AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 571, 21 August 1880, Page 3

AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB.

.The above Company gave their third and fourth performances in the Town Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings last, in aid ot the Athenssum and Hospital. The plays given were "Tho Cricket on the H»nrtli," and " Villikins and his Dinah," both the pieces being repeated each evening. The performance on the second evening was an improvement on the first. There were very fair houses each evoning. The proceeds for the first night amounted to £l2 12s, and for the second night £9 Is, the prices of admission being 2s and Is. The pieces were very creditably performed, and considering that quite a Jot of entirely new talent appeared, particularly in the first piece (who acquitted themselves capitally), the manager and the performers deserve credit. The play which appeared to take best was "Villikins." This was perhaps due partly to the character of the piece, which is more mirth-provoking than " The Cricket," aUhough the performers did their parts very well indeed. Tho actors in the first-named drama were recalled on each evening—in fact, twice on the last occasion. The characters in " The Cricket on the Hearth," were—John Peerybingle, Mr Hosic; Caleb Plummer, Mr Howlatt; Gruff Tackleton, Mr Ladd ; The Stranger, Mr Monk; Mary Peerybingle, Miss Blair; Tilly Slowboy, Mr P. W. Blair; Bertha, Mrs Spedding; May Fielding, Miss Kate Miller. In " Villikins " the characters were Master G-rumbletOD Gruffin, Mr Smythe (supposed to be a fictitious name); Villikins, Mr H. Jacob; Baron Boski Bumble, Mr Webber; Dinah Gruffin, MrH Williams. Several of the " make-ups " were capital, which showed that the performers understood tho natures of the characters they repro sented, and did not begrudge trouble in portraying them. Indeed the whole of the arrangements of the dresses, of the scenery, and of the stage, were good. One of the back scenes of a garden wall and gate, was particulary good, and is, we believe, the work of our local painter, Mr T. Ladd. Mr Grumitt, the manager, may congratulcte himself. The music was contributed by Messrs Deaker, Oollett and Vickery, and was appropriate and well timed. Mr Worsop acted efficiently as prompter. The whole performances may be considered as a plea success, and the money that was taken will no doubt be very acceptable to the institutions which are to be benefitted. We were pleased to see the Company's efforts appreciated. It is necessary that there should be occasional public entertainments in aid our charitable institutions, and those provided by the Company are very agreeable.