ENTERTAINMENT AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1904, 15 June 1889, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT AT TEMUKA.

The first entertainment by the member! of the Teinuka Amateur Dramatic Society was given in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on Thursday evening last, and proved a greater success than the most sanguine well wishers of the society had anticipated. The hall was well filled—th® front part almost crowded—and the i programme was gone through without a hitch, showing that the performers had well practised their parts and deserved to be supported. The proceedings commenced with a musical treat,' the overture to ‘ Zirapa/ given by Mrs Poster Mr R. Wood (yiolin), and Mr J. (clarionet), Too much praise cannot be given to the performers of this selection, it was a great treat, and was loudly applauded. This concluded, the curtain rose, and disclosed the company in the usual Christy Minstrel circle, with Mr Gaze as Mr Johnson, Mr H. Clinch Bones No. 1, Mr Elder Bonos No. 2, Mr G. Leyena Tambo No. 1, and Mr A, Clinch Tambo No. 2. The opening chorus, ‘ Climbing up de Golden Stairs,’ by the company, was at once given, and created a very favorable impression, the applause being loud and prolonged. The following item* were then given Ballad, ‘ Must We Leave the Old Home/ Mr E. White head ; ballad, * White Wings,’ Mr E, Chapman; song (comic), 1 That s the Way to the Zoo,’ Mr H, Clinch ; ballad, ‘ Please Sell no More Drink to My Fatbsr/ Mr W. Storey ; ballad, ‘ Mother’s Last Letter to Me,’ Mr J. McGaekill; song (comic), ‘Dinah Said Yah I’ Mr 6. Levans ; ballad, ‘ Call Me Back Again,’ Mr G. Barrett; finale, ‘ America’s, Emblem/ the company. The ballads were nicely given, and the choruses went very yrell indeed, one or two of each narrowly escaping an encore. The comic songs by Messrs Clinch arid Levena (‘That's the Way to the Zoo,' and ‘Dinah Said Yah/) were most amusing and elicited roars of laughter. Of the choruses those to ‘ White Wings/ ‘ Sell No More Drink/ and ‘ Dinah Said Yah/ went the boat. The finale, by the company,, “ America's Emblem,” with colored effects (the solo being sung by Mr Whitehead), elicited great applause. fl'gs of America, England, Scotland, and Prance were each

sected, and, with the glowing light of the red fire burnt in the “ wings,” the stage presented a very pretty appearance. The ballads and choruses were interspersed with witty dialogues, new and old jokes, and a number of local hits, (ha latter being amusing but entirely free of offence. These were led up to with a spontaneity and freedom from gag that did the performers every credit. Perhaps » little .more by-play, might have been an improvement. The performers on the bones and tambourines played well.

An interval of five minutes was followed by an overture, 'My Dream/ s_by Mrs Foster (piano), and Mr Wood which was much appreciated. Mr J. Russell, as a ‘ Skienlifio ’ gentleman, then gave the audience a description of his newly-invented machine ‘ThoTalkephooe,* which he guaranteed would repeat whispers or loud calls, convey all kinds of articles from one place to another, &c., if it was only given enough ‘ Shakerosity,' and gave some examples. This created much amusement. Mr W. Angland varied, the programme with a Hornpipe, for which he was applauded. The ballad, ‘Around the Camp Fire/ by Mr E, Whitehead, with chorus by the company, and colored fire effects, waa another great success, both the solo and chorus being well given. A tent had been pitched upon the stage, and around it wore grouped red-coated soldiers in various positions* a sentry paced backwards and forwards, and colored fire lighted up the whole. This part of the entertainment was concluded with a comic song, ‘Go and tell Maria, by Messrs H. T. and A. Clinch and E. Chapman, and the curtain descended while the audience were convulsed with laughter. Too much, praise c»nnot he given to Mrs Foster and Mr Wood for the c way in which they played the various accompaniments. They played them in a most artistic manner, and assisted greatly in making the entertainment the undoubted success it proved. It may also bo mentionted that Mrs Foster gave, a great deal of valuable assistance at the rehearsals. A most amusing farce in one act entitled ‘Bum’ans from Romo’ followed. Briefly the plot of the piece is as follows : Mr Chalky Chump, an ignorant retired tradesman, with a mania for HD Equities, has a daughter named Arabella, whom he has determined he will wed to a person who is of similar tastes to himself, and a collector of curiosities . and antiquities. A Mr Christopher Columbus Chips (a son of an old friend of. Chump), bearing of this, writes to Chump telling him that he is coming from Rome to pay him a visit, And will bring with him as a present a great curiosity which lie has discovered, viz., a statue of l Aj ix Defying bis Mother-in-Law.’ Chump is delighted, and forthwith tells his daughter that she .is to marry Chips, who is a man after his own heart. Arabella, however, is in love with a dashing young officer named Captain Smith, but her father will hear nothing about him. Smith, with the aid of a black servant, Julius, contrives to get Chump away from home on a false errand, and Arabella then tolls him that her father has ordered her to marry Chips. Smith determines to personate Chips, and makes Julius stand for the statue. / Arabella cannot remember who the statue to represent, and Smith at last fixes on Hercules. When Arabella’s parent returns Smith introduces himself as Chips, and shows the statue of Hercules mounted on a pedestal prepared by Chump. There is some surprise evinced when Chump finds it is a statue of Hercules, and not Ajax, that it on the pedestal, but this is explained as a / slip of the pen ’ when the letter was written. All goes well until the real Chips arrives. He has been unable to get a statue representing Ajax, and he resolves to make his b ack servant, Joe, answer the purpose. Ha has hardly got his servant on the pedestal (which has been vacated by Julius in search of refreshments) when Chump comes into the house, and he introduces himself. Of course, Chump tells him he is an impostor, but after ho has seen the statue he takes Chips away to confront him with the first comer, who is courting Arabella in the garden. While they are absent the ‘.statues’ find they are old friends, and get drunk over a bottle of whiskey. On the return of the party to the room, each ■uitor for Arabella’s hand protesting that he lathe real Chips and that his statue is the genuine one, both statues were found on the pedestal, but in most ludicrous positions. Hercules had the whiskey bottle up ip his mouth, and Ajax was doing his utmost to keep on his feet. Explanations follow. Chips is discomfited, and Arabella and' Captain Smith made happy by .; Chump giving bis consent toiheir marriage. The characters were represented as fol- ■ Iowa: Mr Chalky Chump (retired tradesman, with mania for antiquities), Mr J, MoCaskill ; Mis? Arabella (his daughter), Mr Geo, Barrett; Mr Christopher Colnrabus Chips, Mr E. Chapman; Captain Smitbj'Mr A. W. Gaze; Julius and Joe r Vnegro porters), Messrs Q. Levans and A. ‘Clinch. Mr McOaskill made the most of • his part, and acted the pompous, ignorant father to perfection. He had a gieat deal to do, and did it well. Mr Gaza had a ■ ‘ good conception of his port* and in the

tender scenes with Arabella, his conversations with her father and Julius, made tbe ' most of his opportunities, Mr E. Chapin as Chips'did not have much to do ; bui he was never at a loss. Mr Barrett, ; as Arabella, looked nice, but hardly went thrbngh the part with enough freedom. As Julius Mr Levens created roars of ■ laughter, his antics as a negro porter, and his posturing as Hercules being first rale. Mr A. Clinch, as Joe and the representative of Ajax was equally at home. The stage had been iasttfuily decorated, and arranged to represent a room in Mr 'Chump’s house, and looked very nice. A great amount of care had evidently been bestowed upon it,-' and Mr A. Clinch as /. ;property man ia deserving of much praise. The farce kept up a continuous ripple of ... laughter from beginning io end, and concluded the entertainment at about a quarter to eleven o clock. It should be ■V-'mentioned that Mr Gaze acted as stage manager, and Mr Sim as business manager, hnd they and in fact every member of the Society did their utmost to secure success. • Messrs Mogridge, Pinckney, and Cooper rendered good service in the body of the hall. , jjoring the last interval Mr Gaze came before the curtain and thanked the audience for their patronage, and briefly explained , .the objects of the Society, which were purely of a public character. They intended to give three or four entertainments during the season, and at the conclusion of it the society would be happy to receive suggestions from the

public as to what local institutions the surplus funds should be devoted to. He also wished to state that the Society would at any time be happy to give an entertainment for anj charitable object. This statement was greeted with prolonged applause.