The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-11 00:00:00

LITERARY AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

Last evening the members of the Literary and Dramatic
Society gave an histrionic performance, at Clayton-hall, and
were honoured by an elegant, intellectual, and crowded
audience. The spacious hall was tastefully prepared for
the occasion ; the stage arrangements were complete ; and
the courteous attention of the stewards of the evening were
such as might be expected from a body of gentlemen, and
hence all that could be desired. Of the performances of the
evening, it is with the highest gratification that we are
enabled to speak in terms of the most unqualified praise.
The programme developed the claims to the title by which
the society has chosen to designate itself. Its literary
character was upheld by the original prologue and epilogue,
written by two of its members ; its dramatic name and fame
was sustained by the admirable histrionic efforts of the gentle-
men who embodied the dramatis porsonce ; and while thus far
everything was excellent, the exquisite vocalisation of Mr.
Samuel Campbell would justify an extension of the society's
nomenclature, by the addition of the definition " musical."
But we have run on to that which really ought to have
been the end of our task, and must retrace our steps to
pass a comment on individual exertions in the night's enter-
tainments. With a punctuality which would have done
credit to a patent theatre, the curtain rose precisely at
half-past seven o'clock, when the following original pro-
logue, written by Mr. Edwin Young, was delivered with
great taste, effect, and expression by Mr. Robert B. Cromp-
ton. The prologue ran thus
No longer Discord o'er the nations wields
Her blood-stain'd sceptre ; nor on eastern fields
Unfurls her standard, urging to the fight,
Man arm'd in wrong 'gainst man defending right ;
The herald-trump proclaims the contest past,
The demon Havoc quails before the blast.
War's low'ring thunder-clouds have roll'd away,
And Peace, o'er Europe burst, with genial ray
To glad the hearts of fond confiding ones,
Whose lion-mettled husbands, sires, or sons,
Have pass'd unscath'd through Alma's gory fray,
Heroic Balaklava, and that day
Of Albion's triumph, when full many a serf,
In Inkerman's dark valley strew'd the turf ;
To fill those hearts with hope that Concord's reign
Will give the long-lost to their arms again !
Now, when on lightning wing, from shore to shore,
The cry is borne, " Peace ! Peace !" and war no more
Shall drench Crimean plains with priceless gore ;
Wben infant lips glad acclamations raise,
And veteran age takes up the note of praise ;
When booming cannon and the pealing bells
Echo the cry, and every bosom swells
With joy, exultant at the declaration,
We, beg to issue our " PIECE Proclamation !"
[Showing a bill of the evening.]
Our piece proclaimed, thus, our terms are plain,
All that we wish is your (to house) goodwill to gain ;
To please is e'er our motto ; and to-night
We'll do our all to give the mot' o light;
And in return, ask for our sev'ral parts,
The welcome f your hands, and of your hearts!

The prologue ended, the first dramatic performance com-
menced. Most judicionel the celebrated trial scene, which

ends the fourth act of Shakspere's " Merchant of Venice,"
was selected, to put to the test the stage capabilities of the
members of the society. And most nobly they passed the
ordeal The Shylock of the scene was carefully and chastely
embodied by Mr. Lowten Lowten, who, eschewing conven-
tional points, presented a perfect portraiture of the " Jew,"
which Shakspere drew. The reading of Mr. Lowten evi-
denced a scrupulous study of the author, and though no
.hits" were attempted, his succeis in the part he had under-
taken was complete. To the Bassanio of Mr. E. Wilson,
and the Antonio of Mr. A. Rogers, the most cynical critic
could not take exception. Perfect in their respective parts
these gentlemen contributed much to the general effect of
the scene, and never outatepped that characteristic of the
actors' art, " the modesty of nature," What shall we say
of Mr. R. Crompton's Gratiano? A word will almost
convey our estimate, when we say that the open-
ing raillery, and the curt rebukes of Shylock,
were rendered with an effect which might almost place this
-ank of the best light comedy actors. Far

gentleman in the

st of the ch

acters necessary for the general raise to

scene, our Want of space preclud.:3 our saying more than
that the Duke of Venice was most ably personified by Mr.
E. Young, whose clear intonation added considerable effect;
and that the parts rendered of Solanio, Salarino, and
.Nerissa, which are subordinate in this ex2erince of a most
splendid play, were scrupulously rendered by Mr. J.
Jones, by Mr. J. Gibson, and by fir. L, Wainwright. The
curtain enclosed the actors amidst the most rapturous
applause, and it evidences the good taste of the audience
that no preference was given by a call before it of any one
of the gentlemen who had so well and so perfectly contri-
,ed to their ayusemeut. The ballads so sweetly
filledsweet up
ly sung by
edthe
o say that this gentle.

Mr. S. Campbell,
intervals, and here we may pans

man was

encored in his first essay, " Gaud bye, sweetheart,
good bye," and only escaped a similar dumand for the repe-
tition of the charming ballad, " Thera is a flower that
lnloomoth," by the kindly consideration of the audience for
his tasteful and highly gratifying exertions. The affiehe
of the night closed with Douglas Jerrold's most elegant
comedy " St. Cupid, or Dorothy's Fortune." The caste of
the characters was excellent, and evidenced the admirable
judgment of the stage manager (whoever he may be), of
our amateur corps dramatique. We assume that the plot is
familiar to the play-going portion of our readers, and, under
that assumption, they will well comprehend the allocation
we are constraiced, unwillingly, to give to the characters.
Imprimus, we would ask where Mr. G. Meyrick borrowed
his vis comics, and so quaintly, so perfectly, and so naturally
presented so perfect a realisation of Jerrold's design of the
character of Dr. _Budd. The pedagogue was shown to a
truism, and Mr. Meyrick ()aye indications undeniable that
an amateur can tread closely on the steps of the practised
actor, without indulging in imitations which denude
original talent of its worth. We might say more, but
fear that eulogy might discourage the ardour of this budding
specimen of comicality. The Sirralentine May, of Mr. R. B.
Cummins, was easy, and therefore gentlemanly. Mr. E.
Wilson was the best of cousins, and most ardent of lovers,
as Ensign Belle/cur; Mr. Lowten exchanged the sock for the
buskin with great effect as Hr. Under Secretary Zero. The
Queen Ree of Mr. R. Compton was admirable, and the other
characters were supported with an exactitude and perfection
that must have won the approbation of the most severe
stage director. As a whole, the comedy was acted to
perfection, and, at its termination, an original epilogue was
spoken by the characters. The epilogue was thus
distributed :

Valentine. So ends our comedy! But, ere we go ;
If we deserve them, pray your smiles bestow. [A pause.
Juno. Hollo, your feller there! Let down the curtain.
[Speaking to Prompter
Zero. Our actings sent him off to sleep.

Valentine. That's certain.
Do ring that bell ! You see we cannot stir.
Queen Bee. It's your affair to ring the belle, my sir !
Valentine. If you don't quickly let the curtain fall, I'll
[To .Prompter.

speak again

Zero.- So I.
Doctor Budd. So I.

Onmes

So all

Zero.• And I'll begin (to andience.)—
Pray join your hands, because

Our Prompter's sure to wake at your applause.
I've been so cheated in affairs of state.

My secretaryship I abdicate

La-dies, to you I must entrust my cause

Pray, smile forgiveness ! Dare I seek applause,
On promise to be more gallant amain;
Of course, I'd ask it of the gentlemen.

A jealousy for Eug and's high renown ;
The people's weal, the honour of the crown,
My aim was ; —and to put all treason down.
Valentine. Suppose you put the modern bonnet down !
Since it's the new "Pretender to the Crown."

Zero. I trust my zeal this loyal house commends,
And that I gain the approval of my friends.
Juno. I'm servant at " the Lalocs," as you know,
Give me a character afore I go !
I'm told to ax this favor, 'cause Queen Bee
Has told my fortin, and says I shall see.

That like Miss Dorothy's, 'twill all come true,
It is that I shall gain applause of you.

I shall be happy ii it turns out so :,

Gaining youi smiles and favors, I shall know
The happiness these folks already do know,
" The Laloes" will be Paradise to Jano.

Budd. My traitor nephew's 'scaped the traitor's death,
The news has put me almost out of breath ;