The Feilding Variety Company

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 44, 15 April 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Variety Company

The Public Hall was crowded last night to witness the initial performance of this company (in aid of the funds of the Town Band), which was given under the patronage of his j Worship the Mayor, and the members ,of the" Jockey Club. The proceedings began with an overture by the band, which was played with spirit and good execution. Mr Hudson sang two songs and in each case received a well- ! earned encore. Mr Coles gave " The ! Old English Gentleman" in character. This gentleman and Mr Richardson gave a character sketch " The Upper Ten and Lower Five," and were frequently applauded. This was the i gem of the evening for fun and spirit. Mr Gr. Williams sang •' Kathleen Mavourneen" and " Excelsior" with taste and feeling, but we have heard him in better voice. Mr Eichardson's " Wedding Bells" was very good. Mr Reading sang a comic song, " Rabbit Hutch Row," in character, loud bursts of hearty laughter showing the audience appreciated the fun of the sketch and gave the singer a well-deserved recall. Mr Hawkins sang " Muggins' Mulberry Nose," and gave a brief recitation entitled " Paddy Whacks," both in good style. Mr Lightbourne's negro song " Do you know where Nowhere is ?" was well received. The instrumental trio was well executed, and was only too brief. Mrs Hawkins played the accompaniments throughout in exquisite style and good taste, evincing no mean skill as a musician, and to the assis tance of this lady the company owe in a great measure the success of the performance. In the second part was produced Tom Taylor's farce, " A Blighted Being," Mi Reading sustained the leading character of Job Wort, Mr Ben Gosling thai of Ned Spanker (a marine surgeon), Mr Hawkins as Thaddeus O'Raffertj (an Irish apothecary), Mr Coles as Waiter, and Mr Richardson as Susar Spanker (hostess of an hotel). The players appeared to be all letter perfect in their parts. Mr Coles as Waiter made the most of his part, and showed that his experience and knowledge oi stage matters was far ahead of the others. Mr Richardson as Susan was dressed to the character, and we regretted he did not make so much of it as he might have done. He omitted a great deal of the " business" of the part. However, what he did do he did well, and his representation of the female character is the best we have had on the stage here, being perfectly modest and in good taste. Mr Reading was well up in his part, and sustained the character to the life. Messrs Hawkins and Gosling showed that with experience and application, and the cultivation of the histrionic gifts they possess, they will take a high position amongst amateurs, The scenery and stage effects were all first-class, and the drop scene painted by Mr Gosling, senior, is really a worl of art. On the whole the performance was a brilliant success, and when it is remembered that the actors had-onlj themselves to depend on for " make ups" and stage necessaries, a few oversights can easily be pardoned. We hope that this company will keep together, as occasional performances during the winter months would be well received by the Feilding public.