Amateur Theatre.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume VI, Issue 430, 12 August 1851, Page 3

Amateur Theatre.

"We were exceedingly glad to find that the invitation presented to the public by the Auckland Dramatic Amateurs, for Friday evening, was not only largely responded to, but that their manner of serving up the various entrees, promised in the bill-of-fare, commanded the hearty and wholesale commendation of their numerous guests. It is customary, in noticing an Amateur performance, to make liberal allowance for deficiency of professional tact and stage experience ; but really, on this occasion, looking at the performance of Friday as a whole, and taking into account the histriouic'skill — if not excellence — of many of the performers, we are of firm opinion that the Auckland Amateurs may challenge the test of a keen and unprejudiced criticism, and that very much to their individual reputation, and greatly to the encouragement of a taste for well-selected, periodical, dramatic representations. It is not necessary, however, to assume ,the reviewer's pen ; nor would it, perhaps, be gracious to individualize, where all were so zealously intent to contribute to the perfection of the whole. This much we may safely affirm, that repeatedly as we have witnessed Amateur Theatricals, we have seldom met with so much general ability ; and never beheld the farce of "X. Y. Z." anything like so artistically sustained, or greeted with such hearty laughter and continuous applause. The farce isMof peculiar construction — its TbeatricaiPallusions losing much of their point beyond the meridian of London ; and therefore it is that the favourable reception it experienced on Friday is a sure proof of the merits of the impersonators. The smart interlude of " Box and Cox" kept the audience Jn a roar ; and it is only justice to state that it was acted in an exceedingly creditable style. There were, likewise, several scenes of " The Man with the Carpet Bag" which well deserved the commendations they received. Indeed, the perfect success of Friday's performance will, we hope, prove a stimulus to renewed

exertion : and we doubt not that a bolder flight into the loftier region of sterling comedy would afford an ampler scope for the display of ' Amateur capacity, whilst it would be likely to command a more extensive support from their play-going admirers. As we have before observed, the Theatre is newly and prettily reconstructed. It is well lit, clean, and comfortable ; and the utmost decorum prevails. The scenery and dresses are appropriate ; and a now and very pretty drop scene — a view of Auckland Harbour, North Head, and distant islands, from the pencil of Mr. Chesney — was displayed on Friday Evening. The house was crowded in every part, and we are happy to learn that the unfortunate widow, for whose benefit the performance was given, is likely to receive a handsome return. We should have been delighted to have concluded our notice here ; but we should be wanting in a public duty did we fail to mention, in terms of indignant reprehension, a song of an indecent description, we hope inadvertently, introduced between the performances. We say no more, because we feel confident that where such evident pains were bestowed to present a rational and unexceptionable entertainment, the Manager will take due care in future that no such violation of propriety shall occur.

Concert. —lt will be seen, "by reference to our advertizing columns, that, Mrs. John Bell, a lady recently arrived in Auckland, gives a concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, on Wednesday evening, at the Mechanic's Institute. The President and Members of the Harmonic Society have jpiteatefcrecl^their services for the occasion; f^dP»^tlfe}^Q!ise()fl|eneral report, which is jfcuTia^oWfn^a^jion of the lady's merits, may be credite,d,<»^ entertainment of superior excellence expected.

England and-t^e NewZealanders. —In our preserit issue we have not only accomplished thp'j3onc*lusion of this extremely important pamphlet, but have given in supJjftefiw»4fsma<idpri'dum the umwhile familiar /"i^xtev. Mr. Maunsell, without wßlcirtHeiucid and elaborate reasonings on the contemplated spoliation of Native Lands would, in all probability, have been incomplete.

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