The Palmerston Dramatic Club

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 87, 2 January 1886, Page 2

The Palmerston Dramatic Club

The performance last night in the Public Hall proved a brilliant success. At eight o'clock the whole of the front seats wore filled to overflowing, and later on the back seats were fully

occupied. In fact it was the best attended show we have seen in Feilding for a long time. The excellent reputation the performers brought with them was added to by their performances on this occasion. The stage manager, Mr Haultain, deserves every praise for his excellent arrangements. He introduced an innovation, which we would like to see adopted by professionals, by ringing up the curtain at a few minutes past the advertised time, instead of keeping the audience on the tenter hooks of suspense suffering for the idleness or indifference of some of the performers. The very limited scenery and stage properties at his disposal were made the most of , their absence being forgotten in the keen interest excited by the dialogue and " business" cf the : several performers. "To Paris and back for £5" is an amusing little comedy which gave ample opportunity for Mr W. J. Haybittle as Mr Samuel Snozzle, who is described as " a young man with a partiality for elderly females,'' to display his parts as a comedian of a very high order. He was .not only letter perfect in his part, but appeared to have a most hearty appreciation of the character he represented. As Mr Spriggens, described as an " eccentric old gentleman," Mr Pirani was very good. He was en rapport with the audience at once, and his local bits were well received. "We have seldom seen a better get up of the Old Man character taan that of Mr Pirani. His acting of the part was simply perfect, never overdone and marked with, the most excellent good taste. Mr Johnston, who assumed the character of Charles Markham, a young spendthrift with plenty of loose cash, was very good. He made the most of his part, thej salient features of which, require no special comment. Mr Mitchell appeared as a retired naval officer of the Royal Marines. He made the most of his part, but appears to have somewhat vague notions as to what the proper costume of a retired officer of Marines should be. We are not too clear on the subject ourselves, but it did strike us that the items, a busby and a sword were a little out of keeping with the character. This is, however, merely a matter of opinion. Mr Dungan, as Detective Bounce, did not make so much of his part as he might have done. A little more " business" would have been an improvement. The Lady Amateur was very good, although she did not appear to so much advantage as she did afterwards in the concluding 'piece " Chiselling," in which she had better opportunities in displaying her knowledge of her part as well as stage business. After an interval of five minutes there was the Musical Interlude, during which two glees were excellently rendered by Messrs Heally, Kendall, GK Kendall, and R. Johnston. Miss Boylan acted as pianiste in a most efficient and pleasing manner. Mr Kendall sang a solo which received a well deserved encore, to which he kindly responded. Mr Heally aang " Come into the garden Maud" in a very pleasing style, his sweet tenor voice giving beautiful expression to the music of the song. Mr R. Johnston sang in good form, and received an encore. In fact the whole of the gentlemen who sang are accomplished musicians, and we have not heard anything better on our stage for a long time past. At the conclusion of this part of the programme, the Rev. J. Jones explained the object for which the entertainment was given, namely, to assist in raising funds to purchase articles to be worked up into various forms to be sold at a bazaar, the proceeds of which would be devoted to liquidating the debt on the Church. He desired to thank the Palmerston Dramatic Club for the very valuable aid they had given. He hoped that they would again be able to appear in Feilding when he could assure them they would find a hearty welcome. He concluded amid loud applause. Mr Haultain came forward and thanked the audience for their kindly expression of feeling. He was understood to say that although this was the first time the club had played in Feilding it would not be the last. He hoped that the welcome they had received that night would tend to promote a bond of union between Palmerston and Feilding. The farce was then put on the stage and kept the audience amused during its whole performance. The performers had shaken off any little stiffness they naturally had in the first part of the evening and entered into the spirit of the fun con amore. Messrs Haybittle, Johnston, and Hawkins were all very good, but Mr Haybittle as Alexander the Great was unequalled. He was loudly applaxided. and the humour he threw into the business was very refreshing. It was here the lady amateurs lent invaluable aid, and the lady who enacted the part of Mrs Piper bad an opportunity of showing her ability which she did not neglect to take advantage of. Kate was very charming and did her part very nicely. In conclusion we must heartily congratulate the Palmerston Dramatic Club on the many really talented performers they number among them. Their style of acting is marked by the most perfect good taste while exhibiting evidence of careful study. When it is remembered that they were entirely unassisted by scenery of any kind, or stage properties further than a table and a few chairs all the move credit is due to them for keeping their audience interested as well as amused for two hours and a. half. The readiness with wliich they responded to our appeal to them for assistance is also beyond all praise.