“Petrolea.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 173, 24 July 1888, Page 2

“Petrolea.”

This serio-comic operetta, with the name of which the public must now be well acquainted and which will be produced on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, is a sketch something after the style of “ Trial by Jury," there being no cut and dried plot about it. The piece opens with a chorus, the scene being the Board room of the Crude Petroleum Oil Spring Company,—*' We are a joint stock Company, the Oil Soring Company, <feo.,” the last words being " We’ll all be rich when we strike oil,” the wisdom of which remark may apply to Gisborne peoole. This is followed by a song from tbe Chairman. D'Oily Kard, the pompous, who describes how he can rise the stocks, &e. Then follows Spec U'Lator, ,the Lucky, who in an exuberant fashion shows his oharaoter. The Manager (the time server) then comes in late and, in a song, declares that he really does not oare, So long his serew is paid. This is followed by another character, the Yankee X. Pert, with a reputation from the States, who, in his song, is interrupted by the Schemer, who tries for information by asking, How deep to-day’s tbe bore. The Chairman then calls the annual meeting, Petrolea seconds this resolution, followed by the chorus, Hear, hear. The Chairman, suggesting that the Director's honorarium should be raised, is met with a vigorous protest by the shareholders. The Chairman will have his way, and after a vote of thanks to tbe Chair by Petrolea and the chorus, Hear, hear, the Manager suggests screw should be raised. He is informed the meeting is over, and with the chorus. Scrip, scrip, the meeting dissolves. Then follows a buying and selling of stocks, in the midst of which a telegram is received by the Manager. In a resit he saye, The market’s bust, and sunk down cent per cent. Then follows the chorus, Woe, woe, woe, by the unfortunate ones; aud the fortunate ones also have a chorus, Joy, joy, joy, after which comes Petrolea’s song, impressing on the fortunate ones to remember their brethren in distress. In this song Mr Harvy has introduced the Wqimata Waltz. And thus the play goes on, until at last there is the triumphant news that oil has been struck. Messrs Fiesse and Harry (lavs certainly'spared no expense in making'the piece a stage success, and with the popular prices we hope to see such enterprise rewarded. The music is bright and sparkling, and we have no hesitation in saying the public will endorse our opinion.