Volunteer Entertainment, J Battery.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 948, 1 June 1881, Page 2

Volunteer Entertainment, J Battery.

Without in any way prejudicing those of our theatrical amateurs who have hitherto been on the Gisborne boards, for the amusement of the publ ; <\ there has not been any company concrete a form, and of such all-round excellence as that which was greeted by an overflowing and highly delighted audience in McFarlane’s Hall on Monday evening last. The entertaiiHSfnt was in aid of the Battery J funds, and the result fully shows the popularity of the Corps. The first part of the programme consisted of instrumental and vocal selections, all of which were very creditably rendered Madame Stewart maintained her reputation as a singer, first, in her pleasing rendition of “ Robin Adair,” and, in response to an encore, gave “ Bon Jour,” with a sparkling vivacity most worthily received. Mr Ratcliffe sang a couple of motto songs, which, being their “ first appearance ” here, created a favorable impression. Mr. M. Smith also sang a song of the same character, but anything that this gentleman does not make entirely his own by the importation of a special individuality is not in his “ line.” We have yet to see Mr Smith in his real funnyisms. Captain Chrisp sang a new song, “ The Bugler,” with pianoforte and bugle accompaniment, and with such satisfaction to his hearers that he hajk to repeat the last verse. Chopin’s “ Funeral March,” by Mr. W. Clarke, was the treat of the evening, or, rather, it would have been if the instrument had been equal to the demand made on it, and with less of the buzzing of suppressed conversation that went on the while. The beautifully soft, though melancholy undulations of which this march is composed, and played in slow time, called for an unusual quietness during its execution, the reverse being the case, a number of the piano passages were either lost altogether or shorn of their beauty and mournful expressiveness. It is not often that an instrumentalist of Mr. Clarke’s attainments to such annoyances, andJßthe public taste for high class —if n|weverely classical —music is to be encouraged, the sensitiveness of those who supply the gratification should be more considered. An overture by the Band ; a reading by Mr. Piesse ; an Instrumental Duett, by Messrs Faram and Brown, a song by Mr Clarke, and a comic duet by Madame Stewart and Mr Sceats, formed the remainder of the first part, and were all well received. The farce, “ My Turn Next,” brought several new faces to-’ the footlights. Mr Fred Thompson sustained the leading character of “ Taraxicum Twitters ” with such ready acquaintance with stage business, and so near akin to professional * ability as to stamp him an actor of

light comedy far above the ordinary range of amateurs. Some of the “ situations ” and utterances of Mr Thompson were so comically and truthfully pourtrayed, as to call for pronounced and repeated encomiums ; and we hope to see him again before the public, in something more weighty, and still suited to the ability he, undoubtedly, possesses. Mr Piesse took up his old character of “ Tim Bolus,” and we need not say that where anything funny is to be done, he does it so well, as to leave no room for discontent. “ Peggy,” an ancillary domestic in Mr Twitters’ employ, was played to the life by Mr Montague Smith. His “ get up ” was unexceptionable, and the “ servant gal ” impudence, blended with a certain amount of ill-concealed jealousy at the advent of Mrs Twitters, was a marked feature in the realisms of this character. “ Peggy ” had not much to do, but she succeeded, _i with “ Tim Bolus,” in keeping the audience in roars of laughter. The remaining characters do not call for any exceptional remark. Madame Stewart represented “ Mrs Twitters Mrs Frank Thompson “Cicely;” Mr C. Ward “Farmer Wheatear,” and Mr Cresswell “ Tom Trap.” They were all exceedingly well up in their parts —that nuisance, par excellence, the prompter’s voice, being but little required. Great credit is due to all concerned, and especially to Mr Frank Thompson, who has taken great pains in making the performance a success. At the conclusion of the farce, a hearty round of applause was accorded, and was continued until after the raising of the curtain, when the whole company appeared to receive their well-earned reward.