The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1886-04-06 00:00:00

AMATEUR DRAMATIC
PERD)RMANCES.

in Tuesday and Wednesday eveninga performances
were given in the Theatre Royal, by the Royal
Victoria Amateur Dramatic Company, in aid of that
very deserving institution, the Weymouth Hospital.
Th is amateur company was instituted for the very com-
mendable purism.. of benefiting
_charitable causes. The
members have figured before Weymouth audiences on
several former occasions, and have left plea.ing
recollectionn in the mind. of many of their friends
and supporter.. The piece, represented this time
were the drama, 'laid in his OwnCm," and • new
version id the piripular burlesque of " Aladdin."
" PAP" in his Own Coin," is an excellent drama ;the
fact that the curtains i.f several of the Loudon
theatres have risen upon the representation of the
same being ample proof of ita merit. The cast wan
as follows:

.....
Squire Chaan, (Lord of the Manor) Mr. C.
'Whop; Wakefield (a broken down farmer) Mr. John
hee ; Charle. Nlaydew (a young farmer) Mr. William
It. V. Steven.; Luke, Mr. Harold A. liSteven., ;
Philip la Sailor, on of farmer Wakefield) Mr. A. E.
Yeatman ; !lobby Trot (a Gmantry lad, A 113110,114 to
nee London), Mr. W. C. Sainway.; Michael (an II
I “1.3) Mr. W. R. I'. Jeffery • Ti 101114,4 (land). rd of
the King'. Head) Mr. !Loge Clara Wakefield
(the farmer'. daughter' Mi. Etild 3.muy (a
Country Kir)) N 1.44 1.14 Wentworth ; Farm
Laiamlypt, ke. .. . . .

The following i 4 a very brief outline of the Plot.
which takes one Weir and a 11311 in representation.
At I, Scene I. Exterior of the King's Head Inn.
—Here we observe Clara and Chad.', in pailosAholime
cenvereetion, the former iihowing sign.. if melancholy
in ace.eint of her father'e recent imprisonment for •
debt owing to Lillie, once a eervant in his employ,
awl who, like inwit men in a depraved state, is at the
Inn indulging in the draught which had been the
means id riiininF anil oftimis. Iwinging him awl hi.
family to death .1 door. Char'. reason, in friendly
tin',, awl a loam! id stollesl by the arli. Si of the
village 'moire. Ile;condoles with the dmighter, offers
pecuniary assistance., and make. an appointment to
i..' her thereon, Now we have the 'epiire's &wit
IP. is iwcretly, and to WIC • common term, "madly in
boa" with Clara, and in order to obtain the object of
his adopt+ the course Id making the wretchod
Loki. his confidante. The first idep is taken, Charles.
IClara's beet friend) is ant out of the way on a fool's
errand, by means of • letter entrusted to Bobby.
flowerer iliwingthe day the former may. the debt and
IValcefield

*PM 2. --Wakefield's liouse.-11 in return, coil at
the same time Ipike enter. and in surprised to find the
111.11 P ,f lr.. He explain. his 111111iIIMN and makes
fP.rtain airangements for the daughter to meet Squire
Chem, Wakefield, evidently unsatisfied, rake. up
old grievances, and !Ake, enraged, describes in low
pathetic sentences his younger days, the farrner'S
harsh treatment, starvatiott,. the fearful death of his
wife, " piles on the agi.ny, ' lays the whole cause of
his ruin at the Lome, • door, and both being roused
to a pitch .4 escitement, the scene closes on the point
of a desperate iiiiarnd.
Scene 3. - The Squire's Apartments. Luke is
arranging their plan. Inc •brltacting Clara. Later oil
she calls, according f,, appointment, and then learn.
the 'iouire's into character. She refines, to listen to
his strange propositions, coil flies from the house in
terror.

Scene dark woiel, rough weather, and mid.
night. —Luke and the 'tire are concealed. Chun,
retimninit to the farm, in captured, and in Ow iitriiftelii
who in wandering through the wood, °hoer, no
the nituation, met, with gal, ,r.like activity, *end*
them both •tistinnl to newher mirth. mactew the
girl, end
. . . .

Act 11., Scene - The King's Ifead.—Ltike, as
usual, in an inebriated condition, and in the sailor's
c impany. .Ifter a scene of considerable length he i•
recognised liy a blow ion the forehead ex one of the
no enromitered in the wi sal the previous night, and
i• threatened by the aailor, who makes for his father's
hone.

..... .
Scene fl—Wakefield, kitchen.—Philip's return.
The family are totally ignorant that he is their win,
who wool kidnapped when a babe. He is on the point
of milcing himself known, when he rushes from the
house to protect • rimy from being ill-treated in the
lane hard by. This turns out to be Michael, who, a
few minute, afterwards, meeta Luke, whore he
nroognises as the very man who stole the child.
i Luke's offer a.f a bribe s refused, and he leaves the
some fully determined to take the boy'n life, and thus
have revenge nfl Wakefield for the death of his wife.
Scene 7.—Wakefield's liouse.—Philip has made
himself known, hit the family rejoicings are .topped
by the arrival of Luke, who bursts in at the door,
maw% at the sailor presenting a loaded pistol, which
the latter knocks from hia grasp, and the weapon
explodes in the air. To sum up—Luke's treachery
and fearful career are now brought home tai him, he is
Main within an MY of murder, feels that • gaol will
be his doom, and in fairly bound to admit being
"Paid in his own coin."
Mr. Harold A. G. Stevens aa "the villain in the
plot" sustained his part exceedingly well thnewhotit,
and was frequently heartily applauded. Hi.' get
up" wee good, and although he has appeared before
Weymouth audiences on several occasions ma an
amateur, it 1111 evident that each time he improves.
Mr. W. R. P. Jeffery as the old gipsy was well
received, and did Attice to his part. Some of the
other characters did fairly well.
The drama was followed by a new venien of the
bnrlesare, entitled "Aladdin, or the Wonderful
Lamp, . the Nub. for which was as follows: —Kassrac
(merman), Mr GO Inif.• ROO. Rum Jum, with songs
(Chinese astrologer), Mr W K P Jeffery ; Shi Ha
(his accomialice),_Nlr Peter King; Aladdin, with songs,
Mr William B V Jeffery; .tbanasar. with sow. (king
of magician.). Mr Harold A ( Stevens; the Enipenw
c,,0g00.., with wanes (a monarch who labour, under
many troubled. Mr .% E Yeatitian_; the Grand Vizier
On. I' • • Nlinister), Mr John Lee • Prince
with song (his son), Mr C H A Bishop ; Widow
Mii.tapha, with sour (a nice Id cup of China). Mr
W C Samwayo Pnnee.• Badreallbadour, !ffis. Ethel
King ; Flamm, with *mg. (the fairy queen), Ilia. Ida
Wentworth ; mandarins, attendant., rivals and
iwrvants.

Mr. H. Hitahe* managed the limelight arrange.
nient. ; Mr. W. It. I'. Jeffery mi. the acting and atage
nianager ; Nlr. William B. V. Jeffery the property
muter ; and Nfr. Scott the simile Jolter.
The find night a large and faahionable audience
witnewed the performanrea.