BLOW FOR BLOW.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2867, 27 November 1890, Page 2

BLOW FOR BLOW.

Byron's original drama "Blow for Blow' was performed by ii company of amateurs in the Public Hall, Hamilton, on Tuesday evening, and was in every way a great success. The hall was packod, many not being able to obtain seats, and amongst those present we noticed visitors from several of the surrounding townships. For an hour previous to the performance, the Hamilton Brass Band, under Bandmaster Mettam, played a number of selections in front of the hall, and as an overture and during the intervals b»tween the various acts, the Hamilton String Band contributed the music. The play was staged in a capital manner, Mr James ileid having charge of this very important part of the performance, and the audience was not treated to lengthy intervals, so often the characteristic of amateur performances. Wo have already given a synopsis of the play, so will not again deal with it, but confine ourselves to the characters. Almost the wholo attention of the audience was centred on the dual characters of Mildred Craddock and her twin sister, Alice Petherick, taken by Mrs W. Cussen, and that of Charlie Spraggs, impersonated by Mr Dalston. Mrs Cussen was extremely good in the two scenes, first where she takes the vow to revenge her sister's cruel treatment, as alleged by John Drummond (Or. ICenny), and then at the end, where, having discovered Drummond's deception, she denounces him and asks pardon from Lady Linden (Miss Pain), whose happiness she had destroyed, personating herself fhe first wife of Sir Harry Linden (Mr DeC. Krury) Mr Dalston, as the sporting Charlie Spraggs, tarried the house entirely with him, and kept the audienco convulsed with laughter. Mr Dalston seemed to have been born tor that character. As iiho sporting Doctor Grace, Mr L. Cussen sho\ve(jl grsift ability in detecting the imposture of Mordatft at Linden Hall, and also in yvertUFpjjig tho laid plot of Drummond W obtain fionj Sir Ifurpy Linden, fho part of the scheming l'ogiui, Dnjiijmond, was played the letter by Dr. tteuny, ml tl'# «'f t!>B old man, Josiah Craddock, by Mr -irfclmr Jjoijuolly, was exceedingly good. Miss I'ain ir;adp a charming Lady Linden, and, in tho words of Dr. Grace, "I was quite in love with her myself; and -Miss Kate Jolly, as ivitty Wobbler, who was keeping company with Charlie Spragg, acted throughout with creai v-yacity, seeming to put her whole soul inwtt'er pari, Jhe part of Sir Harry 'Li'ndert ' Was' played in a very creditable manner By l ururjri but h.'a aacenjuaiiion'became extrimfily monoWtions. "Mrs aa'tbc 'lodging hHuse' keeper, Mrs 'arid Was' powered with bouquets. TtiS'ieww {jt?tS of Mr Bolder, Mr Kenward, and Servant l,rct;t were filled by Messrs Barton, M. Hume, and H. Hunt, respectively. We understand that it is intended to repeat tho por-forc-anca at Cambridge at an early date, I api} V sit<jttJ<i ba dene cur friends over I f.^r§ yjay treat.-