"TICKET-OF-LEAVE MAN."

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11, 11 August 1911, Page 5

"TICKET-OF-LEAVE MAN."

j The Balclutha Amateur Dramatic So- ' ciety ployed the sensational drama I "The Ticket of Leave Man" on Wednesday night in the Oddfellows Hall to a good house. The performers ac- , compJished their task very well, although, of course, there were a few I ilaws in the performance. When there | are 22 _ persons engaged, and the piece ] is a difficult one, an ordinary profes- ! sional company would not do cvery- ; thing as it should be done, and those who partoni.se local efforts with the j sole object of criticising should remem- , ber this The entertainment on Wednesday night was well worth the price [ of admission, and furthermore it .was j for a deserving object—live assistance | of our Band—which all the performers j had gone to considerable trouble to i further. The story of '"I he Ticket of Leave I man'' is known to most of our readers'*' 'and it is unnecessary to relate it. Twenty-six years ago it was played in Balclutha by the old Amateur Drama- ( tic Society, the leading parts being laken by Messrs John Algie, Ceorge Mathieson, Tail, and others, and although the acting then was favourablv received, those who arc capable of judging give their opinion that the present occasions quite equals that of earlier days. The principal parts fell to Mr (!. Coxon (as Robert Brierly. the Ticket of Leave Man), and Miss V. llutton (as May Kdwards, the heroine). They had both heavy parts to maintain and though they acquitted ■themselves very creditably, there was evidence cf nervousne:-.' and they did not therefore throw quite enough expression into their acting. Miss McLean (who took the part of Mrs Willoughby i. a garrulous old lady) was probably the best on the stage, and it is seldom indeed that an amateur carries off her part «o ably. Miss W. Lattimore as Mrs Willoughby's grandson succeeded very well in acting the naughty bov. Messrs 0. Cuff, .)'. Paterson, and el Wldey in the respective parts of Jem Dalton (burglar! Melton Moss (Jew), and Creeii Jones (millionaire and later on trotter man) acted dillicult parts without a mistake while Miss A Paterson as Ureen's faithful wife also performed in a (;uiet way which did her credit. Minor pe.rls were taken by Messrs Jos. Maker. J no. j Maker, K. Wright, I. ! 'uli. »'. Brow i, I T!. Ludlow, J. Hamate, and Miss T. Ludlow. _ j Last night the Company again per- j formed the same play, when the acting was much improved, and the per- j formers did not evince the nervousness which was evident on the first i night. At the conclusion a very en- I joyable dance was held. J It is intended to stage "The Ticket; of Leave Man" at Clinton, Kaitangata 1 | and Owaka shortly, and in about a j month's time another piece will be put on at Balclutha by the local Society. Mr C. Cuff, as stage manager, couch* cd the members in their various parts, and he deserves commendation for the . pains which he took. . i