THE WOODS-WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

West Coast Times, Issue 13079, 5 January 1904, Page 2

THE WOODS-WILLIAMSON DRAMATIC CO.

" HANDS ACROSS THE SEA."

The Woods- Williamson Dramatic Coy. opened its three-nights' season in Hoki. tika at the Princess Theatre last evening. Th.'re was a very large audience, every available inch of room being requisitioned. The piece staged was that old favourite "Hands Across the Sea," and that the presentatiou of the play met With the entire approval of the large audience was fully evidenced by the prolonged and hearty applause which punctuated tha performance from beginning to end. The scenery and dressing was really fine, and these combined w.th the excellent acting produced a splendid evening's entertainment, equal to fie bast ssen here for a long time past. The principals, Mr Alfred Woods and Miss Maud Williamson, ably susained their great reputations, their acting being of a very high order throughout. In the proposing scene they created great amusement, and their acting at thia point was very meritorious. Mr Woods in the two scenes — when, as Jack Dudley, He is arrested for murder, and later, when his^innocence ia established — showed the great dramatic power which he poaiesses. Miss .Villiamson acted the part of 'Lilian' splendidly, and held her audience in all her passages, comic and dramatic. The, villian of the piece "Richard Stillwood," was acted by Mr A W Bootham, who portrayed the part so well that he was persistently hissed, especially in the scene where he plans to ciusa an estrangement between "Jack Dudley" and "Lilian." Mr Ernest Knight looked and played the part of "Tom Basset" very well, and amongst others to do well were Mr G Hassell as "Oil Dick Stillwood," Mr B Linden as "Dick MeJford," Mr X Busier ■is "Count Paul deßeml." while of the ladies Miss May Carleon aa "Mabel Stillwood," and M/S3 Olive Emery as 'Madame Valeric" were most successful. Tbe incidental music, which was above the average, was played by Mr Hawkins, R.A.M., and contributed greatly to tha success of the evening.