ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3272, 18 July 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HOCKEY ON SKATES. The hockey matches played on skates caused a great deal of excitement at the rink* .last-. night. In the first round, Rawhiti played Garrison. The play was fast and furious, Rawhiti winning by 1 goal to > nil. Cramp captained the winning team, and in the first half McLisky (with one skate on) took the ball along from the threequarter line and shot a brilliant goal, the ball going over the goal-keeper’s head. Aftei this the play was fairly even, Garrison nearly- scoring on one occasion, but Reddell (goal) saved the situation splendidly, thus winning the laurels for Rawhiti, time being called soon after. The next game resulted in an easy victory for the Mounted’s over the Rink team, the former winning by 3 goals to nil, which were scored by Wyllie, Pollock, and deLautour. The finals will be played to-morrow night.

‘JTHE DANGER SIGNAL.” In this' workaday world humanity turns to entertainment at the close of the day as the sunflower turns to the light. People go to the theatre for many reasons. Some go to be entertained, others because almost everyone else goes, and some would be hard put to it to explain why they go at all. Of all the different classes of entertainment which command liberal public patronage, drama possibly appeals to the greatest number. That this is-so in Gisborne, _ was proved by the largo audience which greeted the re-appear-ance of the Rice Dramatic Company, at His Majesty’s Theatre last night, after an absence of three years in Australia. The piece staged was a drama of the good old style, entitled, “The Danger Signal,” which contains the youthful hero and heroine, the rascally baronet, and the forbidding villain. The play does not rely for success upon brilliance of dialogue, but what it lacks in this respect is more than made up by sensational scenes which follow closely upon each other’s heels. The story circles round the doings of Sampson Fox, the villainous keeper of the Black Rock lighthouse, which character was forcibly portrayed by Mr. Alfred Rice. The repellant nature of the ruffianly old scoundrel was well by the veteran actor, who sank his individuality in the part. In the part of the hero, Frank, Mr. Alfred Rice, jun., gave a good performance. His lines were spoken distinctly, and he was especially good in his speech from the dock, Avhen defending himself upon the charge of murder in the trial scene. The life of the whole performance was supplied by Mr Richard H. Clark, who, in the character of Gregory Giggle, the man who laughted when he was married and louder still when his wife died, found scope to display to the full his marked ability as a comedian. His laugh was so infectious that even the most staid member of the audience had to join in. As Lady Mary Raymond, the unfortunate lady with two husbands, Miss Ray Nelson acted with quiet dignity, her denunciation of her rascally (supposed) husband being delivered with much dramatic intensity. Miss Esther Dalroy did -capital work as the homely Polly Fox, landlady of “The House by the Creek,” in which most of the plotting in the play takes place. The part of Lucy Fox, her daughter, was taken by Miss Delia Cliallis, and this young lady created a very favorable impression by her distinct enunciation, natural manner, and attractive stage presence. Mr Walter Davis was cast for the thankless part of the villain, Sir Jasper Raymond, Bart., but was not very convincing, being too stiff in his acting and stilted in his utterance. As Walter Barnard, the rich Indian merchant, who returns home to find his wife married and himself nearly murdered, Mr. Jack Nicolas succeeded tolerably well. Mr. Sam Doleman made the most of the character of Jacob Lynch, an escaped, convict, and the accomplice of the villainous lighthousekeeper in his bloodthirsty plots. The minor characters were sustained as follows:—James Darby (a detective), Mr. Harry Coulston; Joe Herring (a potboy), Mr. G. Lamont; the Judge, Mr. J. Hay; Mr. Sergeant Bradbury, K.C., Mr. H. Norman ; Constable XVI., Mr. H. Lording. The play was creditably mounted, the scenic and lighting effects being in the capable hands of Mr. R. H. Clark. The scene depicting the lighthouse on the Black Rock was an admirable one, and was greeted with warm applause. The incidental music was artistically supplied by Vita Bros, orchestra.. The performance was given in aid of the funds of the Gisborne Friendly Societies’ Conference, which should receive a substantial addition as a result of the entertainment.