Dramatic Entertainment.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 October 1874, Page 4

Dramatic Entertainment.

• • .--> . ...... „'■» — -* The Sixth Winter Evening Entertainment by the Balclutha Dramatic Club was given jn Barr's Hall' on Friday evening last, the 9th inst. In the morning the weather, promised to . be as unpropitious as on the occasion of the Club's previous entertainment ; but at mid-day the threatening clouds which were hovering over the district cleared away, and Old Sol shone forth in all his splendour. As a consequence of fair weather and comparatively clean roads, and according to expectation, the capacious Hall was well' filled on the occasion, which fully testified as to the appreciation in which the efforts of the Club to amuse are held by the general public. Friday being the day on which the Annual Walking Show was held, there were consequently a number of the outlying settlers in" the township, who availed themselves of the opportunity* of being present at the local dramatic entertainment. At half-past eight o'clock — half-an-hour, however, behind the advertised time on the programmes — the curtain rose to the excellent and laughable farce of " Mrs Green's Snug Little Business," with Mr. J. Jamie as Mrs. Green ; Mr. H. E. Muir, Mr. Rattleton (her lodger); Mr. G. Renner, Mr. Rapps (a policeman); Mr. J. Hogg, Mr. Bung (the parish beadle); and Mr. J. A. Algie, Mrs. Green's boy, "Joe." The piece is well calculated to provoke the risibilities of an audience, and was placed on the stage on Friday evening in a very creditable manner. Mrs. Green is a widow, and, by the decease of the late Mr. Green, has been left a " snug, little business." She has thrown off the garments of her widowhood, ancKs courted promiscuously by the other characters of the piece — not even excepting her shnpboy, "Joe." Mr J. Jamie sustained the character of Mrs. Green throughout in a very creditable and praiseworthy manner, and was well supported by the gentlemen representing the other characters. Mr. Algie deserves especial credit for the manner in which he worked up his part, and merited a better reward than a box on the ears from Mrs. Green when he knelt down at her feet with the words, " I loves you, mum" At the fall of the curtain, the audience testified their approval by a hearty round of applause. The vocal and instrumental musical programme between the pieces was the most lengthy and well selected in connection with these popular entertainments for some time past. Over twenty well-known and respected ladies and gentlemen, resident in the district, volunteered their services. The various pianoforte selections, duets, and songs by the ladies were, without one single exception, rendered in excellent voice and praiseworthy taste. Apropos of tbe ladies, a noticeable feature in this part of the entertainment on Friday evening was the frequency with which the services of a well-known and universally respected lady were called into requisition to preside at the piano ; indeed, the services rendered by this particular lady at every entertainment of the Dramatic Club are more than ordinarily noticeable, and the Club have every reason to be proud, and we are confident, thoroughly appreciate the services rendered so willingly by this and other ladies in connection with their entertainments. The songs by the several gentleman were rendered in capital style ; and this part of the programme was brought to a close by a hornpipe by Mr. Kelly. An addition, however, to the programme was given, in the shape of pianoforte selections by- a well-known gentleman amateur from Milton. After a short interval, the evening's progTamme was. concluded with the amusing 1 * farce of "Cherry Bounce." Mr, Oldrents was represented by Mr. J. Hogg; Gregory Homespun, Mr. G. Renner ; Gammon and Spinnage (two farmers), Messrs. A. Low and j. Watmough; Doctor's boy, Master Townsend; and Mrs Homespun (Gregory's mother), Mr J. Jamie. Mr. Hogg sustained the character of Mr. Oldrents in a very creditable manner ; in fact, the character was peculiarly suitable to that gentleman, and we know* of no other member of the Club who could have done equal justice to Jt. As Gregory Homespun, Mr. Renner was evidently quite at home, but it was nevertheless noticeable that whilst Gregory used a Yorkshire dialect Mrs. Homespun hied from the Lowlands of Scotland. This was the more apparent in consequence of Mrs. Homespun attempting on one occasion to assume the Yorkshire accent. However, Mr. Renner sustained the Yorkshire dialect throughout in an exceedingly creditable manner. Mr. Jamie played Mrs. Homespun to perfection; this gentleman's representation of the female character is now so well known as to need no comment. Master - Townsend made a very creditable doctor's boy. The hour at which the entertainment commenced, combined with the encores in the musical part of the programme, necessarily made it late ere the whole was concluded. However, the entertainment was, without exception, the best given by the Club since our advent in the district, and we believe for some j time previous, and the thanks of the public are due to that body for their laudable efforts.