THE PRESS DRAMATIC CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4174, 5 July 1875, Page 5

THE PRESS DRAMATIC CLUB.

' The members of the Press Dramatic Club :.are to be commended for having entered upon that which, despite the comparative .non-success that attended their first move in a new direction, will, we think, be fruitful •of good by-and-bye, when the motives by which the Club is influenced are generally understood. We, speaking as an integral ■portion of the Fourth Estate, may bestow, -without egotism, a full word of praise upon "oor am folk" for having lent themselves tt> the furtherance of objects which must com:mend themselves to the favourable con--sideration of every thoughtful mind. The action of the young men who constitute the "Club is suggestive of no little unselfishness, ■ combined with sn earnest desire to be aseful in good works for the promotion of charitable and kindred institutions. They have decided to devote a portion of their not over-superfluous spare time in giving entertainments in the out-districts of Dunlin for the benefit of the needy, and for the ■ iiupport of auy good objects the inhabitants of those districts may have in view; and, ialthough they are not " professionals"—and, as a consequence, their entertainments, for the present at least, way possibly lack that full flavour of excellence only to be obtained from those conducted by persons who make the profession of the "sock and buskin" their calling, yet our amateurs are not by any means deficient in ability, and are capable of conferring a great deal of amusement upon all •those who choose to patronise them. Their first move in the new direction laid down, was made on Saturday night last, when they gave an entertainment at Crickmore's Assembly Rooms, Port Chalmers, for the benefit of the Hospital Accident Ward that is to be established there. A more worthy •object could not have been selected, and as the projected entertainment received full measure of publicity, it was thought, nay, reported as a certainty, that the Port Chalmers people would have extended ungrudging and liberal support to it. Unfortunately, ihowever, for the good cause, only a very meagre house assembled to welcome the amateurs. The night (Saturday) was not favourable, because it was the business night of the week, and all the shops, &c, of "the Port beiiiEj kept open until late, the business people wore unable, to attend This clashing of inteiesta could not

have been avoided, inasmuch that Saturday night is the only night of the week at the command of the Press men, otherwise we have no doubt but they would have selected another in preference. We sympathise with the Club in the disappointment it; must have experienced, but at the same time we can assure those who ware not present that they missed an opportunity of spending a very sociable, pleasant, ivnd amusing evening. The character of the entertainment was unexceptionable, arid the programme judiciously and carefully arranged. Songs, recitations, readings, with doses of fun administered by a gentleman, the patentee of a novel and most intricate musical instrument, a selection from pthello, and the trial scene of the aide-splitting Bardell v. Pickwick case. This was the bill of fare provided. It is our rule to avoid rigorous criticism where amateur performers are concerned, and we shall not depart from it on this occasion. Amateur performances are ever more or less imperfect, but when, as was the case on Saturday night, unmistakeable evidence of great care in the getting up of their parts was apparent in the performers they are eutitled to praise for the effort, and adverse criticism, excepting in a very friendly way indeed, must be dumb. The entertainment opened with a pianoforte overture from Mr G. Sykes, who also officiated as accompanyist to the singers, and acquitted himself with skill and care. The more serious business of the evening was then initiated by Mr Humphries delivering himself of a comic song in character, the " business" of which in some measure condoned the poor voice of the singer. The effort was merely preliminary to the subsequent really good performance of this gentleman. We can congratulate Mr Bracken upon his excellent renderingof the recitation "Shamus O'Brien." Clear enunciation, becoming gesticulation, combined with the histrionic ability of incorporating himself with the pavt be had undertaken, enabled Mr Bracken to do full justice to a poem intensely Irish both in subject and feeling. He was de servedly ./tppiauded. Mr A. Mansford's character song of Lord Lovel,: a most creditable burlesque effort, was, as it had been on many previous occasions, received with vociferous applause, and a clamorous encore, to which, however, thanks only but wisely were bowed. .We. cannot say much in favour of the reading that followed; the subject was ill chosen, and roadings, moreover, as a rule, are not entertaining.. We believe that a clear tenor would have done more justice to the song that came next. After that was an effort of memory on the part of a gentleman, who recited "Mary, Queen of Scots." It was a very passable, performance, but for the mispronounciation that cropped up here and there, and was loss to be excused in a Press man. Mr Utting's song, "Let me like a Soldier fall," was sung with spirit; but the very best song of the evening was " Little Sweetheart, come and kiss me," by Mr Buchanan. He sang with expression, and unaffectedly. We accord full meed of praise to Mr. Humphries for his admirably | ridiculous and yet carefully methodical " Jinangulato" performance and stump speech.. It would be unfair to the inventor oi such an instrument to describe it. It must be heard and seen to be appreciated. Mr Humphries was in the character of a "colouied gentleman," and in his stump speech made several good local hits and witty allusions. He was enthusiastically applauded. We shall pass in silence the scene from "Othello." Amateurs seldom succeed in delineating a long Shakspearian character with any approach to correctness. But Bardell v. Pickwick was an unqualified success that would have done credit to professionals. The scene had evidently been prepared with the greatest care ; each performer was well up in his or her part, and played it with good effect. Certainly the most prominent of the characters was Sergeant Buzfuz, and it could not have been entrusted to better hands than Mr 0. de L. Graham's. The opening address for the plaintiff was most excellently delivered, and the business of the part was closely attended to and not overdone. Arrayed in wig and gown, Mr Graham also looked the part of the plausible, bullying, insinuating barrister to the life. Mr Bracken, as opposing counsel, ' also did justice to his part, whilst the character of the Judge was really capitally sustained by Mr Buchanan, who, we noticed, governed the etiquette of his Court in strict accordance with the precedents established by His Honour Judge Johnston in the Supreme Court of Dunedin, and by His Worship the Resident Magistrate in his Court. The hits were very well timed and skilfully applied. Mr Pickwick was a very fair impersonation, whilst Mr Wyburd, who appeared as Mrs Bardell, whs one of the best "make ups" we ever witnessed. Mr TJtting, as Mb Cluppina, also made up absurdly well, and imitated the garrulous prying old woman to the life. Mr Mitchell was liappy in the part of Mr Wiukle, and the part of the crier of thy court was very well sustained by Mr Capper. The little that fell to Mr Jennings's share as foreman of the jury, was wt-11 done. The part of Sam Weiler, the inimitable, of course fell to Ihe eccentric comedian of the company, Mr Humphries, and he made the most of it without straining or exaggeration, and if we say that the part could not be improved upon by an amateur, and scarcely so by a trained actor, we confine ourselves within the bounds of just and fair criticism. The piece was, considering the appliances at command, very well mounted, and the performers were letterperfect in their parts, played with good taste mc] aplomb, and kept the audience in a roar of laughter. We omitted to state that, iv the absence of his Worship the Mayor, who did not arrive until rather late, the Press Club was introduced by Mr R'llfe, who, a'so, at the termination of the performance, prop iscd the hearty vote of thanks accorded to the performers, and to Mr Crickmore, who very generously placed the Assembly Rooms at their service free of charge. At the close of the programme the members of the Club, and a few friend?, adjourned to the supper - room, where ample justice was done to the good things provided by Host Crickmore. At half-past 11 the engine was screeching out a warning whistle, and a general move being made for the train, all arrived in town punctually at 12 o'clock. Th^ a-rangeme..t /or the special train were most complete, and under the personal superintendence of Mr Rolfe, were carried out very successfully ; and the Club dc-ires us to thank Mr Rolfe for the trouble and pains he took to make all comfortable, and also for the few minutes' grace he allowed at) starting, which saved not a few from being left at the Port all night.