ENTERTANBNMENT AT ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1071, 3 November 1882, Page 3

ENTERTANBNMENT AT ALEXANDRA.

IN AID OF T. WEBB, JUN , RELIEF FUND, An amateur dramatic entertainment in aid of the above Fund was held on Friday eve- i ning last, the 27th inst., and was supported i hy a iarge and appreciative audience. The j pieces selected were : “Borrowed Plumes,” —Madame Williams and Mias Robertson, and Messrs Forrest, Williams and Willcox repi esenting the various characters ; “ The Count and the Secretary,”—with Messrs. W. G. Rees, Forrest, Williams, Aldred, and Master Hillhouse as the personnel ; and “ The Turkish Bath.” The way the pieces were put on the stage was highly creditable to the stage manager, and showed that he was thoroughly up to the business, the most minute detail receiving equal atteuwith the weightier. Such disc-imiuatiug care is but seldom observed by amateurs and accordingly where it is met with no praise is too great. It shows a full and intimate knowledge and perception of the author and a desire to do him justice. With the general run of the public and some actors the stage manager is but a kind of general useful, whose duty is automatic. No greater mistake can be possibly be made ; to be a good stage manager he must be an artist, and on his woik depends the sue' cess or failure of the performances he is overlooking. He is to be compared to {the lady’s maid, who can either mar or perfect the milliners work by the way she adjusts it to the shoulders of her mistress. We have not the remotest idea who the gentle’ man was who undertook the post on Friday night last, we therefore cannot be accused of giving him other than an unbiassed de’ serving word. In so far as the performers were concerned, it would not only be in’ vidious, but out of place, where all alike were so well up in their parts to particular rizo any one ; each had evidently studied hard to perfect either herself or himself in the r respective parts, and no better evi’ dence was wanting than the unanimous ver diet by the audience of “Well done.” The scenery was good, and the dresses excellent. The whole of the performance passed off remarkably well, not a hitch occurring throughout, and the amount netted some LlB is a very handsome addition to the fund being raised on behalf of the brave little Tommy Webb.