WAITAHUNA DBAMATIC CLUB.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 213, 29 February 1872, Page 6

WAITAHUNA DBAMATIC CLUB.

On Friday evening last, the Waitahuna Dramatic Club gave a performance in the Assembly Room, Waitahuua, on behalf of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital. The attendance was muchlaiger than might have been expected from the. very threatening appearance of the evening. There would be about 140 or 150 presenfc Waitahuna appears to be the only place in the district where a Dramatic Club can keep together. The Tuapeka j Club iB to all intents and purposes extinct— and the Waipori Thalians are seldom iie'ard of ; but the Waitahuna Club still keeps alive through all the vicissitudes of - * -floating goldfields population. The ladies and gentlemen who for some time past have infused life and energy, into the Club, are Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Bayliss, and Messrs. Bayliss, Pennell, and Nation, and Mr. Hurst, who makes an excellent stage manager. Waitahuna is fqrtunate in "having * several good singers, both sentimental and comic — amongst the latter especially I might inei^tiqn the names of Messrs. Devonshire, E. Cook; arict J. Robinson, who, as a trio, might star the province with success. ' The pieces performed on Friday evening were entitled " Betsy Baker,"and " Domestic Economy." The. former piece was new to the Club, and fl-as well put on the stage. It- went

off very smoothly, there being no hitch whatever. At the close of this piece, Mrs. Toner performed one of Her favourite dances, and received an encore. Mr. 1?. Devonshire and Mr. E. Cook then sang and danced in negro, character, "We're going to Canaan/ amidst great applause. The musical accompaniment to this song was given by Mr. Pennei, jun., on the violin. Mr. J. Hobinson followed by singing in character, and with splendid effect, "Bing the bell for Sarah, Sarah, Sarah." He received an encore, and sang " The late lamented Mr. Jones," which was equally well appreciated. The duett " Hearts and Homes" was then sweetly rendered by Mrs. Baylies and Mr. Pennell. Two songs followed by a gentleman whose name we did not ascertain. They were " The skipper and his Lv," and "The four leaved ShamiTpfak," an( * were sun g w ith very great fg'ste. Messrs. Devonshire and Cook aeaffi appeared and sang in .character, as Teddy atfd Muggins, "The Nervous Cure " < AJu er an interval of ten minutes, Mart demon's farce, "Domestic Bcon/W, was performed. The cast of ctowjtfrs ™ the same: is when formerly a<^ d by the club, excepting in- some of tV characters. Mrs. Cook sad X*> Pennell appeared as Mr. and jftr*. Crumley, rhe piece went off weil atfoi'dmg a fund of amusement to youji^ old - At the close of this piece, a geritle.ihjm 3ang ''Up in a balloon,'' and Mft Devonshire sang "John Bull/ J*e ludience joining in the chorus. IvJ£ Bayliss presided at the harmonium, | md Mr. Eaton was violinist on the

occasion. At the close of. the entertain men t, Mr. Ferguson, on behalf of the Taapeka Hospital Committee, thanked the audience for thejr presence, and the ladies and gentlemen who had taken part in the evening's performances, for their services in such a noble cause. He felt confident that so long as men and women were to be found in the various districts ready to devote their time and talents in the manner they had done, the Tuapeka Hospital would not go to the wall for lack of funds. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up for a considerable time.