The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-03-01 00:00:00

31IXDPORT.

AMATEUR THEATRICALS.

The Drill Hall was densely crowded on Thursday even-
ing but, when two well-known and excellent fume were
played by amateurs of the town. The proceeds were to be
devoted to the National Sohool Fund, and Captain
Whettuun kindly lent the hall for the occasion. After
the characters had been cast, and the date for representa-
tion fixed. it was feared wauld cla.lo with the concert
given by the Orchestral Society, so the promoters of the
theatrical entertainment kindly pmmised half the proceeds
to that society. In return for this several members of the
Orchestral Sleety formed a band and supplied the music
for the occasion.
All the chairs were secured prior to the performance be
the elite, and long ere the curtain rose on Thursday night
every part of the house was crammed. Indeed, dozens
could not find seats, and the crush at the doors was so
unbearable that one young lady fainted. The large gallery
was pecked to the brim with "god.," who seemed bent
upon enjoying themselvee flowerer, strange to my, they
made but ligt,le interruption, no doubt learning from past
experience that an amateur performance will go off just
as well without their iaterference.
The bend played an overture, when the curtain rose to
"Boots at the Swan."
Cut :
Ifs. Henry Higgins F. Terry
Captair Frank Friskiy R. libdon
Miss C +cilia M mush Illunden
Ries Emily Trevor-- ............. ....Kim Roles
Jacob Earwig ..... ..... .....:Mr. a Thorne
Peter Pippin ..... W. Hartgill
Bally Smith ••• ...... ..... Weeks
This mirth-stirring farce occupied over an hour to repre-
sentation, when, after a musical interlude, the "Sturple.
chase" or' In the Pig Skin' was represented.
Both thus farces, the first by Charles Selby, of the
Dramatic Author's Society, and the latter by lobo K.
unagsulosesayi:mdare eolawtfwheoellUemowktntothoime nr....tosizametiplteimiasuprsiouLthat”
7.1. t would be
Doctor J. B. White
Mrs*Titlunhi ..... ........ _Kw Weeks
Mrs. Clipper.. ... Minden
Cummings ...... Hartgill
... . ....... Norodom
Thomas ............ .... ... ...... Mr. Ebdon
it le difficult to say which lame pleased the audience
most both abound with vivacity humour, wit, and
misrule, and as, to • certain extent, extravagance is the
soul of farce, every character had full scope for excellent
by-play. which wits afforded in many instances during
both farces. Most of the actors have been previously before
tbe amateur foot-lights, and some of them appear ',WHY
at horse before them se in their daily occupations The
ladies did admirably. NW Mandan came out nobly in
Übe character of Hiss Ifoonalline, a romantic lady, with
, • fond attachment to extraordinary novelties. This
, cherader for • casual amasser is somewhat difi
requiring video* saumistion sad the arrisplion

melo•dramatic attitudes ;but 'diet Milliden appeared COW
11horn,,and mtin'ained the charac'Ar to Vle life. She
tdid equally well iss Mrs. C inner and Chambermaid in the
f.oSa trPvi°alChuaueble."assiNtstaileWoenekt.ihstslfi*,:f wchwairktaarobletuli
flShe,it remarkablyd‘tvelpenince
ahl:et:,
bias.
,3"Sally"g
has helm previously commented upon in these column& •
and as Mrs. Tit'urns in the second. Miss It ilss had •
minor ch aractir ti sustain, hut considering this to le her
sand it assuredly nit have
Mr. G. Thorne had the "conic element" all to himself.
in tlo first hum,
I He kept the house in • continual titter, as he only
besu in
cm. a '' Boot." and " tutus " Mr. Thorne excelled.
bilentteherrbdaenbeld....
Saying Mr. Th irn is the b., .t einsteur low come lian in
the county la hying a sre deal, but it Is n v..tt melee! •
fact. Mr. White has also provionsly heel, noi tho• broudi.
I and was remarkable as usual for the lair-like manner in
I which he f iilfilled his allotted character. Mr. Terry was
petrel as Higgins, although the character wIS anythittg
hut easy ti sustain. We most nit forget Me.
for he made an excellent " Pippin" and " Catnniings.
only trusting that the dangerous proclivity of pilfering
!wherry jam terminated With the programme. M any
irregularities in the personification of Frank Friskly in
"Boots at the Swan" were noticeable. thy might be
pardoned on Vas ground that the personator had but
short untie.), and consequently had lot • very
limited acquaintance with the piece. lio sever, that
the pieces gave general satisfaction was testified by
the genemns applause, which greeteil the et-loco( all who
aw.i.ded. The wigs, &-, were supplied as usual, by Mr.
W. R. P. Jeffery, of Wey. month. and avaM this time Ur.
Jeff sry gave general satisfaction. Ton ruisistance of
Sergeant-Major Waits, as prompter was happily but
little heeled, hut the efforts of Mr. J. B. White, as stage
r n
tt tal
heer tyo "'Wd W
;11 take ae
n am
t door!.theinformed
Thou after all expense, are deir iyed a good surplus
remains for the Irinefit of the Bridport Orchestral Society,
and the National School Fund.