AMATEUR PERFORMANCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3940, 8 April 1870, Page 3

AMATEUR PERFORMANCE.

Thr performance by the members of the Auckland Garrick Club, in aid of the Provincial Hospital Library Fund, which took place at the Prince of Wales Theatre, attracted an excellent house— comparatively ; by which we mean that there were more persons present than has been the nightly average of late, but not nearly so many as miffht fairly have been hoped. We do not suggest that the merits of the performers ou° lit to have led to the theatre being filled : we are sure that the members of the Club would not wish that a great success, sup. posing it to have been achieved, should be attributed to their own merits. But when amateurs appear on the stage, they do like their friends and acquaintances to be present — even if friends are afterwards confoundedly good-natured in their advice and their critici&ms, amateur* are apt to believe th vt anything approaching depreciation is scarcely deserved, and they can glow under appreciation as fervidly as though their fame, and consequently their means of existence, depended upon public appreciation. So amateurs perhaps expect to see the house crowded v hen they perform; and when they perform .only to benefit a fund which it ought to be the pleasure of everybody to benefit, amateurs really have a sort of right to expect to see the house crowded. So, we repeat, the attendance last evening was good— comparatively. The performance was under the patronage of his Excellency and Lady Bowen ; his Honor the Superintendent; the Colonial Treasurer; and the Native and Defence Minister. The Superintendent was present. Before the curtain was raised, tha following prologue, written by Mr. R. A. Atkyns, was spolby Mr. W. H. Newton, and was a applauded : — The bed of sickness, the wear* ' dea\ The fevered couch, tho !»'' Th» wounded limb, t 1 The angmsh-gro" * J?f|Sl!i The to " -• MtySß Wo, " c .*(oht» throughout the nlfht, *Uh when the sun shins* bright-* - 4etk yotip aid to lighten tbeis : WUr motives we are sure will pleate. Books, sweetest soothers of the weary mind, » s Friends that are ever comtan t, ever kind ; That carry thoughts to deeds lsng put and 4one, To noble battles fought and victorias won ; To brave endurance under racking pain, To brightest sunshine following close on rain; That, with * magic power turn night to day, And carry us to regions far away— 13 To lands w« often see in dre»ais at night, ie Antl view B * ch well-known ob]«ot with delight— The flower-clad cot, kind faces past end gone, It All that makes up that magic spot called " Howe :" . . This Is tho medicine we propose to give, To teach our patientt how to die and live ; 1, To draw their thoughts from suffering and pain, n And make them strong and healthy once again. [3 Now, oie the play begins, on* word allow 0 About each amateur who niaket his bow, Who come* upon the stage to strut his hour, 't And do the best that lies within his power. ;- You are our patients, we provide the dose, • c Let all look pleasantly, none look morose, 1 And, if our medicine is not to your taste, u Be not offended, do not judge In haste: c And though each effort perhaps abortfre seems, r. Think that the end will justify the means. c If not our-elres, remember that the cause We work for, is deserving your applause. c The members of the Garrick Club were \l very wisely not ambitious ia their first q attempt. The two-act comedy, "Timo Tries All," is a pleasant little piece, withia the range of amateurs ; and it might have been a good deal worse played than it was. Mr. Leeson was very fairly spoken ; s only a greater seeming of age was needed tm . make it a good performance. Matthew Bates had the defect of hurried, and consequently . indistinct, speaking ; and, of course, as , amateur, except well-seasoned to tho stage, does not succeed well as a rule, when he htq r to be fervid in love-making. CQl»nderY*w4 w*s well dressed, and the appropriate *ir of vapidity wi wll efrogh.t} only, »nfortu« uately, rnuqh of the Insipidity vas inaudible. Tom Tact was fairly spoken and biutlingly played, Mrs. Ntwton was a oapital Law* Lesson ; and Miss Maggie Burton, who i« rapidly gaining ground ai an acti'tai, made a pertly miaohievous Fanny Paot. There wai an interlude of tinging and dancing. Mrs. Newton was enoored in "Ac cushla, Muchree," and «he substituted "Barney O'Hea," wMeh she aang with much archness. " The Light Brigade " was excellently recited by Mr. Newton. Power was perhaps wanted; but the feeling was the true one, throughout the phases of Tennyson's glorious poem. A Scotch dance was followed by "There is » Flower," by Miss Maggie Burton ; and, for an encore, she gave, "Thou art so near." "Tarn O'Shanter " was fairly recited ; but its length always makes it a risky undertaking for an amateur, when delivered to a mixe.d audience. The extravaganza of "Bombastes Furioso," which may be called the "amateurs' delight," was the after-pjece. Some of the mock-heroic singing wa§ good % and the extravaganza was a success. : " ~~