SCOTT SCHOLARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3480, 18 April 1874, Page 2

SCOTT SCHOLARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT.

The Press Amateur Dramatic Club gave their first entertainment at tHe Princess Theatre last evening, in aid of the funds for founding a Scott Scholarship in connection with the University. There was a crowded house in every part except the dress circle, the high figure charged for that portion having the effect of keeping several seats vacant. The large attendance was owing in some degree, doubtless, to the object of the, performance, but must be principally ascribed to the knowledge that two or three at least of the characters would bo filled by gentlemen, who have before given us proof of their histrionic capabilities. The Artillery Volunteer Band gave their services gratuitously, and were of great assistance, playing an overture, and also selections between each piece. The Adelphi farce, “ Ici on Parle Franjais,” opened the evening’s programme most satisfactorily, the capital manner

m which it was played shewing that the amateurs engaged in it were possessed of plenty of confidence, and that, therefore, the audience need not anticipate the infliction of any of those painful exhibitions, which so often mar performances of this nature. Mr Mitchell made an excellent Mr Spviggins, and, as evidenced by the loud applause with which he was greeted, his abilities were fully recognised Mr Bracken, as Major Regulus Rattap, was a regular fire-eater: in fact, his only fault was perhaps a little too much uoisterousness. Mi’ PerrieFa Victor Dubois was only a fairish re-

presentation of the love-struck foreigner in search of his inamorata, for his dialect was too evidently an Englishman’s broken French—not a frenchman’s broken English, He also has a habit of standing with his face towards the wings, and, as a consequence, one half of the audience was unable to catch what he was saying. Miss Matthews, as the highly-connected Spriggins; Miss Moore, as Angelina; and •i ßs y dlis, as the maid-of-all-work, contributed greatly to the success of ■'the

piece. The next item was a novelty on the stag®, being an adaptation of the celebrated trial scene Bardell v. Pickwick, and it went off with, if possible, greater eclat than the farce. The scene opened with a conversation between two reporters waiting in Court for the Judge to arrive, and much amusement was causedfcby the allusions toj local celebrities, which passed between them. Mr Perrier, as Sergeant Buzfuz, amply atoned for. any short-

comings in the first piece, by his delivery of the opening address for the plaintiff ; and he was almost unrivalled by Mr Bracken, as the opposing counsel, Sergeant Flaherty. The “rich brogue ” of the latter, however, must be taken as a theatrical license for this special occasion, being, if we remember rightly, scarcely according to Dickens. Mr Mitchell was again irresistible as the timorous Winkle, and Mr Humphries’s conception of the character of Sana Weller was received with great favor.. Still the latter scarcely came up to our idea of that comical and faithful serving-man. A b ® a £ty laugh was created by the representative of Sam s father being placed in the pit, and yelling out to the Judge, to the great astonishment of some of the audience (evidently not readers of “ Pickwick”), who immediately wanted old Weller turned out. A ridiculous mistake was made in the get up Pickwick, who was repre-

sented, both in person and dress, as unlike the original as could well be managed. Miss Moore, as the garrulous Mrs Cluppins, was capital, and the by-play of Misses Willis and Matthews, a* Mrs Bardell and Mrs Sanders respectively, sufficiently amusing. The entertainment was wound up with the screaming farce of “The Turkish Baths.” Mr Mitchell, as Tom had another opportunity of showing his versatility, and went through a long and difficult part .with, great spirit. His thorough knowledge of his part was, however, not backed up in this part by the next principal character, Bill Spriggs, represented by Mr Hare. This gentleman started very well, but afterwards his memory failed terribly, making the piece drag heavily and the audience feel almost relieved when the curtain dropped* The other characters had not much to do, aonsequently it did not require a great strain on their powers to pull through. In conclusion, the Band played the National Anthem, bring* ing to a close one of the best amateur entertainments ever given in this city. Mr Perrier came before the curtain during the evening, and stated that in consequence of the great success that had been achieved there would be a repetition of the performance by the club this evening, when the proceeds would again go to swell the Scholarship funds.