The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-04-25 00:00:00

211111!'v

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT AT

THE CORN EXCHANGE.

The library, the Temperance Society. and Working
Men's Club of the parish of Holy Trinity are inatitu.
dons comparatively little known outside the parish,
but that they are doing excellent work, with Mrs.
Henry Swett at their head, will be accepted as certain,
end this Premonition, together with the attractions ol
a somewhat novel programme, doubtless had the
means of filling the large Corn Exibauge to its utmost
limits, on Monday evening, when an outer.
tainment wu held in aid of the institutions above.
mentioned. Among thee present we noticed :
_

Captain and Mrs. Dyin,nd, Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Bantu, Major Thorburn, Colonel Clarks in, Dr. and
Mrs. Aldridge, Mr. Coombe, Min Huxtable, Captain
and Mrs. Button, Captain Foster, Mr. A. Pope, Misses
Blackstone Williams, Mr. and Mrs. George, Hon.
Mrs. Ashley, Miss Ashley,
_hfra Sheppard, Rev. C.
z•tanctuary, Mr. Waigall, Mn. and Miss Symoscle,
Rev. U. and Mrs. Hanker, Mr. R.. Davis, Mr. J. G.
Byrnes ant party, Mr. Gregory, Rev. H. P. Balked,
Mr. H. B. Middleton, bliss Wynysrd, Mr. Pesi4
Jillard, Captain Menai and party, Miss Pearce, Mr.
Hawkins, Mrs. Thornton, Mr. Constable, Mrs.
Grover. Mr. F. W. Gilpin. Miss Galpin, hl or.
aiii
General Henning, CB .., Eire. Henning, Mr. ur.
net and party, Mr. Greening, Mr. N. Pope, .
Hausford, Mr. Jacob, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, les
C Mrs. Barnet, Mr. Macartney, Min
or. V. 1.0.1 e, Ms. Lock, Mr. and WM 1.....12!",irt.
Duke, Mr. T..•'.. 1-,....ece. Mr. and Mrs. Ling, Mien
Brooks's young ladies, Mr. Kindersley, Mr. and Mrs.
Dion. Mims Rummy, Mrs. Brymer, Mr. J. hi. Lush,
Mr. and and the Misses Roblin/3u, Mies Perry, Mr.
W. J. Darden. Ml'. C. Cox, Mr. T. 8. Biggs, Mrs
Hazel, Miss Hazel, Mr. two Mrs. J. Hazel, air. and
Mrs. Herbert ilodges, Mr. Longman, Mr. F. Pouncy.
Mn. Coward, Mrs. Fookes, Min Campbell, Mr.
Brown, Mr. and ?An. James tluy, Mies Nutting, Bars.
Mayo, Mrs. Hill, Mr. Wright, Mr. Damen, Mrs.
Bishop and party, Mrs. Lewis. Mr. Osmond, Mr.
Cooper, Mr. ant Mrs. Evans, Mies Evans, Mr. and
Mrs. fitayner, hire. Read, &c. Mr. Henry Ling most
efficiently carried out the vesting arrangemente—no
easy ta.k with such • crowded house.
The b did of the 3rd Battalion Dorset Regiment,
under the leadership of Drum-Major Lucas, was
stationed in the orchestra, and discoursed excellent
music during the ermine. An overture by the
band commence I the entertainment, followed by a
pianqforte solo, "Johnson' Dore.," by Miss Lydon,
which was very tastefully played. Mr. Jameson,
whose readings in the Dorset dialect have made hint
such a favourite with Dorchester audiences, next read
an amusing piece illustrative of • cheerful man,
" Gammony Gay," who appeared to in be •
chronic state of jollity, whatever ills or woes
might befall him. As usual, Mr. Jameson had to read
• second piece, which we. even more amusing, entitled
" A Shy Man," which provoked hearty laughter. Miss
Kat* Williams rendered in her beat style, the charm-
ing little song "For Ever and For Ever," which was
received with genuine approval. Mrs. Everett'.
recitations were undoubtedly one of the main attrac-
tions of the evening, and on the present occasion, when
her efforts were devoted to the institutions which are
her special care, she recited both her selections with
an intensity and dramatic power which she has never
before surpass/ I. "The Defence of Lucknow," by
Tennyson. who appears to receive the greatest amount
of Mrs. Everett's attention, was given with great
power, and in a manner which brought the terrible
scenes of the dread sieze most vividly to mind. Con-
tinued applause creeted the lady at the chow of the
recital, and an encore was repeatedly called, but Mrs.
Everett wisely declined to repeat a poem of such length,
and one which must of tieces.ity be such a tax, both

I voves.

iiroo- lie'

on the physical and mental etrength of the reciter.
Miss Lydon followed with • pretty pianoiste solo, a
fantasia on the" Blue Bells of Scotland." Mies Kate
Williams and Mr.. Everett next sang • duet, " Beton
Vent° Spire, in star" (L. Radia). and Mr. Jameson
read another Dorset p em, entitled "Don't Care."
Mrs. Everett's vc mid piece was " liilpah." also by
the Laureate. This poem, depicting the death of •
mad mether, is a powerfully-written and affecting
one, and its true feeling and force were fully
interpreted by Mrs. Everett. Terrible and almost
repulsive in its details, the faithful rendering of the
linen was most effective and the Wing.
The cwww celclow, "Barden v. Pickwick," was the
principsl feature of the entertainment. Many well-
known gentlemen were cast for the various characters,
and this fact, doubtless, bad a considerable effect in
attracting such a crowded house. Of English humorous
literature, probably no work is so universally read aa
Charles Dickens' Pickwick, and of the whole of the
celebrated" Papers," nine are capable of provoking PO
much mirth aa the celebrated Trial. Mr. Pinkwick's
entry into the domestic circle of Mrs. Barden as a
"single gentleman," and all thou s amusing circum-
stances whicb led up to the slain d'anowr, for which
he was ultimately mulcted in costa at the Court of
common Pleas, are in the mind, of every one who has
read Pickwick, and the circumstances of the trial,
replete with real humour. afford scope for an excellent
comely. With the exception of the leading coutisel,
the characters have a comparatively easy task, but the
significant gestures and the make-up of the parties con-
cerned were • source of unlimited fun to the audience.
The following constituted the cat—
—

Judge, Mr. Jurtirs Stareleigh ........Tne Rev. H. Everett.
Serjeant Buzfuz (Counsel for Plaintig) Thorburn.
Mr. Flaubbin (Counsel for Defendant) Mr. A. 0. Smooth.
Mr. Picteick (the Defendant). ...... R. C. S. Pearce.
Mr. Wingle ....... ..... ..... G. Moyer.
Mr. Top laan . . 'Captain Wingfield.
Old W-iler.. . . Mr. Barnes.
Sun ....... -....... ........... ..._..111r. Mulcted*.
Mr. Dodson
ymt, Attorneys frr the Plaintiff I )I.rM
. Tballyr ay.
r Herm IL
Mr. Parker (Attorney for the Defeadana-Mr. Iff•ffra,`,o:ll.
Crier of the Court . ..... ....... Burnett.
Kra Bar.fell (the Plainiiff ..... -- .........A Lady.
Master Bardell
Kra Clapping

Tax iCIIT :
Major-Gineral Henning. C. 8., Foramen.
Lieut.-Colonel Clarkson. Captain Dymond.
Mr. Ferrer. Or. Faber.
Mr. Conatable. The Rev. U. Renkly.
Dr. Hamar. Mr. Jaekerni.
Captain Mathias. Captain Massa
Captain Sutton.

-
Without a good Buzfuz, the trial would be nothing,
and it would therefore follow that to Major Thorburn
a good deal of the present suocess is due. From first
to last he was • perfect counsel, and gave his well
known speech in just that style which one would
imagine the Burins of Dickeus' creation would have
assumed. It must be • somewhat difficult task to
commit the said speech to memory, bit Major
Thorburn was at a lose during till wh de of its
recital. Be Imparted to it that exaggeration of
feeling which is implied by the words, and provoked
repeate I ,ntburets f laughter at intervals, more
especially when he produces the "documents." with
their double attendee, which Mr. Pickwick bad caused
Ito be sent to his injured client. Waxing eloquent
in the glowing periods of his address, and thumping
the table in such a decided manner an to startle the
sleepy judge, he brought the celebrated speech to a
close amid great laughter and applause. Mr.
Everett's make-up as the Judge was capital, and he
imperil meted the old Justice in a very amusing
manner. Mr. G. Floyer was an admirable Winkle
Pickwick's nervous friend—and caused considerable
amusement by the manna in which he gave him
evidence. Mr. A. G. Symonds did what little he had
to do as Mr. finubbin, well. Mr. Heatable made a
first-rate Sammy. Mr. Burnett called the curt to
order most lustily, and Mr. Fisher informed the
Judge, In a sweetly innocent sad unconcerned
manner, that there would be "murder done," if
he were detained. Mrs. Methiss caused roars of
laughter as Mrs. Cluppins, both on account of her
costume and her poartrayal of that worthy individual
who" scorns the haction." All the characters were well
made up. One slight drawback we are constrained to
remark on, viz., the abrupt manner in which the trial
aimed. If a little anonymous fun could have been
inserted its order to have lenrthened the finish, It
might have been better. Not that it would improve
on Dickens, but the finish as it stow", was quite
startling. The National Anthem brought the enter-
tainment to a dom.