DUNBAR-BERKELEY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3193, 10 December 1892, Page 2

DUNBAR-BERKELEY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

The cu-nivid season in Hamilton, is likely, as far as amusement is concerned, to be enhanced by the presence of a Dramatic Company of certainly mora than usual excellence. Messrs Dunbar and Berkeley have arranged to play a season of two nights' at the Volunteer Hall, commencing on Friday, December 10th. A more excellent selection by way of the initial programme than the poetic and musical play of " My Sweetheart." could hardly have heen made, and the fact that Mr C. J. S. Palmer will appear in the role of Tony Faust, is of itself a criterion of excellence. Mr Palmer is, by artistic right, the beau ideal of an ideal character, and besides possessing a robust tenor voice of exceptional quality, is an actor of vast experience. Mr Palmer possesses the twin attributes of power and pathos, and the rendering of several of his vocal numbers invariably creates a sensation of sympathy and uncommon fellow feeling. Messrs Dunbar and Berkeley have been fortunate in securing to support Mr Palmer the services of a particularly strong Australian Company, including amongst other such noteworthy personages as Miss Helen Fergus, Miss Ethel Adair, Miss Marie Masters and Miss Edith Leonard ; Mr Aubrey Maitland, Mr Angus Sutherland, and last, but by no means the least, Messrs L. Dunbar and Chas. Berkeley, actors and comedians of undoubted merit. The second programme for Saturday, will consist of the infectious incomparable and perennial absurdity, "Fun on the Bristol," in which Mr Berkeley will sustain the part of the immortal widow. The following ia an extract from the Auckland "Star." of a performance given there, by Mr Palmer, at the Opera House: — The priocipal artiste in this play is, of course, Mr Charles J. S. Palmer. Hecould not have made his debut b»fore a Auckland public under a more auspicious role. The merry Angb-Swiss lad, with his warm good-heartedness, although too facile disposition, seems to have been ereated from the author's brain purely for Mr Palmer's benefit, so excellently does he harmonise with it. Aided further by a powerful tenor voice, which displayed its excellent range in the songs, " There's No One Like Mother to Me," " When I Was a Whistling Boy," etc., Mr Palmer proved himself to be an actor of>many admirable parts,and he scored a distinct success. The playful, jolly, kind and stupid nature of the handsome young " Deut'cher "of a kind with the chief characteristics of " Hans the Boatman " Was most commendably delineated by Mr Palmer. The opening scene in the play was an exceedingly pretty one, with its groups of merry children playing see saw, big Tony in the middle, aod singing a pretty little " sea-s iw " refrain. Throughout the play is a uh ir niog one. so far as the actors ore concerned, audit bubbles over with quaint merriment, in which Mr Palmer, as Tony, is prime mover.