DRUIDS’ ANNIVERSARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1325, 26 August 1886, Page 2

DRUIDS’ ANNIVERSARY

The local Lodge of Druids celebrated ite anniversary by a dramatic entertainment in the Town Hull last night. The entertainment consisted of two comic sketches—one entitled “A Race for a Widow,” and the other “ The Model Husband.” Both pieces are well suited for amateur performance, and the Druids wisely secured for the female parts the services of the Misses Fischer, of Christ church There was a remarkably good attendance of the general public, showing how well the members of the Lodge had worked in the matter of selling tickets. A nice little orchestra was at work, and played an excellent selection of popular music during the evening. I ■ the first piece put upon the boards the cast was as follows ; Adolphus de Oremorna, Mr Frederick Nokes : Capsicum Pepperpod, Mr William Peate ; Cornelius Popjoy. Mr Robert Kls’on ; Isabella (Pepperpod’s wife), Miss Ruby Fischer ; Mrs Winnington, Mias Carrie Fischer ; Biddy (the servant), Miss Susannah Turtle. The whole of the performers showed a fairly good acquaintance with the text, and the leading characters were very creditably taken, and the ladies’ work was commendable, indeed, but we regret to have to take exception to the manner in which Mias “ Susannah Turtle,” a young lady with the merest hint possible of a beard and a voice that was very palpably falsetto, managed a portion of her attire We scarcely fancy that even the most rompish ‘‘Susannah” would behave as the masculine one who had the part entrusted to her last night did. The “ Model Husband ” went through epankingly foe a time, but the gentleman who played “ Samson ” wou'd have been more effective if ha had been less] stiff. An angry Devonshire farmer displays a good deal more life and energy than did the gentleman who undertook the part last night. The audience, however, were very lenient and very willing to be amused, so that the work of the little dramatic com; any was rendered a good deal easier than It would have" been befcre a more critical audience. The following is the oast of the second piece Samson Shankey (a countryman), Mr Thomas Wall ; Simon Shankey (hia brother), Mr R. Elston; Frederick Fitz Blazington, Mr P. Nokes ; Mrs Shankey (Simon’s wife), Miss Carrie Pitcher; Mrs Mannington (her mother), Miss Ruby Fischer. The entertainment doted at about a quarter | past lea.