COM US DRAMATIC CLUB

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2655, 18 July 1889, Page 2

COM US DRAMATIC CLUB

|By Norma].

I was present at the performance given by the members of the Hamilton Comus Dramatic Club on Tuesday evening, and expected an exceptional treat on that occasion. I fancy the same feeling wa« general, as there was a large audience, every seat oeing occupied, and the receipts amounted to nearly £18, 1 am told. The first piece was a comedy called " Woodcock's Little (fame." The production, so far as an exhibition of the dramatic art is concerned, making all allowances for amateurs, was not equal to the one previously placed on the boards by the same actors; I refer to "Helping Hands." On this occasion the entire merit of the play centred almost wholly on the leading character, Woodcock, who carried his part throughout with the facility of a practiced hand, his changes of facial expressions being exceedingly good. Airs Carver (Woodcock's mother-in-law) had a rather heavy part, and went through with it with very slight imperfections. The other performers did not appear to have a sufficient grasp of their parts, and there was a stiffness in some of their movements that indicated either an error of judgment in the castes or that the rehearsals had not been strict enough. .Teu d'esprit was lacking in one or two, but iti others the impersonation was over-done. This criticism of the acting must be accepted as a friendly hint by an admirer of local histrionic talent. As regards the play itself, little can be said of it, or of the selection of it, unless the sole object intended was to produce something funny. There was no approach to true drama in it, and even a Hamilton audience is intellectually capable <:f appreciating something above the common level. We generally associa' o with a dramatic performance of a superior type, what purports to bo instructive and educational in the reproduction of human character, tho struggle between virtue and vice, prudence and folly ; and, consequently, a moral is expected and sought. I'ut, in the subject placed before us, there was absolutely no moral; 011 the contrary, a rigid critic, who might wish to be severe, could show that the piece was devoid of a single f,ood lesson. It was not dramatic ; that is the drama, with its elevating aim, was not in it. If the author's intention was to pourtray high life, it was a clumsy picture, and displayed his crude knowledge. The second part of the performance consisted of a farce, Ici on Parle Francais, which was more successful in pleasing tho audience than tho first one. It was very amusing, and the performers sustained their individual characters with greater animation and ease. M. Victor Dubois was a decided success, the gentleman who took the role being at home in it. He has, moreover, greatly improved in his acting since his last appearance. Spriggins was also a capital performance, his get-up being quite the thing. A new lady member made her bow to tho audience 011 this occasion, and, considering it was her (irst attempt of the kind, she did her part admirably, and should mike a very successful amateur actress. I was really pleased with her, and hope she will persevere and venture 011 something more than minor parts.