DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 407, 6 September 1876, Page 2

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.

The first performance under the new regime took place at the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening last, before a crowded house. The pieces selected were, a sensational melo-drama, entitled, “ Harold Hawk,” and the well known farce called “ A Kiss in the Dark,” with an interlude of singing. The cast in the drama was, with one or two exceptions, well chosen, but we have seen most of the performers more “at home,” so to speak, in their parts. The “ business ” lagged in some of the scenes, whieh created a painful suspense and disappointment in the minds of the audience. It must, however, be remembered that there is a good deal of “ raw material” to deal with, and the confidence begat at Rehearsals vanishes with the rise of the cur.ain on the play night; but and study will soon overcome the difficulties which the new members of the local club experience in cmimon with all amateurs at the start. Mr Berry sustained the character of “ Harold,” and, considering he was acting under the disadvantage of an accident sustained in the rehearsal, he acquitted himself tolerably well. Mr R. Nash as “ Joe Lobkins,” divided the honors of the evening with Miss Braithwaite as “ Jessie Grey.” We say “ honors,” for they were honors in their way. They both spoke distinctly, (and would have been heard throughout, were it not for the nut-crack-ing and lollie throwing in front, and the general uproar behind) and they were “ letter perfect ” almost to a fault, two pre-requisites to success. Mr Nash had also a very good idea of the character he portrayed, and acted naturally, but the lady on the contrary, had not studied sufficiently to act the part of a heroine continually beset with ruffians, and the loathsome advances of an abandoned lover. But we look forward to some good acting yet in the person of Miss Braithwaite, if she does but throw her soul, as it were, into her part, and endeavor to identify herself with the realities of her situation. Mr Butt looked the character of “ Leonard Lincoln,” and said his small, but not unimportant part, with his usual clear intonation. “ Becky Dimple ” was, to use a turf expression, “no where.” Her voice is naturally weak, but if she were to discontinue the habit of looking over her shoulder, as if she was speaking to some one at the wings, and a moderate degree of silence kept iu the hall, she would do better. Mr Piesse was, of course, the life and soul of the after piece. We have seen many professional “ MrPettibones,” with whom this gentleman bears favorable comparison ; we fancied, however, that his vivacity on one or two Occasions was a “ leetle ” overdone ; but this may be attributable to a desire on his part, to instil some “ Kentish fire,” into the acting of both “Mrs Pettibone” (Miss Braithwaite) and his friend “Frank Fathom” (Mr Large) of whom he was suspicious that they were after a “ kiss in the dark,” but as far as the gentleman was concerned, in such a limp, anti-Lea-and-Perrins’-Sauee style as to even rouse the ire of the husband. Messrs J. Brodie, Captain Porter, and J. Nash sang songs in the interlude which were well received, Mr Brodie’s character songs “The Unfortunate Man,” and “ They all have a down upon me," particularly. We learn that the club are in active rehearsal, and will soon come to the footlights again ; but we advise them to delay until the management is satisfied of its readiness to do so.