SHAKESPEARIAN REPRESENTATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 7470, 14 March 1888, Page 2

SHAKESPEARIAN REPRESENTATIONS.

A number of gentlemen met at Girton College last night for the purpose of considering the advisability of taking steps to raise the tone of the drama in this city. The Mayor was in the chair, and among those present were Dr Belcher, Professor J. M. Brown, and Dr Coughtrey. Mr J. W. Willis, who has tho project in hand, recommended the production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ because it is the only one of Shakespeare’s comedies that admits of an amalgamation, and thereby giving to tho histrionic and lyric drama an opportunity of being produced in such a manner that no individual capital could sustain. It was pointed out that tho success of the Latin and Greek plays in tho Old Country, and of similar productions in Melbourne and Sydney, was encouraging, and it was thought that since musical talent had proved so profitable hero there was reason to believe that there is sufficient dramatic talent latent in tho community to warrant tho taking up of this project, and carrying it to an issue. If the movement catches on, it is proposed to give performances at intervals, and to devote any surplus funds to charitable objects, or to the furtherance of purposes deemed worthy of assistance by the committee of management. Considerable enthusiasm was shown by those present last night, and after discussion, a committee was appointed to issue a circular to the public, and to devise pro* liminary arrangements,