FIFTY YEARS AGO

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 10035, 26 March 1929, Page 2

FIFTY YEARS AGO

The following extracts are from a Bay of Plenty Times of about fifty years ago:--

••’JLhc members of the Tauranga Amateur Dramatic Club gave an entertainment on Friday evening last in the Temperance Hall, before a large and approving audicnce. Thcr'programmo consisted of a farce entitled, "Who’s Who,’-' and the well-known burlesque, "Alladin, or the Wonderful Scamp" lu the former some of the actors were hardly at home, consequently the piece dragged terribly. We make a rule of not criticising the acting of amateurs, hut no person pretending to undertake a part has a right to come on the stage without knowing it. Mr Smith, and Mr Griffiths, however, deserve credit for their impersonations. During mi interval of fifteen minutes several songs and dances wcie given, which, though they flavoured somewhat of the music-hall, were well received by the audience, the entertainment closed with the burlesque. This piece has been rendered in Tauranga before, and eveiything considered we deserved Hi better performance. Praise is duo to Mr Neighbour, whose widow, Twankey was capital; and also to Mr Powell, who made a first-rate magician. At the conclusion of the performance the hall was cleared and dancing was kept up till a late hour. The orchestra, which was composed of a piccolo, violin, and piano, struck us as excessively, weak. And later; The performance of "Who’s Who and "Alladin'’ was repeated at the temperance Hail last fore a largo audience. Both p eces went much better than on hnday evening, and .wo congratulate the Club on the improvement. Messrs neighbour and Powell were both very funny, and now that Mr McKinney has learnt his part wc have no objection to giving him a pat ou the back. He is a sweet thing in "girls.” As it nas reached our ears that these local histnons were » hardly pleased with our remarks in Tuesday’s issue w© may as well state that we can think ot J™ ™ a ’ son why they, should eutirely exempt from criticism. The Club, is an amateur one, so that d is. hardly fair to say much about Tho acting but carelessness such as neglecting to learn parts, etc, could not well be passed over by any honest reporter. The absence of the piccolo had a very beneficial effect on the orchestra and Messrs Brennan and Hoyte deserve great credit for their labour*. . The above reports caused much controversy and many letters appeared, both for and against the critique, and resulted in the following editorial:— , . Wo are at a loss to understand the ill-feeling which seems to have arisen in consequence of the remarks which appeared in this jour-, nal about the recent theatrical performances. Our criticism condensed may be summed up thus: that amateur actors had no business to come on the stage without knowing their ... parts. Now what was there for any sensible man to object to in this, as long as the statement was true? Either the Club wishes its, entertainments noticed or it does not. If the former'is the case, wo must speak the truth; if the latter, we shall be happy to keep silence. One thing, however, we cannot do and that is be-slobber them with undeserved praise. When they suecoed the reporter will be delighted to say so, and to give one and all duo credit. It is far pleasanter to eulogise than to find fault, butwhen the latter becomes necessary the best thing the persons censured ■ can do is be quiet. Grumbling urn der such circumstances betokens & ’ small-minded vanity, which is hardly creditable. After all we were y not to blame, because the performance was not as good as former ones are said l to have been.