THEATRE ROYAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2235, 22 July 1865, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

THE AMATEUR PERFORMANCE.

We thought that the inclemency of the weather Avould preclude visitors from attending the dramatic entertainment, given by the gentlemen amateurs on Thursday evening, in aid of the City of Dunedin subscription list, and wero afraid that their laudablo endeavors would be a failure ; but despite every disadvantage the performance took place, and was attended by a largo number of the elite of Wellington. Bcforo wo atfcorapt to do justico to the undoubted talent of ono or two of tho gentlemen who took part in the representation of " Don Cresar de Bazan" and " Mad as a Hatter," wo would announce that it is the intention of. Mr T. W. Standwell and the amateurs to organise a Garrick Club, of which tho lists avo open to every one, and which will give pci-formances, tho proceeds of which will be specially devoted to local charities. Our authority for this statement isMv Standwell, who, on being called bofovetho curtain atthc conclusion of tho drama, oxpressedhisthanks to the audience and mentioned that tho next entertainment would be given in aid of the Wellington Mro Brigade We find it by no means an easy task to do justice to the manner in which Thursday ovening's entertainment was carried out Commencing at tho prologue delivered by Mr Wrigglesworth and ending at tho fall of the curtain on tho farce, wo may safely say that the poribnnanco was an entire success. The body of the Hall was well filled, and the G-allery crowded to suffocation by an audience who, we are sure, will endorse our opinion of the manner in which tho amateurs catered for their amusement. " Don Crosar do Bazan" is an old and interesting drama, tho scono of which ia in tho sunny land of Spain, in tho days of Don Carlo. The plot iB Bimple ; Don Caesar de Bazan, a Knight of noble lineage, •who lias by aid of dissipation and the dice-box

t lost everything but Ms honor and his trusty ■ Toledo, is condemned to be hung for killing the s Captain of the King's Ghiard in a duello in Cari nival week. Don Jose, an intriguing and unscru- ; pulous courtier, promises that the ignominious [ death shall be mitigated into one more consonant ■ with the feelings of a gentleman, namely, being i shot, on condition that the condemned noble will ; consent to wed a roiled lady, to whom he is td bequeath his ancestral name. Don Ceesar consents, and Don Jose marries him to Maritana, a lovely gipsy, with whose charms the -King is deeply smitten. Don Ciesar is led out to be shot ten minutes after his m image, is saved 1 through the presence of mind of Lazarillo, a buy whom he has rescued from Lhe lash, and for whom he was lead into the fatal duello, for which he had been condemned. Finally ho discovers his wife, accuses her of being the JCiug's paramour, finds his suspicions unfounded, is forgiven by his king, and made Governor of Granada. To Mr Standwell was assigned the character of the piece — Don Cffisar de Bazan — and well he did it. Mr Standwell possesses a delivery and elocutionary powers such as we have rarely seen equalled, and his insoukance and sarcasm as the beggared and haughty Spanish noble, showed that he had studied the character, and completely identified hiinsolf with it. The scene in which just before i his death he apostophises the wine sent by Don ! Jose for his marriage feast was very good, but in our opinion the creme de la creme of the whole drama was the manner in which, after the King had given his name as " Don Ccesar de Bazan," j the rightful owner replied, '• If you are Don Ca;sar de Bazan, then lam King of Spain." The cool easy quietude of the noble as ho folded his arms and stood in front of the libertine king was deservedly applauded, and when the curtain fell the gallant Don and the lovely Maritana were loudly called for. Miss Marian Dunn took the latter character in her usual graceful manner, and added greatly to the success of the piece. After such a drama as " Don Ceesar," one can hardly enter very warmly into a farce however laugh* able, and the one played on Thursday evening was sufficiently so to amuse a misanthrope. "Mad as a Hattor" brought out the talent of some of the amateurs who were hardly up to the preceding piece, and wo could not resist joining in the unrestrained mirth around us at the peculiarities of Charles Harebrain aud Bob, which were irresistably ludicrous. "We congratulate the amateurs on the success which they have achieved, and we wish thorn a finer night when they next give us such a treat as that of yesterday.