ORMOND GARRICK CLUB.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 214, 17 October 1874, Page 2

ORMOND GARRICK CLUB.

The favorite little theatre at Ormond was filled by a highly appreciative audience on Wednesday evening last to witness the first of the season’s performances. After a lapse of five months, and, notwithstanding the loss of many prominent leading members, the Garrick Club may be congratulated on the sueeees which has followed on their invincible pluck in maintaining, under adverse circumstances of no ordinary description, the pretige won in former days. As far as the Club are collectively concerned, all things have become new; but few of the old faces are to be seen now upon the boards. As fall the rose leaves in the season of change, so have departed from among us those whom memory delighteth to honor, and it is with regret we learn that very soon not one of the old identities will be left who have been mainly instrumental in bringing the Club to its present position. Not one of the least attractions on Wednesday evening was the first appearance of lady amateurs on the Garrick stage, the fact of which drew a large number of visitors from Gisborne and outlying districts; it gives us great pleasure in testifying that to them the natural development of the pieces was solely attributable, and we transpose the usual order of reportorial succession, to give them the postof honorin our remarks. Miss J. Hall, who appeared first on the stage in the drama, acted the part of Louise, as we have said “naturally,”—which, perhaps, in these days of sensation, blue fire, and powder, may not be taken as a compliment—but a little more spicey protestation, both as the hopeful lover, and the despairing bride, would have lent a charm of reality to the feelings of nature which required some powers to portray. The lady seemed unaffected, it is true, but she did not exaggerate her part, a fault but too common with amateurs who desire to depict a passion they have not studied well—of course we are speaking from a stage point of view, as love-making before, and love-making behind, the public, are two, very properly, different things. Miss Hall lacks no confidence; her delivery is very fair, with a pleasing intonation ; and has only to study well to play well. Mrs. Fred Clements sustained the character of “Susan Spanker” in the Farce with great vivacity, and clear perception of cause and effect. Such as the part is Mrs. Clements made the most of it, although we think —as we hope to see — that she is fitted for a higher delineation. As “ Susan Spanker” no opportunity was afforded her to display the talent which, if we mistake not, lies dormant, wailing only more scope and encouragement to bring it forth. Modest confidence, without bold assurance, are sure passports to success, especially when allied with a natural aptitude to make the best of circumstances ; and as the happy triune are amongst this lady’s characteristics, we hope to have the continued pleasure of witnessing her performances. Mr. Galbraith, appeared as “ Henry” in the “ Two Galley Slaves,” and for the first time in his own element—as a man without petticoats; he played well, with a thorough appreciation of the parts he has to sustain as the suitor and husband of “Louise,” and with a consciousness of having to account for past condemnation as a Galley Slave, and to prove his innocence at the same time.

The villain of the piece was taken by Mr. Fred Clements, who as “ The Unknown ” sustained the character with great vigor. He, it was, who, as a Galley Slave, continually dogged “Henry’s” footsteps, threatening him with exposure, if his extortionate demands were not satisfied, as his price for silence ; the part was' effectively played in those scenes betweeri* “Henry” and himself, where melo-dramatic situations require the business to be pointed and exact, and these lost nothing in Mr. Clements’ hands.

The other characters were all played with the excellence due to each. Mr. Armstrong looked and spoke all the soldier, as “Majorde Lisle.” “ Bonhoinnie,” brother to “ Louise,” indignant at the supposed imposition of “ Henry,” was taken by Mr. Whitehead, who, certainly, has not fallen off since helastplayed. “Lalloute,” “Basil,”&“ Claude,” the remaining characters, were played by Messrs Brunt, Dudley, and Walsh, with their usual care, the last named making his first appearance. An interlude followed the Drama, in which Mr. Fred Clements sang “ Goodbye Sweetheart ” with his accustomed correctness and taste. An encore bringing M rs. Clements to the footlights with him in a comic duet, which had to be repeated.

A “ Blighted Being,” a very amusing Farce, finished the programme. The brunt of this piece fell to the lot of Mr. C. A. Bettington, who, as “Job Wort” acted tothelifethe representation of one of those misanthropes that, in some degree

or other, are a nuisance to others, and a misery to themselves. Mr. Bettington certainly looked a “ blighted being” in every sense of the word; as one whose liver and heart being more disordered than his head, brought himself to that state in which love and romantic sentimentalism are so mixed up with bile and disappointment, that he had no happiness on earth, and less hope of Heaven. His prospects in life were “ blighted,” because he could not have his own way, and, as is generally the way with bilious persons, he looked on his best friends, as his worst enemies. “ Job Wort’s ” was a long, tedious part, some three quarters of an hour being employed in the one scene in which he appeared, and Mr Bettington got through it well, without a hitch, and with but little prompting. Mr. Whitehead made a capital rollicking seafaring doctor, who eventually prescribed a draught for “ Job Wort,” which saved the life, the latter wished to destroy by a dose of poison. Mr. Galbraith’s O’Rafferty was immense, both as regards brogue and get up, and Mr. Brunt was quite at home as Cumming, attendant to Susan Spanker. The customary dance, which lasted until 3 o’clock, wound up a very pleasant night’s enjoyment. Mr. Sherriffi presided at the piano.