MASCOIIE AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 191, 30 March 1893, Page 3

MASCOIIE AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB.

The Mascotte Amateur Dramatic Club gave their first entertainment in the Kopuru Hall, Friday, March 24th. The Hall was crowded notwithstanding counter attractions up the river. The Club has only been some three weeks in existence, and to say that the audience were astonished and delighted at the progress made and the nature of the entertainment is but to utter a plain matter of fact. The entertainment opened with the first scene from the comic opera of ‘‘ La Mascotte.” In the matter of dresses, nothing like it has ever been seen before at Te Kopuru, or probably on the river, at any rate amongst adult performers. The same may be said of the stage fittings. With so short a preparation it seems hardly fair to criticise, but the musical part of the performance was not equal to the rest, though Miss Hossack and Mr Perkins were loudly encored for their duett “ Ba, Ba,” and the former received several bouquets. Considering the time the piece went wonderfully smooth, and all seemed to have learnt their parts well. Miss Hossack, as the “Mascotte,” was thoroughly at home and looked very pretty, whilst Miss Rhodes made a charming princess. Am on get the males Mr Perkins, as the shepherd boy Pippo, was ®ne of the best, and was frequently applauded. Mr Forsdick, as Frittellini, was not so much at home as in the farce. Mr H. Leabourne as Rocco, looked desperately miserable, and was quite in keeping with his appearance when he toll Bettina that she could have “a piece of half a sardine ” for dinner. Mr F. Molloy, as King Laurent, created great apjuijement by the quaint superstition of

j ordering everyone to turn round three times Ito prevent ill-luck. The minor characters I were as carefully dressed and trained as the principals, and some of the choruses were given with good effect. The opening scene was quite a brilliant picture. The piece was decidedly an ambitious one to attempt for a first performance, but the Club deserve great credit for lifting us out of the region of everlasting burlesque and farce and nigger minstrelsy. Miss Rhodes and Dr. Welhain (piano and violin) furnished the orchestral part of the performance. The second part of the entertainment consisted of three tableaux of scenes from the life of “Joan of Arc” This, in my judgment, could hardly have been improved upon, but I will just give you the opinion of a lady from Auckland (competent to judge) who told me that she had seen nothing better of the kind in Auckland. The time spent on the dressing and mounting must have been wonderful, but the beautiful effect well repaid for all. Each scene had to be repeated. The statuary was very good, and was not appreciated by the audience as it deserved. We have run too much after farce and we cannot at once appreciate novelties. The inevitable farce closed this entertainment also, viz. “ Dreadfully Alarming.” Our old friend Mr Forsdick was as humorous as ever. Mr J. Mcllroy as Bloggins made roars of laughter in his efforts to get over the bottles without damage to his extremities. Miss Hougham as Sarabella, and Miss Phillips as Amanda were very good. The credit, I believe, of designing the dressings and mountings is due to Mr B. Perkins, who has thrown his whole heart into the business. The making of the dresses (by no means a light job) to the Misses Rhodes and Phillips. But it is evident that all have worked with a will. The audience cheered the announcement that the performance would be repeated on behalf of the Wairoa Rugby Union, and again on behalf of the Kopuru wharf.