THE “CALLED BACK” DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Kumara Times, Issue 2931, 22 March 1886, Page 2

THE “CALLED BACK” DRAMATIC COMPANY.

The curtain of the Theatre Royal on Saturday night was lifted to a crowded house to welcome the return of the “Called Buck” Comedy and Dramatic Company, A double bill was presented oy the company on the occasion, and ’lie performance commenced with the petite comedy of “Scotch Nannie,” >tter known perhaps as “Nan, the Good for Nothing.” In this Miss Eloise •Juno took the leading character of Nan (a Scotch tomboy), and it is needifss to say that she sustained the character with the best of ability and satisfaction, frequently bringing down the bouse with laughter and applause. Messrs Kennedy and Forbes as Toni and Harry (her guardians—a gardener and railway fireman), were “all there” anti Mr Dunbar as Charley (Nan’s lover), and Mr Rogers as young Mr Simpson (the awkward fellow) acted ‘ their pa.ts with perfect satisfaction. The second and Jollier p art of the entertainment consisted of Charles Read’s great moral and sensational drama “ Never Too Late to Mend a new adaptation by Mr C. H. Taylor one of the stars in the “ Called Back ” Company. The plot, as many of our readers may have years ago read, is formed on the life of a convict, who, after receiving a reprieve for saving a warder from a murderous attack, goes to Australia, where he turns over a new leaf, proving the old proverb “ It is never too late to mend ” The principal character, Tom Robinson (the good-hearted convict) was depicted by Mr Taylor in a masterly and impressive manner, his splendid actio* in the scene with Josephs (the boy martyr), Miss Carrington, being greatly admired and calling fo.th loud applause. The lady whose name we have just mentioned had another ch iracler in the piece, Jaeky Jacky (an Australian black) win* created much amusement by calli: g f or ins whito “ ’ anti being served by Dolly

(Miss LHy Hill) with the usual nobler in tumbler and eventually a whole bottle, instead of the sparkling little ■white girl whom be wished to marry. Mr Nunn as George Fielding (a young farmer), Mr Kennedy as Peter Crawley (the sneaking bailiff), Mr Forbes as John Meadows (money lender), Miss Nellie Edwards as Susan Merton, and Mr Dunbar as Susan’s father, were acted well; and indeed all the characters were so well sustained that manifestations of applause wore very frequent and universal, and the audience went home highly delighted with the genuine evening’s entertainment. Between the third and last act, Mr Sawkins, one of the managers of the company, came on to the stage and thanked the audience for the liberal patronage they had bestowed on the company. He explained the cause of their being unable to appear on the previous evening, as advertised, in the drama of “Jo”; and announced that, to make up for it, they would play at Kumara on their return northwards from Hokitika next Thursday and Friday week, when they would present the dramas of “ Jo,” and “ East Lynne”—an announcement which was received with rapturous applause. Yesterday afternoon the company took their departure for Hokitika in Mr John Cameron’s Leviathan fivehorse coach, .under the jehuship of MiMorse, of whose skill in that capacity the ladies and gentlemen who comprise the company spoke in the most flattering terms. They play to-night and during the week in H'ddtika, and as already stated will visit Kumara again on the Ist and 2nd April.