Amateur Theatricals.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 142, 19 June 1886, Page 4

Amateur Theatricals.

The short Eeason of the Benevolent Dramatic Club lately concluded at tho Princess, Thoatro, Dunodin, hns been marked by one qucor incidont —an incident so vory queer that itdeserves publicity. Among the troupe of amateurs was a Mr J B. Kirk, whose name figured in tho programmes opposite tho famouß part of Lord Dundreary in " Our American Cousin." It is currently reported that this particular piece was mounted by tho amateur club especially at Mr Kirk's suggestion, in order that he should have an opportunity of ■' starring" in Southern's great part. If so, the disappointment must have beon considerable, for Mr Kirk's performance waa—well, not successful. To criticise the efforts of amateurs severely is against tbe ordinary journalistic rule ; but Mr Kirk, for reasons which will immediately appear, is no longer an amateur. It may be therefore remarked that his performance was a vory sorry ono, and that tho Du»edin newspapers duly conveyod that fact to the publio oither directly or indirectly, aa the tasto of the writer inclined. However, so much were Mr Kirk's sensibilities wrought upon by these most unkind cuts that he discovered on Friday evening a mental and •physical disability to appear upon tho stage for tho two concluding performances unless tho sum of £1 per night wero paid to him out of tho proceeds instead of to tho charity fer which tho club were understood to bo working. The club weakly yioldod, and Mr Kirk duly went through his impersonation on Friday evening, the prospective £_ per night boing no doubt tho glorious loadstar that blinded him to other disagreeable surroundings. On Saturday evening Lord Dundreary declined to leavo his droesing-room until tho £8 in cash was actually placed in hia hands, and the stage-manager, Mr H. Norman, paid ovor tho amount accordingly. Ho was wrong. A throat to go boforo tho curtain and explain tho oxact position of affairs to the audience would no doubt havo moved this recalcitrant auiatour. In any case, tho club had no possiblo authority to hand over £'S of the proceods which woro dovoted to a charitable purpose to one of thoir number who had banded himself with them and agreed to act liko thomsolvos without a salary. That the membors of tho club dosirod to subscribe tho sum to Mr Kirk out of thoir own pockets ns a slight testimonial to his abilities is scarcoly conceivable, and moroovor is r.ot borne out by their own statomonts. Tho contribution was enacted figuratively at the point of tho bayonet, and fortunately a receipt was taken for it.

Under such circumstances it seems almost superfluous to call upon Mr J. B. Kirk to instantly refund the monoy *. that will of course bo a necessity, and evoryono who paid r- sixpence in supporting the performances will have a direct interest in soeing that bare act of justico done, provided always that tho club were playing in aid of the objects thoy wero organised to assist. Twonty-four pounds per week may be a modest price for Mr Kirk to set upon his histrionic services, but it ia moro than an amatour troupe organised to perform for charitable objects have a right to pay, even for such a remarkably original Lord Dundreary as ho supplied.— Otago "|Daily Times."