DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT AT ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 8 November 1900, Page 6

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT AT ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE.

(From a Wellington correspondent.)

There was a very large audience present at St. Patrick's College on Wednesday evening, November 1, when the drama, 'The Two Orphans," was performed by the students. This is a play in four acrs from the pen of the Abbe Margeret, a Marist Father and a versatile writer. As presented on "Wednesday evening it was more an adaptation than a mere translation bo as to suit local requirements. The pLiy reveals the constancy and fidelity of two children, made orphans by the death of their father. Their mother had died when they were very young. Their father's deadly enemy seizes the children, usurps the father's rights, changes his name from {■^pbndriito to Albergini and his homage from Christ to Mahomet, a i«l strives to iuu'Ode his own apostate faith upon the two boys. The liicls, however, are proof against temptation, for they prove tli- UHelvi s worthy sons of a father who had died as a Crusader in the llo 'y Laid. Throughout the play there breathes the noblest sentiuienta of Christianity— the Cross triumphant over the Crescent. 'Ihe procr-fcdijijrd began by the college orchestra playing 'William Teil ' a must, li ting overture. From the tirno the curtain rose until it, dropp'-ci Hie audience, by repeuUd rounds of applause, showed th ir appicciaiion. It would be invidious and prolix to mention tne individual excellences of each playpr when all did bo well. The pei f orauTrf had. during rher hours ot recreation, devoted themselves to a quiring a. knowledge of their parts and (--peaking those parts well, the result b ing dm to tut indefatigable efforts of the Rev. Father llerbi i rr, who is to be coQip'imem»i on the highly successful miiiiicr in which the c'vamn. was nruduced The incidental music was well arrar «■£.! and adjnirably p ayel by Mr. Trowell, assisted by tae olhor mcinbtts ot the oroHt-stra. Tne^ojuic artist, Mr. Hoskins, !»uptrvis o d the biasv, while Me. Lt< iohei kinuly assisted in installing and controlling the (-luoirio lighting. Several ladies assisted in adorn. ng the -tigp, and providing vi* tunics. To them the college authorities r turn their f-ineete thank?. The sale of tickets lv-jlised over iil 7. Ino proceeds are lor the purpose of clearing the d- bt coutrauteu oy the erection of ihe hhw stage. The following was tae cn-t of clnraist'»rw : — Lord Alliergini (formerly known as ' j-phodr.ito). Hugh 0 Xe3l! ; Luigi (lde-t son of Count Spietra), Eugene McArdle ; Puolo (brother of Luieri), Lynch Dignan ; lago (a Moorish acoomplue of Alb. r^im) Daniel Twohill ; Geronimo ire to Couut Leo. \vhit'aker; Pazzina (a Sicilian fi-liermaii !. Thomas McCarthy; L^reuzo (his son), Fred White; Arnaido (a CapLa'n of Alriergim's soldiers), T. Segrief ; Alfieri (first tisher;i au), Jlcnry Mi Hi van ; Orlando (second fisherman), Thomas Collerton ; Jfictro (ia»e to Albergini), John Dignan.