"STRUCK OIL."

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 832, 13 December 1878, Page 2

"STRUCK OIL."

This drama, rendered famous in the neighboring colonies by the Williamsons, was presented in a very complete manner at the Volunteer Hall last evening by the Baker and Farron Company ; but we regret to say the attendance was not nearly so large as the merits of the performance deserved. The piece is entirely different to those usually performed by Baker and Farron. It may with no stretch of the imagination be termed a drama of the first order in its class, while the pieces ordinarily played by Baker and Farron cannot be otherwise designated than as a series of sensational and stirring scenes clumsily thrown together with the view of introducing Baker and Farron in their Dutch and Irish specialities. Produced in a properly appointed theatre, with the necessary - scenery and stage accessions, " Struck Oil" would command a long run hi any town, and we are not surprised that the Williamsons should have succeeded in netting the thousands of pounds they did in Australia by its production. We have not sufficient space at our disposal to give an outline of the plot of the piece. Suffice it to say that, although it is what may be termed a sensational drama, the incidents are of a sufficiently stirring character to maintain the interest of the audience, while the deep touches of nature with which it abounds cannot fail to elicit their warm sympathy. Although the scenery last evening could not be considered perfect, it was just sufficiently appropriate to lend a charm to the place. Of the acting we cannot speak otherwise than in terms of praise. Foremost amongst those deserving of notice is Mr. Baker, who undertook the chief rch:, that of John Stoefel, a Dutch cobbler. On him depends mainly the success of the drama, the whole of the other characters being throughout subsidiary to the good-natured and honest old Dutchman. When we say that Mr. Baker surprised us by his splendid acting of a most difficult character, we have no desire to create the impression that we had previously looked upon him as other than an actor endowed with great ability, especially in the enacting of Dutch parts. Whether as the jolly old Dutch cobbler, the awkward raw recruit, or the broken down, infirm, demented old soldier, returning home after wandering about for years, Mr. Baker's acting was simply perfect, and he well merited the frequent rounds of applause with which he was greeted. The lights and shadows, the humor and pathos, of the character were brought out with a fidelity to nature that stamps Mr. Baker as an actor of the first water. To play John Stoefel even decently would be a difficult task for any ordinary actor to perform ; but Mr. Baker did more, and can, therefore, lay a just claim to rank with the best actors that we have seen in this country for many years. Mr. Farron's Lizzie Stoefel was a capital piece of acting for a man, but we should have j>referred seeing the character enacted by a lady. The whole of the other parts were well played, the most noteworthy efforts being those of Miss Merton (Katrina), Messrs. Welsh (Deacon Skinner), Jerdan (Sergeant Flynn), and Flynn (Dr. Brown). As we have already said, the piece was exceedingly well put upon the stage considering the many drawbacks to be overcome, and it is a pity, for the sake of the management, that arrangements were not made to rej)eat the piece, for we are convinced that had it been repeated it wotdd have I drawn together a larger audience than the company has yet had in Oamaru. For I this evening, the last performance of the season, " Lisa Eccles" is announced.