THE COMUS DRAMATIC CLUB'S PERFORMANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1308, 16 November 1880, Page 2

THE COMUS DRAMATIC CLUB'S PERFORMANCE.

The fourth performance of the season, given by the members of the Comua Dramatic Club, was held at tbo Oddfellow*' Hill, Hamilton East, on Saturday evening, mil was quit'? equal to, if it did not surpass any of their former effort*. The hall was filled by a most discriminative audience, whose plaudits sufficiently indicated the large amount of pleasure they derived. The Lisjht Infantry Band kindly attended and played selections while the audience were taking their seats. At a little after 8 o'clock the Club's efficient little orchestra, consisting of Messrs Bell (piano), and T. H. White (violin), struck up a charming overture, and shortly afterwards the curtain rose upon the drama of " Meg's Diversion." Of a bright and spirited character, this piece, while it necessarily demands good acting, does not depend solely upon it. It has intrinsic merits sufficient to make the book itself pleasantly readable. It has, for instance, plenty of lively dialogue, always to the point and never wearisome ; the situations are admirably chosen, with an equal regard to nature and effect ; the plot is deeply interesting and the denouement in the highest degree satisfactory. Of the story, we have already given a faint outline, sufficient to enable some idea to be formed of the general scope of the piece, and it must suffice here to give a brief account of the acting. Of the nine ladies and gentlemen taking part, all seemed to have been placed exactly in those positions where they could be of most use. Without an exception, they acquitted themselves to the admiration of the audience. The part of Mrs Netwell, the artful widow, who has designs upon Ashley Merton, found a most truthful exponent in the lady who undertook it, and who is now the oldest acting member of the Club. The tender passages with Merton and the lawyer Eytem were especially good, aud gave unmistakable proofs, if any were wanting, of the talent for light comedy which this lady possesses. The roles of Cornelia, the fine lady, and Meg, her more homelymannered sister, daughters of Jeremy Crow, wero delightfully pourtrayed; to our mind nothing in the range of amateur acting could much excel the conversation between the sisters in the garden scene. The transition from confidential tenderness, to fiery indignation in Cornelia, and the change from the tone of deep dejection to that of passionate entreaty in Meg, discovered evidences not only of a careful preparation, but also, we are almost tempted to say, of genius. This passage was certainly the gem of the piece. But the garden scene served as a f ramework for other pictures in which Meg and Cornelia were again prominent, and graceful and correct. Of the male characters, the Jeremy Crow of Mr SwaTbrick was a finished piece of acting 1 . It would be almost impossible to find a better presentment of a greedy, grasping, bad tempered, bad principled, old man, redeemed by a few subtle touches of goodness. Kvcry word, every action, even jhe most trivial, tells ; the whole is a study. The part of Jasper Pidgeon the hero and lover, was performed by Mr S. E. G-. Smith. Upon this character much of the success of the play depends, and in Mr Smith's hands Jasper filled his station with credit Mr J. W. H. Wood played the part of Roland, Jasper's brother, with easy dignity, graceful bearing, and a careful regard to the meaning of the text, which spoke of scrupulous study and rehearsal. If the drama contained a surprise at all, it was the excellent acting of Mr Tonks, who now it might fairly be said made his debut on the Comus boards. His Ashley Merton, the pilosophical squire, was {.imply grand, and won the genuine approcal of the whose audience at once. That regard to correctness, which is characteristic of the popular stage manager, is shared by Mr Tonks, whom study and practice will turn out an excellent actor. Already he is an immense acquisition to the Club. The part of Eytem, the lawyer, had been undertaken by Mr T. Gr. Sandes, at the last moment, but no allowances are required for the performance was admirable. At the fall of the curtain, and indeed at intervals during the progress of the piece the audience testified their approval by showering boquets on the stage. After an interval, during which the orchestra performed some choice selections of inu?ic, the amusing farce, "Your Life's in Danger" was put upon the boards and met with a reception warmer even than that accorded ' ' Meg's Diversion." This cannot be 'wondered at when it is considered how irresistibly funny is the plot, ami how excellent was the acting. As John Strong, "very much abroad " Mr Swarbrick acted w»th the most delightful abandon as one who works at a congenial task. To say that he was good would convey no idea of the success he achieved, and only to those who saw him can our meaning be conveyed. The lady characters were admirably filled ; Madame Schpoonenberg and. the Countess Lansdorf in especial Indeed, in regard to the lady who performed the part of the latter it is hard to say which gave most pleasure, her Cornelia or her Countess : though we are, ourselves, in favour of the former. The Schpoonenberg of Mr Tonks and the Krakwitz of Mr Wood each called for much praise, a tribute which the audience were not slow to pay. In conclusion, we desire to compliment all concerned on the manner in which the last performance of the club passed off : the stage manager on the smoothness of the acting, the absence of hurry, «ncl the convenient disposition of all the stage accessories : the property man and costumier upon the adaptability under difficult conditions, of everything to the place appointed for it, and for the general get-up of the characters ; the lion, secretary upon the admirable business arrangements made ; the orchestra upon the quality of their music, and the whole of the club in common for the genuine interest which they appear to take in the welfare of so useful an institution as the Comus Dramatic Club, whose final performance will not, we hope, take place for many a long year. The lady and gentleman amateurs will repeat Saturday's programme this evening in the Public Hall, Te Awamutu, the whole of the proceeds to be devoted to the building fund of the proposed church at Kihikihi. We can promise our friends in the upper portion of this district a rare treat.

The whole interior of a church in Norway, including its bas-reliefs is made of paper. The Russian Army will wear mourning for the Empress six months. V Rev, J. G. Grieson reports more than 8000 abstainers in the army of India. In the spring- of 1863 Pope Pi ua IX. gave orders to Cardinal Kicci that the cupola of St. Peter's should be re-coated with lead, upon the distinct understanding that the work should be completed within four years. The plumbers, however, had been ocoupied with their still unfinished task for some fifteen years when the venerable Pontiff joined the majority. Leo XIII. has issued positive orders that all possible expedition should be used in carrying out the undertaking. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by the end of 1881. For each section nearly a million pounds of lead is required, and the cost of the whole renovation has hitherto been defrayed by the fund commonly known as * ' Peter's Pence."