoroonwill be produced, with all the startling scenic effects incidental to this piece ; add if the company only received one half of the support they are deservedly entitled to, there should not be standing room in the Theatre.