DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1089, 13 April 1883, Page 3

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.

The amateur dramatic performance, given on Friday evening last, was a most brilliant success, and we doubt if ever sq pleasant an evening has ever before been spent in tbe Clyde Town Hall, The only drawback, not alone Dy ourselves, but many others commenting on it, was that the whole thing was too short. Of the few things one cannot have too much of, it is real downright sterling enjoyment,’' and as of that commodity we are not overburdened, on the final fall of the curtain we really felt sorry, and in the vexation of. spirit felt almost inclined to lustily giVe the signal for an encore, but never remembering such a call ever to have been as the encoring of theatrical perfo manoes we withheld our enthusiam, wrapping up ourselves in the hope tUat on some future and not far distant occasion we should have the pleasure of witnessing a repetition. The whole company were letter perfect in their parts, moreover, acted as if thoroughly conversant with the plot of the pieces, while the dresses were something to look at, and, moreover, the stage decorations were of a high class, and at one glance demonstrated that the artist or artists were thoroughly alive, and perfect adepts at the art; without wishing to detract from any one else we, however, must give a great deal of credit to Mr Alfred Moore, who spared neither time or expense in making the stage fixings and congratulate him on his success. The first piece performed was an extravaganza, entitled “ Mignionette, or the Fairy Vervains Spell,” the characters being King Tiger Lily, Mr Stevens ; Princess Violet, Mrs Shaw; Prince Coxcomb, Mr M‘George ; Chevalier Eglantine, Mr Heney ; BlueBelle (a confidante of the Princess), Mias Keddell; Daisy and: Azalia (Maids i f Honor), Misses Thomson jnd Fairy Vervain, Miss Naylor; Count Gladioli (comrade of Eglantine), Master W. Hueston; Sir Dandy Lion (friend to the Prince), Master P. Keddell ; and . -Scarlet Runner (page to the King), Mas t r Webb. The plot of| the piece is King ta Tiger Lily sets his heart upon Princess Violet, his daughter, accepting theaddresses ’’■of Prince Coxcomb, to which she objects, gnd to all turns a deaf ear, and remains as if were dumb, until the King threatens to imprison her, when she speaks, and says that she is under the Fairy Vervains Spell, that unless she weds the wisest man she will be turned into stone; and after a deal of persuasion obtains to Kings promise to allow her to choose her husband. The king agrees, and then retires to welcome the Prince. The Princess then being left alone, sings a pretty little rifrain to the Fairy, imploring her aid. The Fairy instantly appears, and waving her wand, she and the Princess concoct a plan to prove that the chevalier is wiser than the Prince ; the plan is to seek some special Bower in the garden, which the chevalier does ; both the Prince and the King failing, ite King amongst other flowers, selecting a Cauliflower to see if that was the one, Mr .‘otevens, as the Kine, is inimitable, and plays the part admirably, being the Must ring tyrant in one breath, and in the next, thebioken hearted father, at the bare idea of his daughter being turned into a statue. Mrs Shaw makes a capital Princess, and if divested of the stiffness that all amateurs have would make a good impression anywhere Mr Macgeorge was especially good as't he' Prince, Mr Heney as the Chevalier, would have been better had he taken a iib’le inSrs' time. Miss Naylor was apparently quu q.dj, home, and ha i she had - with' |h -atten-iant “ Cherry bum,” one would ; tiaffe fefi. n,dined to think that she was a .real | live f Hiy from the realms-of fancy. Miss 1 McCoimoohie was perfec !y at her ease, as | was a;.-o Miss Thompson, considering it was j the first occasion they hail been behind the fo it-iigbts. To Miss Keddell, we I must award the palm for her true actin , 1 tne carriage being unrestrained and natma, win e her intonation was clear and distinct. Masters P. Keddell and Webb peiformed th, ir parts well. “ Hum uns from’Rome,” was most amusing throughout, and .kept the house in one continual roar of laughter. The Hum Uns, Messrs Macgeorge and •J ffery, are twimen hired for the occasion by two imposters, Messrs Heney and W. Hueston. to act as statues, Hercules and Ajax, and are to be presented to Chump, a wealthy old gentleman, with a mania for antiquities, in order that they may be introduced to his daughter Arabella, Miss McConnoehie. The Rums Uns are eventually dressed a la ancient Rom ms, and ■each in his turn takes his position on a pedestal, and submits to the criticism of Chump, who, however, is not quite satisfied as to their genuinesa. The own statues at length get tipsy, and here there is a lot of amusing bye play, during which Ajax sings a comic song about Farmer Brown having two sons. The whole piece cs full of real rollicking fun throughout, at which the most demure cannot help but laugh, and ihe acting of all the characters was faultless. By no means the least ■worthy part of the performance was the instrumental music by Miss. Lennon, pianoforte; and Messrs Campbell and Ward, violins ; who at the opening played an operatic selection most beautifully, and also some selected pieces between the acts, which alone were worth the money. The,same performers also played for a dance •after the performance, which was kept up till nearly three in the morning. A* real live omission was on the part of the ’Clyde Shool Committee, in aid of which funds the entertainment was given, in not returnpiling thanks to the performers and the At this request we now do so, tand have to trust the apology for the act ;of om’asion will be received in the same 'as in which It is tendered. The total takings were £2l 18s.