"OUR BOYS."

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3763, 2 September 1882, Page 2

"OUR BOYS."

Notwitstandino the unfavourable state | of the weather last evening, there was a I 1 arge attendance at the Theatre Royal on the occasion of the complimentary benefit tendced by the Auckland Dramatic Society to Mr Charles J. D. KoberfaoD, who has earned an excellent and deserved reputation as its stage manager, and a prominent and valuable member. "Our Boys" was presented on the occaaibn, with the folv lowing cant: —Perkin Middlewick, Chas. J. D. Jttabertßon ; SirUeofFrey Champneys, Mr A. Smith; Tsjbot Cbampneys, Charlie Middlewick ("The Boys") Mr Cecil Uardner, lylr Andrew Mayne ; Kcmpster (valet to Sir Geoffrey), Mr James Fairfax ; Poddies (butler to Middlewick), Mr F, Cnarlo'; Mary Mclrose, lady amateur ; "Violet (the dress), lady amateur; Clarissa, (Sir Geoffrey's sister), lady amateur; Belinda (slave of the ring), lady amateur. The performance was essentially an amateur one, and for this reason it would be unfair to institute a comparison between it and other representations of the piece by profeasional companies. Special credit is, however, duo to Mr Robertson, whose But* terman did not fall very fai short of Mr Lrngaid's, which was spoken of most highly during his stay here. Mr Gardner had a very diffipnlt part, but succeeded in p.eeenting a fair pqurtrayal of the pecu Jaritie< of the lisping aristocrat, The ladies who took part, and who are not desirous that their identity should be made known were all good in their respective part', and theie appeared to be an utter absence of " stage fright," so far as each was concerned. Mr Smith's Sir Geoffrey lacked the aristocratic appearance, flowing beard, and nicely curled wig that chaiaoterised previous impersonations ot the part in Auckland. " Taking the performance as a whole, it was dccfdely good, and evidenced careful rehearsal by the company. ! -