DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 803, 28 December 1894, Page 6

DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

The members of this local organisation have good reason to feel satisfied with their success on Boxing night. Notwithstanding that the weather during the afternoon ami evening was very unfavourable, a good audience assembled to patronise the entertainment. The whole of those engaged during the evening played up to the house to the very best of their ability. The concert part of the programme was unfortunately reduced by half of of its proportions, Mrs Flower, Miss Gibson and Mr Alf. Collins being the absentees; while, to the regret of many, Mr R. Driscoll was unable to attend. 'The bill of fare, however, proved quite long enough, the drama presented occupying nearly two hours. The proceedings were commenced by Mrs Gunn, who played a stirring pianoforte composition entitled ‘ Murmuring Stream ’ in a finished style. The audience warmly testified appreciation. Miss Mabel McLauchlan followed with ‘The Broken Pitcher’ which she sang very pleasingly indeed, and the audience rapturously encored her; the last portion of the song being repeated in response to the recall. Miss Davidson was as successful as usual, singing an Pern new to Kaikoura entitled * Adieu, Marie ’ the melody and vocalisation together gaining an irresistable demand for her reappearance to which she complied, the last verse being repeated. This concluded the first part of the programme a three item prelude.

After a short interval Mrs Collett and Claude Collett contributed, as an introduction to the second part, a pianforte duet ( ) which was admirably played by them, and much admired judging from the applause bestowed. 'The curtain then rose on the 4-act drama entitled

‘ Worth a Struggle,

Which was very well staged indeed, considering the totally inadequate accommodation available for the thorougly successful presentation of such a piece. The drama was quite within the compass of those engaged in it, and, as a whole, a decided bit was scored by the various performers, who, for the most part, were quite conversant with the text, so that the prompter had not very much to do beyond following it. The performance was somewhat uneven in one or two places, but there was not much to cavil ar, and, on the whole, a good deal worthy of praise. The drama is not exactly a holiday night play, and yet it is, in one sense, a Box ing night one, inasmuch as the period of the year when the * leaf from life ’ is taken is Christmas Eve and the two days following. The basis of the plot is the villany of a lawyer (Scrawl) which is foiled by his confidential clerk. Mr L. Laugesen as <Scraw/gave a good interpretation of the part of the unscrupulous lawyer. He was very successful in pourtraying the brutally cold-bloodedness of the character, causing one young lady remark that she could have shot him ! No greater compliment could be paid the delineator of the part of a villain. Mr J. Sutherland had anything but an easy part in old Benson, the light and shade, the versatile features of the character being well depicted. As Dick Hazard, the manly confidential clerk, Mr * J. Arthur’ was capital, his presentation of the character winning golden opinions. Mr T. Hitchcock was highly diverting as the vivacious Titmouse, which was, beyond doubt, one of the best played parts in the drama. He evoked considerable hilarity. Mr Stubbersfield did not appear ‘ at home ’ as Fitz-Snooks (the transpontine tragedian), which he took because there was no one else to fill the part. As Kate Benson, the loving, faithful, and dutiful daughter, Miss Clarke was very good indeed, some passages being exceedingly well rendered by her. Much of the success of the drama was due to her efforts, which the audience evidently appreciated. Miss 0. Hamilton (her first appearance) as Amy Benson, Mies G. Dermott as Miss iSt. Leyer, and Miss

Neilson as Miss Mey were painstaking, filling their parts very well. The curtain was rung down amid hearty applause and a general exclamation of * Very good !’ It is not to be supposed that even the same performers could not improve upon their efforts of Wednesday night; we feel sure that they could do so. Mr Stubbersfield is deserving of very great credit for the manner in which he staged the drama. This he did very satisfactorily at a, comparatively, very small cost. Economy was studied, but not cheese-paringly. Altogether he discharged the arduous duties of stagemanager, scenic artist (three scenes were painted by him) and propertymaster in a way worthy of warm commendation.