WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 223, 10 August 1877, Page 15

WELLINGTON.

On Tuesday, the 24th of July, an exceedingly successful dramatic entertainment, enlivened with music and song, was given by the Catholic Young Men's Society Amateur Dramatic Club in the Marisfc Brothers' School, in aid of the funds for liquidating the liabilities of that school. A permanent stage has been erected at considerable expense in the school-room, and, so far as I can learn, it is the intention of the Club to give similar entertainments once every month until the debt has been cleared off the school. The success of . their first entertainment was exceedingly encouraging. Long before the curtain was raised, the spacious school-room, which is capable of seating from four to five hundred people, was crowded to excess, several having to go away without being able to gain admittance. The dramatic part of the entertainment consisted of three farces, the first being "The Spectre Bridegroom," which was placed on the stage in a manner that left no doubt on the minds of the audience as to the care and attention which was paid to its production. The appropriateness of the "get up" and accurateness with which the dialogue was spoken, were far superior to the average run of amateur performances. It is true that some of the performers did not suit their actions to their words on all occasions, and that they made more use of their hands and feet than an impartial critic might be induced to overlook; but, recollecting that they were all inexperienced aud untrained amateurs, who had not had the advantage of even one professional to give them a hint, the severest critic would be compelled to accord praise to them for the admirable and intelligent manner in which they played their parts. In the two other pieces, which were entitled respectively, " More Free than Welcome " and " Cherry Bounce," they were equally successful. The intervals between the production of these pieces were enlivened with some capital singing and musical selections. Messrs. Hollister and Maginity, accompanied on the pianoforte by Mr. Raymond, sang a duet and several solos in a manner that literally brought down the house and elicited encores. Mr. Maginity, in response to an encore, sang a comic song, in which he related the experience of an Irishman on the goldfields of the West Coast with such effect that it created quite a furore. Mr. Foster, who was once favourably known as attached to the Simonsen Opera Company, played a solo on the violin and was encored. Two young ladies, who were too modest to publish their names, also lent their assistance by playing alternately on the pianoforte and singing some beautiful songs. On the whole, the entertainment was extremely enjoyable, and, so far as I can learn, the time when the members of the club will be able to give another of these performances is looked forward to with a considerable amount of interest by all who were present at their first one. Hibkbnico.