The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-02-13 00:00:00

" BELPHEGOR" AT THE AMITY HALL

BY A C J:111118E/TOR.

About one of the most pleasant evenings I ever
spett in my life was one Caristmas Eve E a fashi
.Bnowx watering-pace, when after a sucassaful
performancs of " Bdpbegor" at the local theatre I
sat down. and to usa a comprehensive phrase took
" pot-luck" with the manager, his Taxi lady, and the
drastaris persona—in other words the entreated and
actors woo had figured in the piece—at a somewhat
improvised entertainment. We were as jolly as
sand-boys, though why that particular class should
be especially noted for jollity I am unable to say.
The "property' bones aff ode' capital seats, and
we made table of our" law." Tables have laps you
know. But I can wore you this art of
rough-and-ready busieet. did not spoil our appetites
or mar our enjoyment. The cold roast fowls and
tongue were simply delicious, while as to the " fin "
but there, I won't say any more. To Inv fell the
honour of proposing the h.slth of the m anager. He
was a young man then, and he is not an 0i1..110 now,
and I am glad to see from the theatrical papers,
which I peruse with an interest alino.t epi al to th
afforded me be the War Cry And the LiUle Soldier,
that he ia rapidly makin: his m ark ; .0 there is no
need for me lob, at all ilelieate in mentioning n m-s
The menaier in question was Ha, ry Ileuniut .n. a fine
youag actor. He preshl el in his m ontetank's dress,
while Henri, little Urns fir a-wild up do.° to him
in her 3wn pretty little el thee. Harry was esimei,6ll,
happy—be had bad • first-rate is 'use, and I think the
wakvning beams must bare shown themselves before
we moiled up and bid each other an affectionate fare-
well and • Merry Christmas. Happy days those,
Harry, weren't they? I know you will say yes, if you
read this. . _

Perhaps your readers. Mr. Editor, will sr&
what has all this preamble to de with Belphegor
at the Poole Atnity Ball. I will at once explain
because the Belphegor of the Amity Hall so
vividly reminded we .4 the Belpbegor of the Theltre
It ,yal, Heating, There, new you have got the
locus in quo that I have bwm talking about. In
beth ineteoc,,e it was admirably played. Taste al
tetin.ment characterieed each, au.l I am aure had the

Ilnlohegor of ifs-stings wita•sied the rendering of the
part by the Belph.gor of Po-de, or vice verss, there
would have been mutual oongratulatione.
However, sir, you have ask-el tne to do the beat in
my feeble power to Five you. critique .1 the perform.
lances on Tuesday night, and without further preface
I will do so.
As to the audience! Now, every on', knows that
an Audience i one of the chief ingre Senta to the
eucceseful issue of an entertainment Nothing maitre
an actor si despondent and rareleee of throwin; any
life into his char, scter, as playing to an array of empty
benches. Happily, on Tuesday, the thiniok Club had
• splendid house. The Mayor (It Aldridge, 1C.91,
ant the Mayoress were presen', toe ether with all the
swells .1 the town and neighhittrhoo 1, while the
general public literally cream I the hall This in a.
it should be. When Ladies arid gentlemen spare no
pains, trouble, an I expense, to Infuse • little life into
th. place, it Is but paying a fitting debt of gratitude
by supper, Ing them.
The performance. commenced with the well-known
and well-worn faros, "Cool AM a Cucumber. The
cast was ea follow. —Old 111,ricina, C. Gue.t ;
Frederick Dorking, 'l'. B. Stiles; Plumber, P. E. L.
Pulite ; Mien Jessie Masa Sophie Fans;
Wiggins, Mks. Florence Young.
This may be very shortly dismitteed. It dragged
considerably, and the au Hence. I have no doubt, like
myself, felt considerably relieved when the curtain fell.
Belphegor, sir, however was the pis to which I
looked forward with anxious auticipations if enjoy-
ment. I wu not disappointed. Taking it se • whole,
I may at one. say th .t it went admirably, and the
manner in which the chief characters were rendered
evidenoed the discretion of the management in their
allotment. Perhaps, it is hardly necessary to give
the plot .1 this dellehtful drains—adapted from the
French—hut • few words will .1.. it. Belphegor Is •
strolling mountebank, happy in his own roving care.
leas career, and in the devoted love of his wife. How
they first become arqiiaicte I we are left to c .njectnre,
but it turns out in the course of the piece that the
wife is the grand-daughter of one of the old blue.
blooded Dukes ,f Fraice He is desirous of adopt-
ing his grand-daughter, and amp' .y. • certain
chevalier to open up negotiations. but the price of
wealth and splendour is to be the severance of all ties
between her and the mountebank. This she absolutely
refuses to agree to, but, ultimately working upon her
love for her children, the tempter induces her to quit
her home. Belphogor's tirlef is .1 course terrible, but
In the end all things are explained and happiness
reigns supreme.
There are three acts, and Mr. E. A. H. Mitchelson
had mounted some half-dozen mines in • manner
that could hardly have h.en expe.t ol at no mat -or
entertai 'went. Espeeially well painted war the h .11
in the Duke's Chat-an with the moonlight ntesaming
In through the ancient windows nen the old oalom
staircase; also the garden SOODO Of the Masquerade
ball, which, with the e.. 1 ure I lights :among the t-ees,
wee deservedly apploided icy the *aril mice. The Cast
w :—Boh Tian. : --r, E. A. H. Mitchelwin