CATHOLIC INSTITUTE.—AMATEUR THEATRICALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 642, 2 December 1865, Page 5

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE.—AMATEUR THEATRICALS.

No ono will dony that it is a most ill-natured thing "to look a gift horse in the mouth." Against criticism this propensity is chargeable to a greater exteut than is always dosoivcd. It ia perfectly , natural that when a number of amateurs set up a piny that they should deprecate criticism, for they say with perfect truth that the odds aro against them, and both tho opportunities and tho professional i instinct aro wanting to mature. So for as "profornional' instinit is concerned, tho use of the word at all is inappropriative, for there is no tident that is so peculiarly "instinctive/* speaking in the widest acceptance of the term, as the talent for stago repre- ' sentation. It is therof'oro frequently possible to see in a j theatre a very high order of individual merit ma'ed 1 to an inefficient management. We make theao observations with a view to encouraging, so far as in us lios, a taste for dramatic literature and effect , amongst tho young men. Criticism should always bo friendly to the aspiring. There is never a thing r well done that may not ho done bettor with a seasonable cncouragemont. This of course only applies J where tho object is desirable. Wo aro much pleased, therefore, to hoar that while an amateur dramatic club has snrurig up with amazing vigor on tho east end of tho city, another society of the same is steadily malting way in tho west. That tho Roman Catholic ( younsj men should court an opportunity of putting 1 on tho tragic buskin, as well as their fellow aspirants t in the oast is very natural. But that thoy should walk so tall is rather dangerous. We aro bound however, to say, that in tho representation of " Charles the XIE" they wore very successful, and in tho jcu d* esprit that followed, " Dying for Lovo," they wore £ perfectly at home. Thoy imparted a fund of the i most jo3'ou* amusement, their very efforts to please being heightened by thoir evident enthusiasm in the 1 j now calling. These light picces admit of almost any amount of oxcollonoe. Tho whole performance was . very creditable, and wo look forward with interest to . tho repetition of a similar display.