HUNT CLUB ENTERTAINMMENT AT CAMBRIDG.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 491, 23 September 1899, Page 2

HUNT CLUB ENTERTAINMMENT AT CAMBRIDG.

The finances of tho Waikato Hunt Club not being in as satisfactory a position aa could be wished, certain members of it resolved to get up a coucert and dramatic entertainment in aid of the funds of the Club. Tho Secretary (Mr N. Banks) and Mr Couper were the prime movers, and they, after considerable trouble succeeded in getting a dramatic company that is certainly one of the best we have seen in the Waikato. On Tuesday and Wednesday last this Company gave the comedietta " Hunt for the Husband " in the Oddfellows Hall at Cambridge, the building on each occasion being crowded. The cast was as follows : Mr Poppleton (a retired Bast Indian), Mr S. E. Greville Smith ; Arthur Stanley (a lover in waiting), Mr J. R. S. Richardson ; Jack Sharp (a man of adventure), Mr 0. C, Buckland ; Chicory, (with saltatory pro clivities), Mr Sefton Banks ; Mrs Courthope (an unconfirmed widow), Miss Blanch Banks ; Sophy Lloyd (her muchworried niece), Mrs Murdoch ; Miss Poppleton (a love sick maiden), Miss E. Cave ; Mary Ann (with a mystery and a song), Mrs Boston-Couper. We need hardly say the star of the performers was Mrs Boston-Couper who interpreted the part of Mary Ann, the sprightly servant, to perfection. She looked charming and her acting was all that could be desired. She introduced a little song " Wheu Love is Kind " that took immensely. Miss C. Cave as the love sick old maiden was also perfection. Her dress, voice and actions were all to the character, and the passages between her and her brother were excruciatingly funny. Miss Banks made a charming widow and her acting was good ; Mrs Murdock also well portrayed the much-worried Sophy Lloyd. Of the male characters Mr Smith, as Mr Poppleton, was undoubtedly the best. The part was a heavy one and taken up at short notice, so the more credit is due to him for the excellent rendering ho gave of the part. Mr Buckland's Jack Sharp was also a good interpretation of the adventurer who was running the patent pavement. The scenes between him and his wife (Mary Ann) caused screams of laughter, and in the oloaing scone when no less than three females claim him as theirs, he looked, as ho certainly should do, completely mystified. Mr Sefton Banks as Chicory the grocer's son, acted well, and Mr Richardson's Arthur Stanley was also good. In fact we may say the whole of the performers did well, but the palm goes to the first three mentioned, in the order named. Other portions of the entertainments that were eminently successful were the tableaux vivants. These were arranged by Mrs W. Thomson, and they reflect the greatest credit upou her. The " Group of Nations " was perhaps the prettiest,* but " Pygmalion and Galatea " was, to our thinkiug, the gem of them all. In this Miis Banks and Mr Couper took part. The " New Woman v " was Master Banks, got up in rational costume, just ready to go for a ride on a " Bike." He looked charming and some of the boys were quite mashed on the pretty girl (as they thought him). This young man must be versatile, for in the next tableax, " Tho Flower of the Family," he was aa ugly as he was pretty in the " New Woman." The thanks of the Club are due to Mrs Thornton and Mr and Mrs Couper for the great interest they displayed in getting up the entertainments. The concert part of the programme waa perhaps appreciated by the public even more than the other parts, but where all were so good it is perhaps invidious to specially mention any one part. This, however, is we think due to the concert portion, because it contained numerous items that were giveu by Mr and Mrs Couper. Indeed, without them, it would have been a failure. The Orohestra played several selections in a very creditable manner, and the ladies comprising it are deserving of thanks for attending and doing their quota so well. Each evening there was a hunting song and chorus, Mr Hine being the soloist. Round the singer were grouped ladies and gentlemen of the hunt with several hounds, which made a pretty picture. Mr C. C. Buckland recited " Mickey Fiinn's Shebeen," aud in reponse to an encore gave Gordon's "Flood and Field.'" Master Joe Banks also gave a recitation " The Amateur Rider," for which he was much applauded. Mr Hartly sang "Sons of the Sea" and " Homo Boys, Home," in which he received considerable assistance from the audience. Mrs Couper sang "Tatters" and "A May Morning" in a manner that at once stamped her as a first-class artiste. She has a beautifully sweet voice of great range, and what is more to the point, knows how to use it. We need hardly say she was most vociferously encored, and kindly responded. The gem of the concert was the duet "O My Daughter," from tho Gaiety Girl, in which both Mr and Mrs Couper appeared. Tho singing was good aud the acting and dancing were perfection. We believe the Cambridge public would like to have had Dr. Brierley's advice to his daughter continued throughout the evening, for they never seemed to tire of listening to it and witnessing the dancing. We heard several say that item alone was well worth the admission money, and we quite agree with the remark. Another item that caused no end of laughter was Mr Couper's " Jimmy on the Chute," in which ho was assisted by his wife and the Misses Cave. Of course it had to be repeated. The little danco at the conclusion of each verse put a finish upon it that just suited the Cambridge people.