THE GARRICK CLUB.
THE RENT DAY. In every respect, the debut of the new Garrick Club at the Odd Eellows’ Hall last evening was a great success. And it well deserved to be so. The members had labored under considerable difficulty in placing the piece upon the stage ; they were unable to obtain the Hall for rehearsals, disappointment succeeded disappointment in the matter of ladies to personate the female characters; and, altogether, the obstructions were more numerous than usually oppose even the first performance of an amateur dramatic club. But the public responded nobly to the call of charity, the hall being crowded in every part. In the dress circle and gallery the seats were , more than fairly filled, while in the other part of the house it would have been difficult to have seated more with comfort. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Marchioness of Normanby and suite, honored the performance with his presence. The club had, with good judgment, selected a drama within its compass, the curtain rising to Douglas Jerrold’s favorite and pretty domestic play of “ The Rent Day.” There was but little nervousness shown by the gentlemen who first occupied the boards —so little, -in.t deed, that one would have been lofi, :.|to suppose that they had been “to ; .the manner born.” Their success must have inspired confidence, for as each successive performer stepped upon the stage he appeared to be thoroughly at home with the auditory. The lady amateurs, to whom is due in a great measure the unqualified success achieved by the club last evening, appeared at first to feel the novelty of their position, but the encouragement which the audience held out by timely plaudits soon induced them to throw themselves fervently into the play, which progressed famously. The characters of Rachael and Polly were impersonated in a satisfactory and becoming manner, due regard being paid to costume, which was in consonance with the respective characters. All the more credit is due to the ladies when it is remembered that it was at the eleventh hour when their parts were allotted; and, with ordinary time at thendisposal, it is easy to foresee that at future performances—for it is hoped that the club will decide upon appealing often—their acting will be (tu fait. Several of the gentlemen, who were members of the old club, were well known to the audience, the characters of Toby Heywoed, Hyssop, Martin Hey wood, and Silver Jack being impersonated by members whose appearance was the signal for a burst of applause. The play went very smoothly throughout, not a single hitch occurring to mar the general excellence of the performance. The entrances and exits were in fair time, and the aid of the prompter was not too frequently invoked. Without attempting to be invidious, the special excellence of the rendering of the characters of Bullfrog, Toby Heywood, and Old Crumbs must not be overlooked. These parts were entrusted to members of whom the club might -well be proud. To a severe critic it would, of course, be easy to point out defects, but times innumerable have the Wellington theatre-going public been treated to infinitely inferior performances than that presented last evening by the Wellington Garrick Club. East night’s achievements will, it is hoped, have the good effect of inducing the members of the club to develope the talent undoubtedly possessed by several of its members.
About half-an-hour before the commencement of the performance, the members of the Central and Wellington Eire Brigades assembled at the Willis-otreet engine-house, and formed a procession, being headed by the Veteran Band, which played a lively march in excellent time till the Odd Fellows’ Hall was reached. Here the procession was broken, the firemen patronising the entertainment, the proceeds of which were in aid of the widow of their late comrade, Mr. Harry Grimstone.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4365, 17 March 1875, Page 3
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641THE GARRICK CLUB. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4365, 17 March 1875, Page 3
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