AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 21, 3 December 1874, Page 5

AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE.

The Clutha Amateur Dramatic and Choral Society gave, according to announcement, an amateur performance in Barr's Concert Hall on the evening of Friday. The proceeds of the entertainment were devoted in aid of the widow of the late Andrew Bain, the circumstances attending whose melancholy death will be still fresh in the recollection of our readers. The charitable object of the entertainment, coupled with the fact that, the Agricultural Society's Show held during the day l brought a considerable number of visitors to town, combined to render tbe enter- • tainment a most successful one. The performance commenced with tbe comic inter- ! lude, in one act, entituled " A Most Unwarrantable Intrusion." The plot is a simple one. An old gentleman of the name of Snoozle has a niece, whom a young gentleman, named Mr John Johnson Junior wishes to marry, but being unknown to j Snoozle he is debarred from seeing her, and ! his letters are either unanswered or destroyed. Mr Snoozle takes it into his head to have a day to himself, and so sends his wife and niece out for a drive. While breakfasting alone in philosophic seclusion he discovers a young man perambulating round his fishpond, as though contemplating suicide. Snoozle drags him into the room and questions him, but the would -be -suicide suddenlyjevinces a strong attachment for Snoozle, who endeavors to impress the fact tbat bis action was merely humane, but finds his good intentions thrown away, as the youth becomes a moat unwarrantable intruder. All Snoozle's efforts to turn him out or get him to leave are futile. The intruder commits all sorts of depredations with the furniture, expresses his determination to marry the niece or Mrs Snoozle, which so enrages Snoozle that in despair he writes a letter to Mr John Johnson Junior, to the effect tbat he is welcome io many his (Snoozle'*) niece, on

condition tbat he will rid the house ot this unwarrantable intruder. The letter-Con-taining the consent is taken out of Snoorie's hand by the intruder, who declares himself to be the real Mr John Johnson Junior, explains that being determined to marry tbe niece, had taken this means to gain his consent to the match. The part of Snoozle was ably represented by Mr Owen, a new comer to the district, and his first appearance before a Balclutha audience. We hope to see more of him yet. Mr Renner sustained the character of the Intruder must successfully. His face is now quite familiar, and it is not too much to say that each time he appears he creates a more favorable impression. The second part of the entertainment opened with a grand fantasia on the piano by Mr Walter Taylor, and was executed in that gentleman's usual able and masterly style. Mr Corrigan sang a motto song in good voice, ahd was re-called. Mr Simpson recited "Sharaus O'Brien" in a very artistic manner, and was vociferously applauded, to which he ' responded, and sung 'Paddy's Wedding," in excellent style. Miss Rayner sang " Oriana" very . sweetly, and received a hearty encore, when she repeated the last verse. Mr Bastings and Mr Taylor gave an amusing dialogue, which was productive of much mirth. "Tapping at the Garden Gate'' Was pleasingly rendered by Mis Corrigan, and in response to an enthusiastic call repeated the last verse. Mr Foster delineated the character of an academical professor (a la Mr Cotterell) very successfully. Mr Reunert and Mr Corrigan each favored the audience with a song, in their usual able style, and the second part was brought to a close by Mr Bastings appearing in the character of a negress, and expounded "her" views on * Woman's Rights/ , which fairly convulsed the audience. At this stage Mr Taylor and Mr Ross stepped ! on the platform, and -on behalf of Mrs Bain thanked the Club for tbeir kind services, and the audience for their liberal patronage. After a short interval the curtain rose to the screaming farce of" Borrowed Plumes, which was both placed and played very well, the make-up of the " females" being exceptionally good.

We are informed that after expenses are deducted the sum of L2O will be handed to the beneficiary, being the largest|amount realised from any amateur entertainment held in Balclutha. We cannot close our remarks without calling attention to the kindness of Messrs Taylor, Bastings, and Simpson, who came from Tokomairiro to give their services in this charitable cause.