WILLIAMSON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8350, 5 February 1907, Page 7

WILLIAMSON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY.

"THE SQUAW MAN." A large audience assembled at the Town Hall, last evening, to witness the first production in Masterton of E. Milton Royle's "The Squaw Man," by the Williamson Dramatic Company. The drama is teresting, and much above the average, and was in the hands of a strong and effective cast. The first act is at Maudsley Towers, the country seat of Henry Wynnegate, Earl of Kerhill. The occasion is a fete .for the benefit of the regimental fund. Mr Charles Waldron made friends of the audience at once by his quiet and meaningful acting in this scene, and Mrs G. B. Lewis, who on her first entry received a hearty welcome, was excellent as Lady Elizabeth. Miss Ola Humphrey, appearing as Diana, created a very favourable impression. Mr Leonara Willey, as Henry Wynnegate (Earl of Kerhill) is madly in love with his wife, and resents her friendly attitude towards James, and the cousins have a violent scene very ably acted by both Mr Willey and Mr Waldron. The second act is in an American drinking saloon out West, frequented by cowboys and mixed breeds. Here is seen some excellent characterisation. Cash Hawkins, the bully of the place, picks a quarrel with the tenderfoot James Carton (James Wynnegate under a new name) and the wild ways of the place are set forth in such a realistic fashion that the audience became enthralled, and sit in the keenest suspense as the events rapidly unfold. Mr G. Bryant fulfilled all the requirements, of the blood-thirsty bully admirably, and the detail acting of this remarkable scene as worked out by Miss Florence Gleeson (the Indian girl), Mrßapley Holmes (Jim's head cowboy), and others commanded the full approval of the audience. In the third act Mr Petrie (Mr G. P. Carey), the solicitor, is seen at Jim's ruined ranch, announcing Jim's succession, and begging him to return. This is really the pivot of the play. Mr Carey's acting vyas really good. As to Mr Waldron, his acting could not have been excelled. He is particularly quiet in his methods, but he fully understands his part. He makes one feel for the distressed hero and sympathise with his trouble. Miss Humphrey is no less successful in the role of Diana. Her representation of the part was greatly admired. There are several capital character sketches amongst the subordinate parts, as, for instance, Miss Katie Towers as Mrs Hiram Doolittle, Mr Hardee Kirkland as the Indian chief, Mr Dwight Danforth as the barman, and Mr Arthur Lissant as a sauntering and influential British officer. But the features of the support are in Mr Holmes' splendid work as Big Bill, Mrs Lewis' Lady Elizabeth, and Miss Gleeson's graceful squaw. The child also acts well. »