THE SHAUGHRAUN.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 207, 18 November 1896, Page 2

THE SHAUGHRAUN.

The Rotorua Amateur Dramatic Club may be safely congratulated on having made a most successful del/id. The production of such a play as Dion Boticicatftt s " Shaughwrnn " on a stage wilich is only termed so by courtesy, naturally presented many difficulties, but these were triumphantly overcome and the result Svas tho presentation of the evergreen drama in a shape which must have satisfied the author if his shade, or spook, or mahatua saw fit to retisit the glimpses of the moon on the two nights in question. In regard to the "setting" of the play the Club is much indebted to Mr James Reid of Hamilton who kindly came up and relieved Mr Mayes of the major portion of his trouble in connection therewith. The orchestral arrangements were also very perfect and reflect the utmost credit on Mr Alex Mrtnro who with the aid of one' or two brasses undertook that part of the entertainment. We have no 1 doubt that a stringed orchestra will be, gradually evolved hi face' of the necessity which exists for such and by the time that the Club mates its nefct appearance before the public this will doubtless be an accomplished fact, 'the arrangements for the seating of the audience were in the hands of Messrs Burton, Fordyce, Webber, IVfham and Francis! and they were most assiduous in thflir attention to details which are but too frequently neglected. It would be supererogatory fo even outline the plot of so well-known a play as tho "' Shaughraun." It is afine wholesome Irish drama of the Boucicaultian FC-hool presenting nrpicture of the 1 greatest " pisantry that ever was reared on a fruitful sod " who, as one of their lyrists tells us, spend their time in ' Fightin' like divils for conciliation, And hiitin' each other for the l'ote o' God." From the time of the rising of the curtain to the fall the play is full of incident all tending to the vindication of virtu'e and the downfall of vice in tho end, and on that account it is dear to the heart of the British playgoer, Conn, tho central figure in the l drama,' was played by Mr Cf. W. Mayes. It was a highly creditable representation, free from runt of any description, and leaving on tho minds of the audience a desire to see its exponent in other parts.- It was in short a good whole-souled Conn after tho pattern of the actor-author himself. In Captain Moliiicu* Mr A. E. Earls fonnd apart which suited him like the proverbial glove. He carried himself with an easy, ■non-'chalant air which was only occasionally embarrassed by the manner in which his sword would assert itseif unexpectedly, and he made love to Claire Ffolliott with as much ardor as that bewitching piece of feminity deserved. His position throughout was an enviable one. Father Doolari, the parish Priest, was undertaken by Mr T. J. Boland, who divested himself of that strong hirsute growth which lias for so long conduced to make him one of tho principal attractions of tho local post office.- His was a clever assumption of tho port, but this was naturally looked for in one who spends a considerable portion of his spare time in tho elucidation of theological and other problems—more especially, perhaps, the' other. Mr 0. Bennett ill Robert Ffolliott introduced the audience to a young Irish gentleman without a spark of the " divil " about him and scarcely a bit of the brogue. There is good stuff in Mr Bennett, however, such as actors are made of, and if his performance was a rather tame one it was even and consistent throughout. Corry Kinchela (Mr G. Parr) was as undiluted a specimen of the

stage villian as pan bo soon on an ordinary Saturday night's travel. He was a great acquisition to the company trnrl gave? a most creditable interpretation of the part. Harvey Duff was exploited by Mr C. A. Clurke and together these two gentlemen formed a precious pair of scoundrels. The subsidiary characters were filje'd by Messrs T. Henshavv, (Sergeant Jones); A. Brady. (Sullivan): MeCormack, Barry, lislier and Sinclair. In regard to the "lady amateurs", at the risk of being deemed intrusive, we will remark that no more captivating pourtroyef of Ihepatt of Claire Ffolliott than Miss Tottie Martin has ever come under our observation. If it is, as we are informed, the young lady's first appearance the excellence of the representation was most marvellous. Miss Louie Martin 1 as Arte O-'Ne'ale Was also admirably suited to her part and looked as nice as the sweetheart of a fine young Irish gentleirtan ought to. Mrs O'Kelly was in the hands of Miss Louie Seabury and it is sufficient to say that the audience testified to their appreciation of the actress's Brents far more emphatically than we can in cold printer's ink. Miss Lily Hutchins was perfectly at home in the part of Moya; and as one of the central figures of the piece had many calls made upon her to whi&li she responded most ably. One or' two other young ladies lent most valuable assistance and taken "by and largo," as the sailor*? say, it was as effective and artistic a performance as ever came from the hands of an amateur dramatic company < After the performance on Saturday night the corps dramatique assembled nt the Lake House Hotel, where under the auspices of Mr and Mrs Urquhart, a recherche little supper was served. Capt; licid, who had acted as stage manager, was in the chair, and a pleasant hour or so was spent in mutual congratulations and in anticipating future triumphs.