Man to Man

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7405, 9 March 1903, Page 2

Man to Man

" The best drama seen in Masterton for many years," was the unanimous verdict of those who attended the performance of "Man to Man" by the Filzinaurice Gill Company, in the Masterton Town Hall, on Saturday evening. Notwithstanding the fact that Saturdaynight i- the worst " play night " in the week in Masterton, tho Town Hall was well filled, the audience expecting lo see something out of the common in the drama lino ; nor were they disappointed, for it seldom falls to the lot of a Masterton audience to witness a drama of such a high order of merit as " Man to Man."

The scenery was magnificent. Never before has such elaborate scenery and mechanical effects been seen in the Town Hall. Tho Portland Gaol scene was a most realistic one, showing tho prisoners at work, while the surroundings were sombre and life-like. The groat railway collision was a piece of stage mechanism that has never been attempted on the Masterton stage before. It was simply magnificent, and the audience went wild with enthusiasm when the curtain was rung down on the scene. They cheered and applauded vociferously, and the curtain had to be rung up several times on the scene. The audience would not be pacified till the principals came before I the curtain aud bowed their acknowledgments.

As tho heroine, "Ethel Maythorne," Miss Gill was beyond all praise. This j gifted actress seems to possess the rare quality of putting just the required expression into a part; and, en Saturday evening, she fairly won the audience with her magnificent acting. The character of "James Gordon" was splendidlytaken by Mr Chas. Blako. The scene in the barn, where Gordon is raving about the train collision, was a beautiful piece of acting. Mr Gus Neville's impersonation of the convict, " Bill Birkley," was a genuino masterpiece. Mr Leo Dv Chateau kept the audience in roars of laughter as " Samuel Plumtree, Esq." ; while Miss Kate Gair, in the character of "Lavinia Dove," assisted him to supply tho comical clement. As the villain, " Richard Ellerton," Mr Edward Ivey carried out his part splendidly, as was shown by tho way the audience had him " set." Tho part of " Madge," the Gipsygirl, was in the capable hands of Miss Nellie Mylrae ; while Miss Cooper made an excellent " Ned Doyle," Mr F. B. Francis had a part in the character of " Philip Ormond, the mad parson," which he carried out well. A number of other characters were ably sustained. At tho conclusion of the piece, the company were loudly cheered.