The Oxford Amateurs.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1035, 27 December 1883, Page 2

The Oxford Amateurs.

When we first saw the announosment that a company of amateurs from Oxford was coming to Ashburton to give us a treat, we must confess we were astonished at what at first glance seemed nothing less than collossal impudence. Certainly we have not at present hero an amateur dramatic club, but had the:e been any need :or such an institution there would have been no difficulty in establishing it, as the acting mania is a very common disease wherever Englishmen congregate. But an am >teur troupe which bas an ambition to travel should certainly be above the average, and it was probably in expectation of seeing something specially good that so many people attended the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening. To say that they were disappointed would be putting the matter very mildly, and if this is the best the Oxford gentlemen and ladies have to show us it is difficult to justify their coming so far as Ashburton. According to the programme the first piece was “ Joe,” mit this turned out to be that very old friend, ‘‘ The Area Bell,” with a new name. This well-known farce has been given here several times, and although we have no great reason to boast of the dramatic talent existing in our midst, we venture to say that it has never been so badly played as it was last night. The least we can expect of amateurs is that they should know their parts, but the Oxford gentlemen evidently consider thia quite unnecessary, as the prompter’s voice could be heard keeping up a running 6ro of dialogue throughout. The only person who appeared to have the slightest idea of acting was the little lady who played Penelope, but she only shone by contrast with her companions. Anything more dull than the performance of “ Area Bello ” could not be conceived, and those present had an opportunity of realising how dismal a really funny farce can become in thej hands of incompetent actors. All that need be said of “ Robert Macaire ” is that it was perhaps a little better than the first piece, but we cannot f,.r fhe life of us imagine what could have induced thu Company to come to Ashburton. We are not exactly fastidious in these matters, but we are not so utterly benighted as to appreciate the efforts of up-country amateurs. To-night the Company appear again, “Lady Audley’s Secret ” being the principal piece.