ROXBURGH.
{From a Correspondent.) January 3rd, 1874. One of the most enjoyable entertainments that has been give for some time took place at Roxburgh on New Year's night, in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital, which I think will realise £16 ; in fact, the financial success would have been much greater, but, owing to the high state of the river, many could not get across through the punt being unworkable. Too much cannot be said in praise of the ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave tlieir services in. carrying out tlie affair. It would be unfair to name any one in preference to another, seeing that all did their best to make it a thorough success. The performance commenced with Mr. J. J. Smith reading the following prologue, written for the occasion :—: — j A Prologue's been the fashion, time out o' mind, To introduce diversion of the kind, Which we'll this night, with your good fa vorshew, And hope, when finished, you'll not say '* 'tis slow." The object good of our divertisement. Is one not needing single word of comment. The large and brilliant audience here to-night Sanctions the ohject, and approves it right. T" assuage the pangs of sickness, care, and pain. Is motive noble. Surely, ne'er in vain To the Roxburgh public is made such appeal, 'Tis always answered with the best good will — Hospitality's the virtue of the season. Then, give to the Hospital. What better reason,? (If reasoning at all to prove were wanted, Seeing thait you're here, the argument is granted.) Touching our pi ogramme, now we'll say a word. In parts it's very touching— perhaps, absurd ; Of this, you'll be the judges lenient, And tell us all about it when convenient. First, music sweet from tiny little throats Will greet your ear. For change, tbe res'nanfc notes Of the deep bass in jovial hunting song ; Varied by treble shrill and tenor strong. (The tuneful pipe of reed will direct these. This, we but say, by way of parenthese.) Not least, the ladies, (bless their little hearts J ) Who'll sing to-night in most appropriate parts. What 'tis those are, we will tiot now reveal, We want to make you curious, so conceal. Next on the board appears King Artuxominous, j Who's not a bad chap, tho 1 his frown looks
ovuinous. A state\y monarch he— yet, sometimes frisky, And not a.V>ve a piye and glass of good Scotch whisky. Boom for the General Bombastes Furioso ! (He will by some bethought a curioso.) Like Nubian lion, be tan loudly roar, Yet strange his Majesty deems him a hove, Mighty in battle, terrible l n hate. In love, aswell as war, the General's great. ("Bout him, aside, a secret we'll impart. He's gotthelions skin, but not Vis heart.) The Premier Fusbos now an attflio-^ce craves, .And tends one's Majesty as Chief oS Slaves. "¥<st he (the King) can twist and tnrL about, Nor needs, as bnndle. use the royal sno^t. Words fail us to describe the chymiing Griskinissa, \ And doubtless, in her absence, you will gre»tly . miss her, :': ' ' , . \ Though often she's referred to as a virtuovh queen. To-night ahe'U be invisible, because she wont be seen, s ■ ■ , ■ Emblem of 'constancy, rosy Disfcaffino ! (So very constant when there is but rhino ) Will, chaiin you with her aitless winning 1 manners, Combined with truly -camiplove of tanners. Of the brave army, their bray.c deeds them . prove, Fearless in battle anc\ adepts i n love. Let it suffice they've «aught their Generals spirit, . • ■ . . And of good Hollands, irk they know the merit. Bat we detain, jou. Now,, tfce sa^'u proceed.
Oar earnest wish w that it may succeed ; And talking of wishes, while you're here, We wish you all a happy New Tear ! The prologue was received with bursts of applause. Then followed the opening chorus, " Hail Smiling Morn," by members of the Harmonic Society. Mr. Smith then gave the "Sorrows of Married Life," which was well received. A trio by Messrs. Howard, M'Kenzie, and Reid, titlod " A little farm well tilled," created much amusement. Miss Brosnan sang very nicely the " Liquid Gem." Mr. Reid then followed with his favorite character song, "Good-bye, John," which brought repeated applause. Tho 'first part was then brought to a close by Messrs. Pennell, Pitches, and Smith in that sidesplitting trio of the " Nervous Cures." The second part opened with a glee, "Lutzan's Wild Chase," which was well rendered by the members of tho Harmonic Society. Mr. Smith then followed, with- a comic song in character, which was loudly encored. Mrs. F. Woodhouse sang that beautiful melody " Good-bye, ' Sweetheart " with very good effect. The Misses M'Douall then gave that old favorite duet " What are the Wild Waves Saying," which brought the second part to a close. The feature 1 of the evening, however, was the representation of the ever popular burlesque "Bombastis Furioso," and it is no exaggeration to say that for real painstaking get-up, combined with due attention to the usual stage accessories, tho rendering of Bombastis was far above the average style of amateurs, and would have done credit to professionals. The gentleman who represented King Artexoinmouß (Mr. Smith) must have studied his part with great care, and thoroughly comprehended and entered into the spirit of the piece, as no single point was missed or overlooked, and the kingly ultramagnificence of manner was acted to the life in such a fashion as to insure the hearty and frequently repeated applause of the audience ; and with equal fidelity were given tho widely different parts of Bombastis (Mr. Cormack) and the ' Premier Fusbos (Mr. Coop) — the former strutting in all the fullblown pride and bombast of a newly-returned, victorious general, whose boots wero not big enough to contain him ; the latter solemn, sententioiis, and business-like, looking wiser than any man could possibly be— were irresistibly comic. The rosy cheeked Distafßna (Mr. H. Wright) was alternately a blushing, coy, and love-distracted maiden and a selfcontained young lady, who very well knew how to take care of herself in this censorious and ■wicked world. Her get-up was in the extreme of fashion, and reflected credit on her good taste. The various little arts and manoDiivers by which ladies regulate their dress in moving from place to place, as well as the skilful use of the fan, were imitated so successfully as to almost to make the ladies present envious. As shown, the above part was taken by a young gentleman whose first appearance it was on any stage, and the hearty laughter elicited by his assumption of the airs and graces of manner, with the character of the fair Distafßna, may cerl ainlj- W taken \jj liim as a proot of his success. The brave army, bearing about equal traces of the trade of war, in the shape of wounded limbs and devotion to the flowing bowl, as evidenced by their noses (true indexes of character), aswell as sundry black eyes, were a truly Falstaffian and motley crow, and their appearance on the stage, preceded by a band of music, consisting of one fifer and one drummer, was the sign for uproarious applause. Perhaps the most genuine tribute to the players was that bestowed by the numerous youngsters present, who viewed with undisguised alarm and solicitude the terrific combat between Bombastis and the King ; and it was with equally apparent delight they witnessed the merry ending to " Bombastis Furioso." Our notes would be incomplete were mention not made of the beautiful stage decorations and scenery painted for the occasion by Mr. Hughes, who must have gone to considerable trouble and expense to provide the very effective ornamentations wliich greeted the eyes of all present on the rising of the curtain. It is not much to say the success of the entertainment was materially aided by Mr. Hughes. The -whole play -went off -without a hitch of any kind, and, at the solicitation of a number who were unable to be present, it is again to be given on Saturday night, with new songs and glees by lady and gentlemen amateurs. The music was ably conducted by Mr. Burton on the pianoforte, and Signior Martinelli on the violin.
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Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 319, 7 January 1874, Page 3
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1,363ROXBURGH. Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 319, 7 January 1874, Page 3
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