" Patience"

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 85, 25 January 1887, Page 2

" Patience"

This charming operetta was performed by the Feilding amateurs on Friday and Saturday nights in the Public Hall to crowded and most appreciative audiences. An outline of the piece has already appeared in our columns, therefore it will not he necessary for us to do more than give brief notices of the most prominent characters, with our comments on the whole performance. The title role was filled by Miss Atkins, who charmed the audience with her con ception of the character. Her actingwas natural and at the same time finished, showing she had carefully studied the part. Her rendering of the several songs was artistic and pleasing ; her magnificent and well cultivated voice, enabling her to do the fullest justice them. She was loudly applauded and received several encores. Lady Jane was most admirably portrayed by Miss Grace Bray, who in that character made a most successful debut as an actress. A few minutes after her appearance on the stage, she was en rapport with the audience, who frequently testified their approbation by loud plaudits. In the opening of the second act in the recitation and song an encore was imperatively demanded; but her greatest success was in the duet with Bunthorne which fairly took the audience by storm. Through the whole piece she appeared to identify herself with the character, while her acting was spontaneous and without effort. Her vocalisation was perfect showing most careful study. The characters, Saphir, Mrs Macarthur, Lady Angela, Mrs FitzHerbert, Lady Ella, Miss Beattie, were well filled, Mrs FitzHerbert, as Angela, in her duet with. Patience was well received. The Eapturous Maidens were very charming while their natural beauties were much enhanced by the costumes "of the period." They were very effective in the choruses. Bunthorne, by Mr Hartgill, was — as might be anticipated — carefully portrayed. His patter song: was encored ; in fact, Mr Hartgill isnow an established favorite with Feilding audiences, and his very appearance on the stage is a guaranteethat they are about to he pleased «wr amused. Mr Gilmer made a most admirable Grosvenor. His handsome presence, well set off by the appiopi-i---ate costume of the character, well fitted him for the part wbieh he made the most of. His renditions of his several songs were very good. His duet with Buuthorue was applauded and encored. Dr Johnston as the Duke, Mr Coote as the Colonel, and Mr Ben Gosling as nh& Major were all excellent. The Duke showed a thorough appreciation «f the character he had to represent. Mr Cootesang with more- taste and feeling than we have before heard him. The- Major" was good in the trio with Dhe Duke and Colonel, and kept the house in roars, of laughter. The dragoons were well drilled, and did their work vexy creditably. The ehorusses went well proving the value of the carefull coachingthe perform bits had received. Theorchestra, which consisted of Mr Cohen, conductor, Miss Boylan, pianist, Mr Isherwood, violin, Mr West, violoncello, Mr Da*, flute, Mr Clemens, cornet, was most effective, and to it may safely be attributed much of the success of the show. The scenery,, painted by Mr Gosling, was most appropriate and was greatly admired. At the conclusion oi' the performance on Saturday night, the members, of th» company were assembled «ta the the stage by Mr Macartbnr, whothanked them all for their exertions, and congratulated them on the success they had achieved, which, he said, was the result of hard work quite as much as natural ability. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Cohen, the conductor, Miss Boylan, Mr Isherwood, Mr Clemens and Mr West for their able assistance, he also moved a vote of thanks to Mr Gosling for paint ing the scenery, which was admitted on all sides to be must admirable. He thanked the performers for the readiness with which they obeyed all instructions, and hoped they would accept his excuses for any little ruggedness he had occasionally displayed in the execution of his share of the work. Mr Hartgill proposed a vote of thanks, to Mr Macarthur, the stage manager. He was satisfied that without Mr Macarthur the performance would' never have been carried through. Hocalled for three cheers for him, which were given with hearty good will. It is very pleasiagto be able to conclude this necesoarilj' brief notice by saying that not a single hitch occurred to mar the harmony of the proceedings. The greatest possible good feeling has prevailed in the company since its inception, and to that may be largelyattributed its success. For a small place like Feilding to produce such an elaborate and expensive operetta as Patience is highly creditable, and we hope the company will not rest upon their laurels, but will attempt a still higher flight.