ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1907, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

MERITORIOUS AMATEURS. "BLOW FOR BLOW." Some peisons expected to find material for merriment in tho pathetic passages and an 1 incitement to sadness in the comic element of "Blow for Blow" at the Opera House last night, but they were pleasantly disappointed. The members of the Thomdon Amateur Dramatic Society, schooled by Mr. Hairy Norman, had well equipped thcmsolves for an appearance before the public, and the audience, which was encouragingly large, -was quick to appreciate the pains taken in the preparation of the piece. Amateurs, of course, who «re eelclom in the flare of the disconcerting iootligkts, labour under hrndicaps which do not oppress their professional brethren. People go piej/;>red to make allowances, and this is not necessarily an advantage fur the performers, because the critics tend to bo looking for weaknesses to condone rather than strength to admire. However, the artists had been well trained in the preliminary canters, and baulked at none of tho hurdles. There wao a very welcome absence of stage fright. The lines were all well learned, tho nwvennvt was fairly free, the setting was done without any mishaps, and altogether a praiseworthy display was given. The drama, wilh its tonic, almost East Lj'iinish periods of pathos, was indeed difficult in theeu places, but they were forded safely. The test of success in thess (situations is tho respect or disrespect of the audience while the heart of the heroine is having its life-blood squeezed out in the villain's wringer, but laH night there was no disposition anlong tho auditorium to smile at tho wrong places. Indeed professionil iomj panics that have appoared at the Opera | House during the past year have Jivin; ged the «pathos much loss -creditably Uianthe Thorndoa amateurs. "Curtains," another, eigii of success, were demanded at the close of each act ; Miss Agnes Marshall* in the dual rolo of Mildred Graddock and Alice Petherick, was heavily burdened, but bore her impost bravolv. She was commendably quiet in action, and kept her voice under nice control. Miss Lena Lennox made a bright Lady Linden. Mr. Noirnaii Aitken, as Josiah Craddock, was an excellent "heavy father," with the heaviness much wht'Vfcd by tko self-raising ewder of knowledge of the pftrt. Mr. I' 1 . Wood waa fresh and hearty ub a naval lieutenant and a squire, though his manner of making lov6 did not do justice to the depths Of feeling which j he professed. Mr. Frank Hendry, in the guise Of John Drummond, well supplied all the villainy that was required. Mr Donnis Kelly made an agreeable though rather juvenile old doctor, of the suicient school. Interludes of merriment — nn important feature, in the audience's Opinion-^-wore meiitoriously given by Mr. J. M. Samson (Charley Spraggs), Mias Aggie Samson (Kitty Wobbler), und Miss Williams (Sirs. Moulsey). Messrs. E. H. Scott, Frank Graf. G. Chriitonsen, A. Footc, also helped to muke the play run smoothly, and nn orchestra, under Mr. I. Clar'te, did good service, though at times tho muiiicians tended to blur tho vocal work in the sentimental passages. "Blow for Blow will be repeated tonight. The proceeds are in aid of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals.