WILLMOTT’S COMBINATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 171, 1 July 1884, Page 2

WILLMOTT’S COMBINATION.

“ The Colleen Bawn ” was the piece produced last night. There was a scanty audience, but for all that the representation of the drama was of a high order of merit. It is needless for us to relate the story, with which nearly everyone is acquainted. The leading characters were taken by Miss Amy Johns, in Eily O’Connor, (The Colleen Bawn), and Mr. James Wilkinson, Dannv Mann. The former acted the lowly and simple peasant girl to the letter, and managed the brogue accent splendidly. Of the latter, Mr. J. Wilkinson, too much cannot be said, the representation of his part being made by him to appear so life-like and natural. He can adapt himself to any character, no matter what it is, from the wily, despicable villain, to the devoted and faithful servant, and one could hardly believe after seeing him performing in other pieces in the most comical and laughable “ get ups,” how he could manage to to take a part requiring so much intense feeling and pathos as the one in which he shone so creditably last night. Anne Chute, Miss Louise Crawford, was perfection itself. The performatce of this lady is also worthy of note, she, like Mr. Wilkinson, also has the “happy knack” of being able to take almost any character. Her impersonation as Anne Chute, was all that could be desired, the grand stvle in which she performed so well the naughty and sprightly bearing of a frivolous and coquettish young girl, being magnificently attained. Mr. R. W. Rede as the simple Irish lad Myles Na Coppalan, was immense, and caused roan of laughter and applause, and was certainly the star qf the evening. All throughout he maintained his part with great success. The characters of Mrs. Cregan and her son Hardress Cregan, were well sustained by Miss Lizzie Lawrence and Mr. Mack Alexander. The gentlemanly manner of Kyrie Daly was creditably acted by Mr. F. Simmonds. Sheelah, Miss Lena Wyatt, the mother of Danny Mann, performed with success. Mr. Henry Teece acted Father Tom with a quiet dignity compatible with “his riverence.” Last, thougn not by any means least, was Mr. Corrigan, which part was well played by Mr, C. Marter. This gentleman attained the Irish accent better than any one of the other performers. He represented the lawyer in his wily and deep cunning, with unqualified success, which brought him much applause. The scenery all through the performance was excellent.