The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-02-06 00:00:00

THE DORCHESTER AMATEUR MINSTRELS.

This newly-orgsolsed body of minstrels, composed
of the sone of well-known inhabitants of the town
gave • most enooseeful entertainment at the Town
Hall on Friday evening last, in sad of the funds of
tiss Working Mee's Institute. This institute Is •
GOWN of much amusement and instruction to the
young mendf the town, but recently it has not sailed
along so pleseantly es it might, and its funds are not
In the most satisfactory condition. It wee • happy
Idea that prompted the Minstrels to give an enter-
tainment in its aid, and we are IWO the good round
sum which was netted will be accepted with the
utmost pismire by the managing oonsmittee of the
imtitatc The Minstrels, it may be remembered, per.
formed at the Union last year. when they afforded
much pleasure to the inmates. This year they made
whet we suppose can be called their &OM before the
Dorchester public, sad they are to be congratulated
on an unqualified mesas. It was • boisterous night,
but, notwithstanding the deterring ineasname of the
wind sad rain, the Town Hall was taxed to its utmost
limits to seat all, and mosey was abeolutaly turned
away. Ls the front seals we notioed Mr. and Mrs.
Fetberstonhaugh, Captain and Mies Foster, Mrs.
Everett, the Klemm Berm, the Masror and Mies
Greenin, Rev. H. P. Bakes, Rev. lather Poole,
Mr. H. Symonda,. mi. and Mrs. Ooomiss, Miss
Rust sbic lb. K. Burnett and party, Mr. Hastab'e,
Lieut. Haines, Kr. Manartney, Mr. WiDoe, Mr. and
Mrs. T. 8. Blur, Mr. Tbackeray, ac.
An excelismt proscenium and stage bed been erected

by Mr. Robinson.
The following were the members of the troupe .
Mr. A. Stewart • Interlocutor.
Mr. H. P. Miller ... •• ... Piano.
Mr. A. B. Hill ... ... Cornet.
Me. It L. ..• Co, net and Drum.
Mr. T. W. !downers Violin.
S. Miller • Violin.
Mr. J. Hannah ... •.. Piccolo.
Mr. F. Bishop ... ••• .., Double Bus.
Mr. V. Vaughan ... Guitar.
Mr. H. IL thinsou Triangle.
Mr. W. Watkins ... ••• Bones.
Mr. T. Foamy ... .. Tambourine.
Mentor A. K. Holland, Idr. L. Vickery, Mr. J.
Feeney, sad Master A. Guy.
The overture wee • selection from Sullivan's opera,
" The Pirates of Pensance," which wag played with
great spirit by the bead, who at the outset gave •
good impression of their abilities as instrumentalist..
A well-known Ethiopian chorus, "Down the River,"
commenoed UN goal performance. It was capitally
song, the solo being well taken by Mr. A. S. Hill
The next song, C cee the Shutter., Willie's Dead,"
which was given by Mr. T. W. Mowleen, was
from some cause not good at the commenoement,
which was possibly doe to nervousness, but in
the latter portion he was much better in tune. His
want of muse in this first tong was decidedly not
doe to his lack of ability, as his succeeding efforts
usaiwa. bk. Watkins I" boom") wand much
amusement by his Tenderise of the humorou=
" The Four Borsht," and he was lon fly app
Mr. Foamy displayed an excellent voice in the song
"Little Sweetheart," which was most teetotally
rendered. • similar compliment may also be paid
Ur. A. L. Vickery tor his refined singing of Wrighton's
song, "Beauty of the Mind." The first encore of the
sluing was gained by the youngest members of the
troupe, Masters A. Gay and A. K. Holland for the
nerg "Little Empty ()radio," which wastly and
pleasantly sang. Mr. T. Potency (tambourine) gave
an ucadingly droll rendering of the song " Huh
a-bye, Baby." Oae of the best song' of the evening
wee undoubtedly" Lade March Around the Corner,'
by Mr. A. S. Hill, who paleness • voice of excellent
quality, and whish he used to good advantage The
ludicrous composition, "The Awkward Squad,"
described in nigger pulsing as • walk-round, was
well song by Kr. Walides, and brought the first part
to a dom.
The second part opened with the comic song
" Sammy Summers," for which Mr. 11. Legg, who
well imitated stottewing Sammy, Lined • hearty
*wore. Arthur Lloyd's comic duet, tipper Ten and
Lower Vire," was nest wag in character by Messrs.
Moldova and Watkins. The former gave • capital im per-
solution of • choice member of the "hopper suckle."
Mr. Watkins being equally good as the less fortunate
individual. One of the mod amusing events of the
evening was Mr. T. Poneoy's stomp oration, "The
Talkiphone," which was • sum of infinite mirth t
the audiences. Ur. Portnoy was one of the corner moo,
and without doubt the leader of the comic element in
the troupe. He appeared in clerksl habiliments, with
academical gown and the orthodox mortarboard, and
his make-up was most ludicrous. His " shakeroeity '
was • wonderful esoutrivance, and remarkably
suggestive of • ooffundill. Tbe eldentifie inventor
rave • lug sad sideaplittiog amount of its powers.
The oration and the final expo 4 were intensely limey,
and the lecturer was heartily applauded. Mr. Y.
Bishop welleeraed an moors for his song "The Tar'.
Farewell," which well displayed his powers and his
excellent bale voice. The remaining items were
the undo song._" She Trotted me off to Church,''
In
character. by Mr. T. )(owner, and • cornet duet, "I
Meow • Beak" (Horn). by Messrs. Hill end .
Mr. H. P. Miller wee the ecouptaist in most of e
uses sad Unwise, In wisloh,timity be gave evidence
of considerable ability al •
The plus la which the taQ77'
of the troupe centred
was the aseending faros " Rom'as from Rome." or
" Hercules end Ajax.' It is an extreva(saga of the
most promenaded comic character. Mr. Markey
Chomp, an uthnelesdc art collector, is poisoned
of many valuable corloeities, se well se • handsome
daughter. The young lady is destined by her
father to be the bride of Mr. Chips (from Rome), who
has gromised the old man as his gad pro quo a
statue ofAjax. Arabella, daughter of
grattl loves another, Captain Smith, who being
determined to win the fair girl. and circumvent
the hateful Chips, bits upon the plan of manufactur-
ing • statue out of the boy Julies. Being somewhat
mixed in her " *ludas," however, Arabell
cannot inform her lover of the particular ancient
Individual whom Chips' statue is to represent;
the outdo unfoetunately hits upon Hercules, who is
to be reprueeted by the irrepressible and whi.keye
loving nig tee Julius. The latter is &reed in •
gorgeous out of mail and helmet, and placed on •
p destal, where be I, made to poem with club uplifted,
and representing " Henan. decimating the Stympha.
lidos" The splendid " entique " is critically ex endued
by Chomp, who, however, is not quite satisfied as to
the bourn .44. a
se ens a the captale who, in th,
has in aced himself lb; • table Chips. The
business at this stage is of the most amusing character.
The old ono, however, is delighted with his suaied
lion, which is truly • Gas specimen, and he ham
accepted the captain as his future emi-la•lew. Now
the rest sad only Chips puts in en appearance; but,
sed.to relate, he too is en imposter, his " Ajax " bning
no leis than his nigger Joe. The fan now beAine.
Julio., stiff and sore from his protracted posture as
" Harry Clue," has sought refuge in the Dutch clock.
The Aims arrives with (Nips, is placed on the mime&
ling "Ajax defying his mother-In-la.'), and
tPr"n
taoo, is critically examined by old Chomp. The
climax nowapproaches—the rival statues and the rival
lovers meet, the former fraternise over a bottle of
whi•key, the latter both confess their deceit to the
Injured old Chomp, and the captain, as the lesser
villain, wins Arabella,.
This, in brief, is the outline of one of the most
seeming farces we have seen. The care was as
followe :
Oborkey Chow) Ow art collector) Mr. H. P. Miller.
Jolene (otherwise Hercules) Mr. T. Pouocy.
Oeptala Smith Mr. A. H. MA
Mr. Chips (from Rena) Mr. J. Hannah.
JAorelotheaserwies Ajax) Mr. H. Robinson.
Chump Mr. A. L. Vick, Ty.
Mr. H. P. Miller bad • large share of the work
As Oborkey be was admirably nude up, and gave •
capital impersonation of the old antiquary. Mr. T.
Porcait an
caused roars of laughter as Julies sad
Hier d Mr. H. Robinson was also a firet-rate
Ajax. r. A. S. Hill and Mr. Hannah well raw,-
meted the rivals. Mr. Vickery, as the lady of the
piece, acted carefully and well. Altogether the faros
was thoroughly suco—sfnl. and thew troupe versed
warm commendalions for the oars and trouble they
most have bestowed on their several parts. Mr.
J.ffery. of Weymouth, provided the wigs and drums.
The Nat West Anthems brought an sinneing and
pleasant erasing to • awe.

-gaiter

Ho!'!'sh•