The Dobson-Kennedy Company’s Farewell.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 633, 14 July 1891, Page 3

The Dobson-Kennedy Company’s Farewell.

The farewell performance of the above Company, making up the extraordinary run of a fortnight in Gisborne, took place on Saturday. There was an enormous attendance. 11 Lost in London ” was the piece played, and it was put on in a most creditable manner, and gone through with a proficiency that aroused great enthusiasm among the spectators, and one of the methods of showing approval was the bestowal of a profusion of rich bouquets upon the ladies who represented the characters. Mr Dobson and Miss Idrene Thornton took the principal characters of Job and Nelly Armroyd, respectively, and their acting fully justified the high reputation they hold and the warm expressions of approval on the part of the audience. In some of the exquisite emotional scenes the audience seemed completely thrilled, and as Tiddy Miss Hill acted her part with much spirit, and her mirthfulness was quite infectious. Mr Campbell caused roars of laughter as Mr Blinker, and he had to give an encore to his comic song. Mr Norton impersonated the unpopular part of Gilbert Featherstone in a most effective way, arid his acting was complimented by emphatic groans and hisses. Miss Vernon as Flounce, and Mr Saville as Noah Leahroyd, made the best of their minor parts, as did the other characters. During the first interval Mr Kennedy recited the stirring poem Shamus O’Brien, which he did in a powerful manner, and when Jie had concluded there was a great outburst of applause, which continued for some minutes, and was not quelled by the reappearance and bowing of Mr Kennedy. There can be no question that the Company well deserved their success in Gisborne. Altogether they put on nine different pieces, there being no repetition in the first week, and they spared themselves no trouble’in each instance to stage the play as they would in a large town, with all the facilities at hand, and perhaps with the one piece billed for several nights. Too often it is the pustom of a Company coming to Gisborne to slum over or avoid any work that can possibly be so treated, .but the Dobson-Kennedy Company scrupulously kept faith with the public, had all their stage fixings arranged under the superintendence of a skilled scenic artist, and taking these excellences with the acting, there is good cause for the Company being as they were, the most popular that have visited Gisborne.