DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT AT CAMBRIDGE WEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2250, 9 December 1886, Page 2

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT AT CAMBRIDGE WEST.

A very pleasant evening's entertainment I was given at the Cambridge West School on Monday, by a number of amateur*, (who tii u «t nave taken great tronblo to put the piece on the stage in so porfect a manner), who ga*e "The Wrong Box," and •• My Wife's Socond Floor." The attondance was good, the room being full to overflowing. A great number, however, we noticed, come from the Kant side of the river. How is it that tho Cambridge Went people are always so backward at supporting any little amusement, even when for their own school ? The stage was necessarily small, but it was tastefully arranged and welt lit. If it had been a little higher, we think the audience would have had a a much better view. Mrs Soabrook presided at the piano, and gave the 41 Marche aux Flambeaux " as the overture to the first piece, and during the interval played " Silvery Waves " and the " Waterfall Mazurka" in a masterly style. The characters in "The Wrong Box" were: — Cecil Merry, Mr 0. W. Cud worth ; Mr Quiverly, Mr H. R. Hyatt; Uncle Croesus, Mr B. Garland ; Giegony, (a servant), Mr T. Hicks ; Mrs Quiverly, Miss Hyatt; Maud Quiverly, Miss M. Hyatt ; Mrs Croesus - Jones, Mr« Cud worth ; and Charity, (a servant), Miss Dillon. The plot is far fetched and improbable, and we think hardly worth the trouble bestowed upon it. Maud Quiverly and Cecil Merry are in love, much to the t disgust of Maud's father, who does not think the young man has sufficient coin. Erery year Mr Quiverley receives a box containing a goose, from a country friend, which he immediately re-addresses and forwards to Uncle Croesus (with an eye to the latter's will). The goose has only just been despatched when a letter arrives (sent by Merry) saying that a box containing dynamite will be delivered at the house that day. Mr Quiverly thinks it [has arrived, and being mistaken for the goose has been sent on to Uncle Croesus Jones. Mr Quiverly is in a great state of excitement, thinking Uncle Croesus would be killed, and not being sure about the will. Luckily, Uncle and Mrs Croesus Jones determined to pay Mr Quiverly a visit upon that day. Immmediately on arriving they are shown the letter re the dynamite, and Mr Qniverly confessed about the goose having been second hand. While congratulating themselves upon having escaped, a box of biicks arrives, the address is in the same handwriting as the letter. It must be the dynamite. No one will touch it until Cecil arrives ; who upon being promised the hand triumphantly carries it out. The acting throughout was good, more particularly Mr Hyatt who as the portly Mr Quiverley could hardly be recognised, his "get up" being "immense." During the interval Mr Hyatt, Senr. sang "Molly Bawn" and "Thelvy Green" forboth of which he was vociferously appelauded. The curtain then rose on "My wife's second floor," This is a very lively "chapter of accidents," all of which could have been avoided if Jacob Close, the lodging-house servant, had thought proper to say a word or two, but his motto being " eyes open, mouth 9hut " some very amusing scenes were the result. The cast was, Captain Topheavy, Mr B. Garland, Felix Toddle, an artist, Mr H. R. Hyatt ; Jacob Close, Mr C. Tuck ; Tim, a porter, Mr Cudworth ; Mrs Topheavy, Mrs Cudworth ; Miss Fanny Maylove, Miss Dillon ; and Mrs Downey, Miss Hyatt. We cannot afford the space necessary to give the plot in detail, but as we learn there is a probability of it being perfermed at Cambridge East we would recommend our readers not to miss the opportunity of seeing it. Mr Tuck, as Jacob Close, has a part that just fits him, and he keeps the audience in a continual roar of laughter while he is on the s*age. His by-play in one of the scenes, when he gets behind the window curtains "to watch the row," being very funny. The whole of the characters were well sustained, but we think the outraged lovers should have shown a little more temper. We learn that the receipts were about £8, which is 'to be spent upon the school playground.