PRINCESS THEATRE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 21 October 1882, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

For the benefit of the library fund, performances have been given in the Princess Theatre on Thursday and Priday evenings last, in which a judicious admixture of professionals and amateurs has contributed to render the programme most success Eul. On Thursday night the comedy of "Milky White" was produced, and the acting of Mr Beckett in the title role cannot easily be surpassed. To say that Mr Beckett vies with professionals in the character of the old milkman is to do such an accomplished amateur a thorough injustice. He was well supported by Miss de Glorian as his daughter, and by Mr Eede as the young cattle doctor, but in other respects the comedy called for no comment. "We cannot, however, refrain from saying that Mr Beckett's finished dramatic permormance is one that Wanganui would be glad to witness again at an early date. Thursday evening's performance concluded with the good old-fashioned burlesque of " Black eyed Susan," with local effects and allusions which can simply be described as startling: The worthy visitors from the country who patronised the theatre must have been somewhat bewildered at allusions to Wanganui, the Cinque port of Deal, and the beauties of Turakina being mixed up in a strange and ludicrous fashion. The dialogue of the original burlesque is not excessively witty, the most pointed allusions referring to matters and. places to which nine-tenths of Wanganui people are happily strangers, but the elej)hantine jokps engrafted upon the piece by some of the performers were quite too terrible to comtemplate. The library fund is a very excellent matter upon which to expend the surplus energy of amateurs, but that can be no earthly excuse for mangling an established dramatic work, aud introducting dramatis personae and locutory allusions as ridiculous as they were uncalled for. The amateur actors in the burlesque were the greatest offenders in this respect, but one profes- J sional, at least, cannot be held guiH. *, [ess. The cast of " Black-eyed Susan " o. must undoubtedly be deemed unuasually ti strong. Mr Gibbs was a capital Captain Orosstree, forcible and humourous, and c ' lie rendered his songs and dances just « sis the exigencies of the piece require^ p

them. A better representation of the part it would be difficult to find in this district. Mr Bede played Dame Hately very funnily, but more energy in his efforts would render the character (in which so many well-known actors have distinguished themselves) far more effective. Mr Harry Power was amusing as William, but the character should be i- 1 yed by a lady, for a comic sailor, . . ii a hideous mask, pleases us not. It .uld be remembered that " Blackeyed Susan" is not a matter-of-fact drama but a burlesque. Mr Astbury as Droggrass was remarkably good, and shinrs us one the best Wanganui amateurs, both in a vocal and dramatic sense. Miss De Glorian, as Susan, was of course pretty and piquant. The minor characters were creditably filled, and the court-martial scene, in which officera oi oar local Naval Brigade impersonated admirals of various colours, headed bj Mr Mountford, who played uncomtoonlj well as Admiral of the Red, was a clever exhibition. Last night the burlesque was repeated, preceded by tht good old farce "Boots at the Swan.' In this the honours were fairly divided be^ tween Miss Lizzie Lawrence, as Miss Cecilia Moonshine, Mr Hutchison as Mr Frisky, and Mr Power as Jacol Earwig. Wo are glad to say that th< theatre was crowded on both nights and we can only express a hope tha this eveniug, when a grand miscellaneoui entertainment is to be produced for th< same object, the attendance will be jus las numerous, It should be added tha during the entertainments of the pas two nights the singing and dancing o both the professional and amateur artist were of a high order of merit, and tha the tableau, representing Britannit triumphing over Arabi Pasha, witt which each performance concluded, wa cleverly arranged and really effective.