AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 432, 10 September 1880, Page 2

AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE.

From our own Ckitio,

I 'went as you requested on Tuesday last to the Oddfellows' Hall to criticise an amateur dramatic performance in aid of the Library. I confess that I am not partial to amateur performances, for amateurs have a tendency to address their observations to the back of the stage, and as a rule do not seem to know what to do with' their legs-; and, talking of legs, there was one pair—but no, your critic would rather go to the Turkish Bath than make personal observations; he will; only say that the company on this occasion did not act amateurishly. The performance-com-menced by the audience crowding- in quicker than ticket-takers could tickettake, and Mr Westenra'a ingenuity must have been taxed to the utmost to manufacture cheques. I wf\s glad to see those gentlemen who kindly rendered their services as ticket-takers doing their utmost, and—assisted by Mr Maning, who beeined to be thoroughly up to the art of " packing a house"—they managed to find seats for all. Then Mr Wood and his blowist?, always ready to help in a good cause* lighted their caudles in a mistrsasly fashion, and started for the evening in a masterly manner ; and then the Akaroa public had an opportunity of visiting a real Turkish Bath. It's a capital farce, and Tom and Bill the proprietors, on whom the weight of the piece falls, were really well represented by Dr Guthrie and Mr Wilkins. Their make-up was capital, and it would be a small fortune toTtlE Mail if it could advertise in as telling a way as Tom's boaids, which were provided by our own Billens. Tom and Bill went into their parts wiili spirit, acted up to each other, and inberled local al'usious like old "hands, the Doc Lor being particularly good in the ghost scene, and "our William " doing the " Waimakariri Kaiapoi" as only a native interpreter could. The principals were well supported by Adolphus (Mr W. Parsons) and Amelia (Miss Parsons), who>

"I'UUiJ u< uUKUdlll , jKHUUet!, . hiieW Ulfci.. parts and the stage business perfectly. Ponder was of course safe, in the hands of so experienced a performer as Mr tfiins, who aliio did good eervice. behind the scenes. Grip (Mr Stralton) may safely apply for the billet of bailiff when there is a vacancy ; and the boy (Master Stratton) had evidently better go at once into the cook-shop business. Then Mr Black gave ub a stump speech, and T must congratulate him on bis make-up; it was very good indeed, and so was his speech, and so was his talkiphone, but he should have considered-what tbe state of one gentle,-, man's feelings would be at" a later hour. ,

" Boots at the Swan," a piece with one ©r two rather complicated situations, went well from beginning to end, and showed that the performers must have had hard work in the short time (eight days only) at their disposal. Mr E. S. Latter as Higgins had a thankless part, which he look "Witlvria usual good nature, and being a Latter naturally opened the play, and led tip to Ffiskly (Mr Wiggins).- How thia gentleman leaftied his part in the time I don't know, but he , evidently had studied carefully, and did full justice to a most difficult character, being particularly good in his action with Jacob ("Mr Parsons). Jacob, the deaf boots, was evidently as deaf as a post; his stolid air was very good. It is a part that wants a lot of doing, but ho did it, and got drunk enough—well, Scott would have been justified in requesting him Jto interview the Beak. The

closet scene was well managed, and altogether Mr Wiggins and Mr Parsons may be congratulated on their performance. Mr W. Parsons made the most of that jammy youth, Pippin. * I'm getting rather old, but ho made me feel that jam was golopshious ;'ye«, Pippin put plenty[of'go into hiu part, and did it well. Mrs Stra-t----ton, as the romantic Miss Moonshine, had worked out a capital conception of a rather difficult character: her scene with Friskly was well carried out, and the delivery of her address to Higginsatthe end of the piece was excellent. I don't know which did the best —Sally (Miss Parsons) or Emily (Miss Hindmarsh) ; their by-play together was capital. Sally lugged by the ear that unfortuuate Pippin in a vicious manner that was a warning to all youths, and by the way the youths behaved very well; either the Akaroa cads who were so prominent at other entertainments were absent, or had learned better manners ; let us hope it is so. Sally was thoroughly at home in her part, and bo was Emily, who made the very most of the little she had to do ; her exit after Miss Moonshine's cutting remarks, delivered with much spirit, top f was worthy of the applause it received. I must just nay that the sconery was nicely arranged. I asked several people who it was that had dono it, and the only answer was—" Rob, of course," but I found out since that his real name is Noonan, alias Ridley. Altogether, I congratulate the company on a Vβ y successful performance.