The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-04-24 00:00:00

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE MELCOMBE
REGIS SCHOOL.

On Monday evening the boys attending this echo°.
gave some capital theatricals in their schoolroom,
previous to ' breaking up" for the Easter vacation.
The arrangements for the comfort of those who had
been invited were all that could be desired, the
room was nicely carpet.), an I bunting being hung
on the walls, gave the room a cheerful and comfort-
able appearance. A large audience weeembled,
big the Rev. C. R. and Miss Gilbert, Rev. and Mro.
Donarille, Rev. W. L. Hind. R. if. Eliot, El., G.
Eliot, Esq., Dr. and Mrs. Lush, Dr. and Mug 'lizard,
Dr. end Mrs. Griffin, Mr. J. Itob•rtson, and Mrs.
Robertson, Mile Firth, Misses Uthgow, Muses
Grove, Mr. H. Naugle, and Mies Naugle, Miss
Wheeler, etc., etc.

At the upper end of the room • stage had been
erected, proscenium, curtains, etc., all complete. The
pi.oes announced for the represen,ation were
Murldt's well-known Oneretta 0 D:ck Whittington,"
and a latuhable farce "Family Jars." To meet the
requirements of "Dick Whittington," as also to
provide a little music during intervals, • good
orchestra had been got together. c insisting of the
following :—Piano and conductor, Mr. George Thorn.;
let, violin, Mr. Stone ; 2nd violin, Ileynolls ;
harmonium, Mr. Hurtle; flute. Wilkinson. An over.
tore having been well render d by the orchestra, the
curtain rose upon "Dick Whittington," the characters
I,r which were cut as follows :

Dick Whittiagtoo W. IL Hopkins.
Fits Stephens (a rich Loads* Merchant). W. B K.
Polley.
Alice (his D ought's.) A. Laing.
Dorothy...(Servant to Fits Stephens) ..A. R Bowden.
Captain Jack A. W. Donnie.
Ring of Goldifornia Mr. H. L. Armstrong
Queen of Goldifornia IL Tisard.
Buflowna.. (President of the Royal Society) ...G. S.
Willianuit
Apprentice Boys, Ladks in [Waiting, Warriors, Bm.

The story of Dick Whittington and his Cat" is
so well known that it is perfectly needless to give it
here. The manner in which this piece was performed
we. exalted, the musical portion was extremely
well rendered, evincing the careful training to which
the b .ys mu t have been subjected to have raised
them to such &standard. The choruses went with& good
Milli, and were well eustained throughout the entire
piece, and the solos west equally.. well.

Of the acting, some of the youthful performers
showed much histrionic talent Dick Whittington
was well represented by Mr. K. Hopkins, and the
character of Dorotay sae comically sustained by A.
R. Bowden. Captain Jack was very carefully acted
by A. W. Dennis. The KMg and Queen of Goldi-
fornia were well repreeented, H Timed making a very
graceful and dignified queen. We might here mention
that the 'cone, where the Queen is first found,
surrounded by her maids of honour, and is afterward*
joined by the King and about • dozen stalwart
guards, wee very effective, and was one of the prettiest
sighta of the evening, the dresse• being exceedingly
rich and in good taste. We must not forget to
mention the cat, the antics of this extraordinary
mimel being lOdirearibables, and caused no end of
amusement. Up in the curtain falling at the con-
clusion of this piece the boys received well merited
applause for their snocessful efforts to amuse. After
an interval, during which sores good musk wee dis-
coursed by the orchestra, the curtain roes upon
"Firmly Jars," the characters being as follow,:—
Mr. Porcelain Mr. H. BiddelL
Benedict (his son) W. Jac
Dolph (foreman to Pero -lain) Mr. H. L. Armstrong.
Diggory (his eon) Mr. P. W. Dove
Porter Mr. W. Reed.
Folly J. W. Hutton.
Liddy Larragan W. B. Ayling.
This was a meet ludicrous piece, and " took "
Immenwilv. Upon the curtain rising, Mr. Porcelain
(Mr. H. Riddell) ie diecover.d in hie counting house,
and after some little time, calls for his foreman, Dolph
(Mr. H. L. Armstrong), and his appearance, laden
with a o fee-pot, a Win, loaf of bread, and other pro-
vender, caused unb .undel amusement. Mr. Porcelain
proceeds to inform Dolph that be is e ,ing to retire
from basins.., and retire to a snug little house at
Windsor. Dolph, in the meantime not t I. done out
of his breakfast, has made himself com'ortable at the
other end of the table, and promeds to commits large
drauritte of coffee from the basin, together with huge
junks of breed and meat. Mr. P r,eioin Mao informs
Delph that he intends marrying his an Benedict (W.
i.e .t.) to Ms partner'. dangle .r, and then he will rctire
to the country, taking Dolph with him. Delph
Immediately falls in with this plan, an l announces hie
int-ntion to marry his an Diggory (Mr. P. W. Dove)
to • cousin, neither of them being aware that their
sons are already married. Benedict now appears on
the scene, a.ol confide. in Delph as to It's marriage,
and asking him to intercede with big fsther in his behalf,
while at the rams lime a simil area. is b. but ens.° ed
between Diggory and fife Porcel.in. The two f sthers
now meek both anxious to tell the other his tad-, and
when the story is told, the rage the two fathers dis-
played can easily be Imagined. The Nu now b•tvine
in real earnest. Dirrgoryt. wife, Liddy Lanigan (Mr.
W. B. Ayling), an Irish girl, and daughter of a brick-
layer's labourer, mi.ttkes Mr. Porcelain, ant informs
him, to hi. unspeakable horror, that she ha. married
his in. B nedict's wife, F.mily (Mr. J. W. If .tion)
now appear', and she mistakes Delph for her husband's
father, who is delizhted at hating such a beautiful
daughter.M.law—the poseesscr of £1.004, an i the
daughter of • naval captain. But Diggory, c 'cuing
on, Liddy row grazes him. and, of course, chrism.. him
to be her husband, Benedict, at theism. time, leading
on Emily, and everything is exp'aioed s isfartorily.
The sating in this piece all through wee excellent,
but the palm was undoubtedly carried off by Mr. W.
B. Ayling for his splendid imperaonatin of the Irish
girl, he on more than one °cession perfectly bringing
down the house. Delph was also sidenibily imper-
sonated by Mr. H. L. Armstrong, Mr. W. P. Dove
was remarkably good as the stupid Diggory. Mr. J.
W. Hutton made • very pretty and charming young
lady, but, as is most cams where the male sex imper-
sonata the ladies, the husky voice spoils an otherwise
exceptionally good character.
The National Anthem was then played and termin-
ated • very enjoyable evening. Cheers were given by
the boys for their genial hesdmaster (the Rev. J.
Miller), the ladies. and the visitors.
Mr. W. R. P. Jeffery supplied the coilumete.
p-oacenium, and also was entru.ted with th," coach-
ing" of the boys in their various parts, and wan inde-
fatigable in his exertions to narks the aff.tir a success.
Mr. W. R. P. Jeffery was at the clogs presented
with • very handsome silver c dim and tea u n by the
Roc J. Wier, =MUM and pupils of the school, in
reemaition of Ids indefatigable 'nations on behalf of
their eatertalszooda.