THE HAWTREY COMEDY COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 993, 12 September 1903, Page 2

THE HAWTREY COMEDY COMPANY.

It is a matter for general congratulation that the above distinguished company fa coming to this town, which has not up to present time had the pleasing opportunity of seeing what is admittedly one of the best comedy companies travelling in Australasia and is especially noted for having introduced that famous play, “ A Message from Mars,” into this part of the world.

The company opens on Saturday evening next, at the Theatre Royal, when Sir Francis Burnaud’s 3-act farcical cotmdy, " The Lady of Ostend,” will be staged. During the long season of 17 weeks at the Melbourne Bijou there was no piece in the Hawtrey Company’s repertoire which obtained sueb popular support as this celebrated production. It is claimed to be one of those plays which can absolutely be guaranteed to please everybody. In the humor there is nothing to offend the most fastidious tasto, and yet no one can fail to appreciate the intensely amusing situations and the witty, sparkling dialogue. The play is constructed in such a way that a child can follow it, and, unlike many productions, the plot is not of a ridiculously improbable character that makes one ashamed afterwards for laughing at it extravagantly. On Monday night, September 21st, the company will produce its most celebrated and popular piece, “ A Message from Mars.” A feature in this play is tho adroit admixture of comedy and melodrama. At one momont the audience is convulsed with laughter, at tho next it is strangely moved or deeply fascinated. The moral lessons which the piece is intended to suggest are skilfully interwoven with a more than ordinary humorous dialogue, and there is a wise absence of any attempt to sermonise or dictate. The home-truths are always delicately conveyed, and are in consequence almost unconsciously taken to heart. This remarkable comedy-drama was first bought and produced in London by Mr Charles Hawtrey, a younger brother of Mr W. F. Hawtrey, who is about to visit this town. The play immediately captured the public taste, and had a run of seventeen months. Subsequently it was taken to New York, where it had an equally pronounced triumph, and tbe season in America had to be considerably extended.

On Tuesday, September 22nd, “ Tom, Dick, and Harry ” will be presented. As its name seems to suggest, the play is very funny. There is nothing better appredated by playgoers than a good laugh, and “ Tom, Dick, and Harry ” will not disappoint them in this respect. The fact that the comedy has been running for nearly three years in Australasia speaks volumes for its merits as a laughter, making play, and in London it created quite a furore, being spoken of as “ the play that made all London laugh.” ■ That it will make all Gisborne do the same may be looked upon as a certainty. The Company consists of 22 members, who will be referred to individually in future issues. Tbe box-plan will be opened at Mr Miller’s on Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock, and it goes without saying that the booking for the coming season will be one of the largest, if not the largest on record,