The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-12-20 00:00:00

MILITARY THEATRICALB AT HE CORM

EXCHANGE.

Under the able mmagement cf Captain Mlit11•11, •
theatrical entertainment was given at the Corn
Exchange on Wedneslay evening, in aid of the Build-
log Fund of the County Museum. If the attendance
of the gentry of the neighbourhood is any guarantee of
the sympathy and interest felt by them in this
medially county movement, there surely should not
be much difficulty in raising the remainder of the
money required. The attendance on Wednesday
evening me large and fashionable, and comprised
many who must hare been put to considerable trouble,
if not inconvenience in order to help intim good cause.
Among thud who hid secured seats were the follow-
ing : —Mr. and Mrs. A. liankes (Wolvetoo), Mies
lane, Capt. and Mrs. liansei: the Mimes Manse), Mr.
O. W. Fioyer, Capt. R. B. loiter, it. N., and party,
Mre. Dyiliond, Mrs Dousibleun, C. Wilkinson
(Commeoling ail Brigade Depoi), General Osborne
Wilkinson, The Mayor of Dorciesterand Mrs. Hanson,
Mr. J. F. and Miss Hodges, Mr. and Mrs. B. Hodges,
Mr. and Mlles IL B. Middletin, Mr. EL N. Middleton,
Mr. and Mrs. Pope, Capt. Newell, Mr. and mess
Pearce, Dr. and Mrs. Aldndge, Mr. Arthur and MSG
Symonds, Miss Penton, Mr. and Mrs. Peard-Jillard,
Mies Thornton, Major and Mr. Homer, Mr.
Coombe, Mies bluxiable, Mr. and Mu. ti. W.
Andrews, Mr. J. U. Andrews, Mrs. Coombs, Mr. and
Mies Spam, Captain and Misses diairley, Mr. h.
Pups, Mr. Farrar'
s Mrs. Blackstone Williams Mr.
and the Lion. Mr Williams,
Wil Rev. Spencer timid),
Mrs. and Mies Cambridge, Mr. and Mrs. Burnett, Mr.
and Mrs. Waren, Captain, 'Min and Mias Amyst.t,
Mr. tiewgill, Mr. sad Mrs. Kladeraley, Mrs. Free-
man Miss Crane, Mr. and Mrs. Biggs, Rey. H. P.
harks., Rev A. A. Leonard, Mrs. Everett, Ur. G.
Maned, Mr. liaikes, Mr. Li. Ling, Mr. and Misses
Pave', Mr. and Mrs. dhore, Rev. and Mrs. Mackey,
Mr. Maher, Mr. Short°, Mrs. Howe, bill. and Mir
Dunn, Mrs. Dron, Mir Cole, ete.
The mating arrangement, were carefully attended
to by Mr. H.. Ling.
A handsome new stage front had been erected, of a
nailer original but certainly pleaaing design. It is of
black and gold, and demigod. sow. are informed, lifter
Ike style of the London Haymarket Theatre. The
stage altogether is of very capacious dimensions, and
appears to be admirably constructed. Mr. Wood,
upholsterer, of High West-street, certainly deserves
praise for am manner in which the stage erection and
It. accompaniment have been carried out.
A oomedietta, in two acts, entitled "An Affair of
Honour," opened the performance, and a most amusing
affair it certainly was. Being whet is known in stage
parlance as a " dram piaci," the costumes were of the
most elaborate description, with all the paraphernalia
of faahion in vogue in the last century. The cast
was as follows :—Major Limkey, Mr. Downinan
(Gordon H ghlanders); Captain Carnage, Mr. Webb
' (late of the 71gh Regiment); Dr. Clements, Captain
Matbir (Gordon Highlanders); Madame Tourville,
%Ins. Webb; Martha, Mr..
.biathiss. The events

ft;Vhis coln-dietta are—supcseed to be enacted during
the old Peninsular days. wo English Dragoons and
the doctor have been enslaved by the charms of the
French Madame. Madame Tonrville is a thorough-
going coquette, and treats all three gallants in
pretty much the sane manner. The Doctor is
the only honourable swain of this estimable trio,
but he Ins to undergo a rebuff at first at the
hands of Madame. Th. ,t.her two are • pair of empty-
headed coxcombs, b ~f whom pride themselves on
the number of their conquests. Both at last are
smitten by Madame Tourville, and both are equally
determined to win her. After some amusing details,
Capt. Carnage obtains an interview with the lady and
confesses his lore in a most ardent manner. In the
meantime his rival, Major Limkey, has, with the help
of the maid Martha, secreted himself behind • screen,
and hears the proposal of the Captain. At an interest-
ing stage of the Interview, and bearing himself
slandered by the gallant captain. he is unable to
restrain himself and bursts from his biding place, to
the utter diecomforture of the captain and the lady.
The result ie that both ire rejected by the madame,
and in their disappointment and chagrin, they feel
inclined to light it out, but • friend turns up in the
person of the doctor, who invents a most ingenious
mode of eettling the difficulty. The piece through-
out went with remarkable smoothness!, and at
the close the performers were heartily applauded.
Mr. Webb, as the captain, played in his usually mirth'
provoking style, and Mr. Do seaman proved an excellent
major. Captain Mathias also played remarkably well
as the doctor. Mn. Webb impersonated the French
lady in an easy and unaffected manner, and her acting
was much admired. Mrs. Mathias had a very small
part WI Martha, but what little work accompanied this
character was exedingly well done.
In the interval Col. Viilkinaon gave two recitations
in his well-known style, and ids brother, Gen. Osborne
Wilkinson, also recited two pieces, and was enthusi-
astically applauded.
A farce, or • "laughable absurdity in one act," as
the programme terms it, brought the performance to •
close' and this, too, was of a highly amusing character.
The characters were as follows :—Odbody. Mr. Down-
man • Eventide, Mr. Webb; Edmund, Mr. Jenkins
(Doneet Regiment); Grimm, Mr. Sainsbury (Dorset
R E
Regiment); Mrs. ventide, Mrs. Mathias • Ellen,
Mn. Webb. Mr. Dor/amen Was simply perfection as
the miachief-making Odbody' and Mr. Webb had an
admirable make up, and well represented the crusty
and fiery Eventide. Mr. Sainsbury caused hearty
laughter by the droll and espy manner in
which he impersonated the " slave" Grimes. Mr.
Jenkins made an excellent Edmund. Of theladies, Mrs.
Mathias played with all the ease and humour which
characterized her last performance, and she was loudly
applauded. Mrs. Webb, too, proved a charming Ellen.
Like the first piece, no fault could be found in the
manner in which it was planed on the stain, and the
general smoothness with which it was worked must
have been highly gratifying to the stage manager,
Capt. Mathias, as well as to tha performers.
On Thursday evening, notwithstanding the =favour-
able weather, the attendance was again large, and the
performance paired off with the utmost success.
A band. under Drum-major Lucas, played an admir-
able selection of music during the evening.