WILLMOTT’S COMBINATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 174, 4 July 1884, Page 2

WILLMOTT’S COMBINATION.

A very enjoyable evening was spent last night by the many who witnessed the per. fonnance of the Willmott Company. The first part of the programme was a comedy entitled “ The Serious Family,” and was more amusing than the one of the proceeding evening. The whole affair is very simple. In the first act the serious familv are presented and consist of Aminadab Sleek’ a puritan ranter. Mrs. C. Torrens, and her mother, Lady Sowerby Creamly. There is another member of the family, in the shape of Mr. C. Torrens, Lady Sowerby’e son-in-law. He is only very pious and good when the family are about, but when on his own hook, on shooting excursions, he is very wicked. When this happy family are assembled, offering up devotions &c., there arrives an old chum of Mr. C. Torrens, Captain Murphy McGuire, who is anything but a devoted man, being wild and reckless. This causes trouble at home, and after a long conference it is decided to send Mr. C. Torrens on a week’s shooting excursion, and go get rid of the gallant captain, there being no one left to entertain him. This plan succeeds admirably, and Charles Torrens and the Captain take their departure, the former is supposed to go shooting, and the latter where he likes. This terminates the first act. The second act discloses w*iat Mr. Charlie’s game is and accounts for his great liking to go on shooting excursions. He is now found at Mrs.

Ormsby Delmain’s, a handsome and very dashing widow, making pretty speeches to her, and enjoying himself all round. Whilst he is there and congratulating himself on being allowed so long a time to go shooting, there appears on the scene, Captain McGuire—that is bad enough, but when Aminadab Sleek, his mother-in-law, and wife put in an appearance, it is too much, and when asked by his wife to account for his presence there, he makes the excuse that he only called for a certain sum of money in aid of a charitable institution. But the excuse is too weak, and he is clean bowled out, much to the merriment of all parties, except those of the same disposition as Mr. Sleek, which gentleman takes his departure with Lady Lowerly, and Mrs. Torrens remains to watch her husband. The third act concludes the whole affair pleasantly for all concerned, except Mr. Sleek and Lady Sowerby. Captain McGuire and Mrs. Delmain have determined to alter the state of things, and with a great amount of worrying manage to successfully convert Mis. Torrens, so much so that she consents to be present at a ball which these two flighty individuals had previously arranged to take place at the house. This considerably surprises Mr Charlie Torrens and she asking his forgiveness for her previous folly, makes it up again. Thus matters go on, much amusement being caused by the way in which Mr Aminadab Sleek and Lady Sowerby protest against such proceedings, and show their chagrin. Mr. Sleek appears

on the scene when the dancing is about to commence, and abuses them severally, in response to which each, when his back is turned, quietly tips his squashy hat over his eyes. When the last one has had his turn at tipping the hat, the reverend gentleman rushes off the stage in a rage, with a great big D on his lips, which grcatlv amusi s the audience. The dancing then begins, in the middle of which the reverend Sleek and Lady Sowerby come in and remonstrate, on which the worthy widow, Mrs Delmain, seizes poor Sleek and jolts him round and round the room, while Captain M’Guire does the same with Lady Sowerby Creamly. Suddenly the widow gracefully places her partner on his back on the floor, and Captain M'Guire Hops his partner on the top of the crushed Puritan ranter, and thus terminates the affair, and the curtain drops on the scene amidst the uncontrolled laughter of the spectators. This was followed by the sparkling little farce entitled. Founded on Facts.” This might be called a button-bursting farce, if no buttons were '

burst, we think if the farce had have been a litttle longer Much would have been the case. Mr. Rede would be the person who should be held guilty, if such an accident did happen to any memb?r of the audience, for he, m the character he assumed, ns anything but a ‘ matter of fact ” young man, provoked loud billarity and merriment. He apjeared in his impersonation as one of those eccentric gen* tieman who refuse to believe anything ds A fact, unless it was undeniably bo. For instance, when asked if he was married he replied he believed he was, (hough he would not admit as a fact that such was the case, because things might happen and turn him out to be an unmarried man. When he proposed to his wife, he said he believed he loved her, though as a fact he could not admit that such was the case. The part suited him admirably and it lost nothing in his care. In the first piece, Mr. IT. Teece was perfect in his character as Captain Murphy McGuire, and

well assumed the brogue of a light hearted Irishman. Miss L. Crawford, as usual, was excellent as the young, dashing and handsome widow Delmain. Mr. Montague Smith, a local amateur performer, is deserving of great praise, and he managed his character as Lady Sowerby Creamly very[creditabiy. We think that gentleman is not intended for such a part as the one he so well assumed last night. He would shine to far more ad* vantage in a character where he can indulge in something more funny and amusing. But for all that he contributed favorably in the high born santimonious lady last night. Mr. Alexander was also complete master of the part allotted him as Mr. Torrens, as was Mrs Torrens, by Miss Lizzie Lawrence, and Emma Torrens by Lena Wyatt. During the interval between the acts Miss Amy Johns appeared and gave two songs, which she sung in an excellent and masterly style and with great taste. Mr. J. R. Scott sang Robinson Cruse,” and was loudly applauded, an encore was called for, but he did not respond. Mr. H. Teece delivered a very pathetic recitation which completely won over the audience, and lie was heartily encored, responding to which he gave another recitation, vastly different to the former one. It was very well rendered and caused immense laughter and consisted of a “catalogue of ills,” medicine and every* thing else being mixed up in it.