THEATRE ROYAL.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 409, 21 November 1868, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE. Theatrical performances are of so rare occurrence now in Westport, that, for the sake of encouraging the cultivaof such talent as there may be amongst us, we notice the performances of Monday night at greater length than usual. The gratuitous offer of the amateurs to give their services for such a charitable object as the benefit of the widow and children of the late Major Von Tempsky was highly commendable, and the public showed their appreciation of the offer and the services by attending in sufficient num bers to satisfactorily fill the house. The first piece selected for the evening's entertainment was Douglas Jerrold's domestic drama entitled " The Rent Day " —by no means a bad selection for amateurs; aud the cast

for the various characters was fairly arranged. The "character of Martin Heyvvood was sustained by Mr King, the only one who had professional experience, and his acting was characterised by a correctness and confidence creditable to himself, and of occasional assistance to the others. Old Crumbs, Silver Jack, and Toby Heywood, sustained respectively by Mr Atkinson, Mr Berry, and Mr Bishop were the other more important parts, and in each the performer- exhibited a thorough knowledge of the text of his part, and good ability, as well as any amount of willingness, to give to the text its proper effect. Mr Atkinson is in his acting much beyond the ordinary amateur player, and Mr Berry, of whom we have had to make similar complimentary remarks on former occasions, with Mr Bishop, exhibited an experience and an adaptation for the art rarely to be found in small communities. A little stiffness in gestures and attitude, on the part of the latter, is a fault which time and practice will remedy. Grantley was well represented by Mr Martin, and Hyssop by Mr Pickering. Both were carefully " made up," and they never faltered in their delivery. Mr AVhite as Beanstalk was so attired as to be indistinguishable for some time; MrPiesse's Bullfrog was correctly and comically sustained ; and Mr J. H. Curie was ever busy and bustling as Stephen. Tne part of Rachael Heywood, to be performed perfectly, requires more than a week's study, as we understand was only given to it by Miss Johnston. Taking into consideration the shortness of the time allowed for study, the part was creditably upheld, and Miss Bruce was perfect in the exercise of her memory, and quite at home in the delivery of the part of Polly Briggs. The interlude consisted of songs by Mr West and a number of gentlemen amateurs ; and the evening's entertainment concluded with the farce of " The Steeple-Chase" in which Mr Piesse, as Tittums, made a capital "hit." The other parts were taken by Miss E. Harvey, Miss Bruce, and Messrs Puvneli, Berry, Martin and Curie. The whole farce is a conglomeration of incidents of confusion and mistaken identity, and the audience were kept in laughter throughout. We understand a very respectable balance in aid of the charitable object for which the entertainment was given has been shown, and will be forwarded by the treasurer of the Club to the proper recipients.