WILLIAMSON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 11889, 18 May 1903, Page 6

WILLIAMSON'S DRAMATIC COMPANY.

There was a splendid house at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night to witness the second performance of ‘Secret Service.’ This production 6f Mr William Qillette|s pen is a most interesting and convincing m lodrama of the higher type, and in the hands of its present interpreters the act ng_ is fully up to all requirements, and the piece, which is admirably mounted and staged, goes with an exhilarating briskness and swing. The audience were not slow to recognise this, and the principals were repeatedly called before the curtain at the close of the acts. The play will be repeated again this evening. J The second production of the season, ‘The Christian,’ will be presented on Wednesday evening. Owing to the limited season, Mr Barrett s dramatisation of Hal! Caine’s novel can only be produced for three nights. Inis version was completed by Mr Barrett during his Australian tour, and finally Mr Barrett posted the last act to Mr Williamson as he was leaving for London. At one time it was thought the Knight-Ferrar combination might plav the drama, but a rfispute arising between the author of the book and the dramatist concerning the colonial rights, the representation had to be deferred. The present company produced this version during their recent remarkably raccessfnl Auckland season, and Mr Cuvier Hastings as John Storm is said to have mode a great impression—in fact, several have expressed the opinion that it is this artist’s best performance. Miss May Chevalier is also credited with presenting a wonderfully good performance of Glory Quayle, a most exacting character. Indeed, the whole company ares bated to be particularly well suited.