HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8363, 20 February 1907, Page 4

HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

"THE COAL KING." The Holloway Dramatic Company opened a four-night's season in Masterton, last evening, when they staged "The Coal King" before a full . house at the Town Hall. The piece, which is described as a mining drama, is full of thrilling and emotional situations, and the interest in it is well sustained throughout. The hero and heroine, Tom Roberts and Grace Shirley (Mr Robert Inman and Miss Beatrice Holloway), are intrigued against by one Watler Harford (Mr Godfrey Cass), assisted by Dick Shirley (Mr Jefferson Taite), owing to Harford having got Shirley, the father of Grace, into his power. Accusations against the character of young Roberts, who is mine manager for "The Coal King," Sir Reginald Harford, Walter Harford's father, fall to the ground. In the last act it is made kno>vn by Mad Ann (Miss Rosa Conroy), who has brought up Sii* Reginald's son in infancy along with her own, that Tom Roberts is truly Sir Reginald's son, while Walter Harford is her own. Not only is Walter Harford stripped of his position, but he is immediately arrested on a charge of murder with a number of other charges in the background. Miss Beatrice Holloway, as the distressed heroine, scored a signal success. Her representation of the characteer- was natural and her acting successful and impressive. Mr / Robert Inman played the part of the I hero, Tom Roberts, in fine style. Mr Godfrey Cass acted the , part of the villain well. Miss R<jsa Conroy was decidedly good as Mad Ann. The other characters were all in capable hands. The mounting of the piece was excellent. To-night there will be an entire change of programme. "Two Vagabonds" will be staged; a production that is to be staged by the desire of many theatre-goers. * A contemporary says: This extremely pretty play has delighted the entire English-speaking world. It has drawn immense business over five 'continents, and will continue to draw enormous houses so long as theatregoers can interest themselves in what are perfectly-represented human episodes. The authors are Mr George R. Sims (a name to conjure with throughout, the Empire) and Mr Arthur Shirley. The play has in it all the greatness of drama, pathos and humour;, the light and shade are in exquisite proportion. "Two Little Vagabonds" with-' its intense insight into the finer phases of humanity, has never been represented with the same complete detail as by the Holloway Co. Miss Beatrice Holloway's Dick is a triumph of acting. She is one'of the finest "boys" on either the Australasian or any other stage. Miss Mabel Russell, who is the second vagabond, Wally, has an excellent part,which*she is thoroughly capable of' interpreting in a manner which leaves only an entirely pleasant impression on the audienqfe. To-morrow (Thursday night) the sensational drama, "The Shadows of a Great City" will be presented, and on Friday night the staging of the latest London success "Under Remand" will conclude the Masterton season. An announcement is made 'that owing to the length of the play the curtain will rise to-night at 7.50 sharp.