The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-05-21
Our Amateur Company Performing Pima
fore =

day evening. with an audience composed of ON
best society, to witness the performance Of PIN
afore. The we'll known company of amateurs
attracted, no dohst. a large party Of friends to
witness the Performance and the numerous
turnout was also partly occasioned by the re-
opening of our beautiful new Hall. This re-
opening seemed like the breaking of the ice of
the frigid quarantine, that has for four months
bound up public business and entertainment.
To sit in the tasteful Hall again, and to look at
the exquisite drop scene, seemed like the dawn
ing of a new era to weary and beleagured souls.
Therefore, all present were in good humor, and
ready to give a kindly welcome, undeP any cir
cumstanceS. to the entertainers OF the evening.
These amateur ladies and gentlemen have had
a pretty long training. by frequent rehearsals OF
the operetta: and we hasten to say that on its pres
entatibn they demonstrated that they had made
very good use of their time. The whole per-
Torrance was very creditable, and not unworthy
OF a stock company Of some experience. OF
course, there was no starry vocalizatiOn; there
is no occasion for any III the composition; it is
a dramatic operetta, a~tfording opportunity for
the display of a good deal of tableau, action,
and by-play; and we must say that our amateurs
improve the opportunity very satisfactorily.
The quarter deck scene, with guns, ports, and
the rolling blue sea beyond, is very fine and inn
pressive; and the mise en- scene of the company,
when the neatly dressed tars, with the royster-
ing bos'n, the gallant Captain, the consequential
Admiral, and the Captains fair daughter, with
Cousin Hebe, Buttercup and the Sisters and
the Cousins and the Aunts, - all are grouped to-
gether: is artistic and dramatically effective; and
reflects great credit on the study Of the anna
tours, and the skill of stage director Brown.
OF course we don't want to take up a critical
pen in discussing the performance Of ladies and
gentlemen who offer entertainmant without any
compensation for themselves; however, if a just
criticism was challenged, in our opinion, we do
not think it could find occasion for any harsh
As We have said, there is no occa-
lion IN this lyric performance for any prima
donna style of singing; nevertheless, we were
highly pleased with the rendering Of the part of
Josephine by Miss Florence Luce. The voice
of this young lady was very clear toned, smooth
and harmonious, and her vocaIization had a sweet
and plesing effect; and We may add that this was
heightened by a tasteful costume on a graceful
person. The part of Buttercup had devolved on
a careful student; and Mrs. Harnden rendered
the part of the gypsy caterer to the gallant tars
in a very creditable way. Mr.. Harnden's Ralph
was very well done. This gentleman's voice
an alternate baritone and tenor-as we appreci-
ate-was in its wonted good, full, round tone and
compass on this occasion. Mr.. Swanzy's Cap
tain Corcoran was very pleasing; carefully rem
dered, with a tender toned romantic voice. The
makeup Of Mr.. Walkers Admiral Porter was
excellent, and deserved the applause called
forth on his first appearance; but we do not
think the character calls for such a quiet, or
rather faint. articulation. We could not hear
many of the Admiral's words; ana others said
the same of nearly all the performers. Indeed,
this criticism must be applied to the defamation
of all in the recitatives, or colloquiaI parts of the
performance. 1t is a little difficult, we know.
to get rid of the customary low, parlor pitch of
the voice, and to throw it out to a large audi
ence. Demosthenes had to shout by the sea
shore in order to let out his voice. But we Will
not recommend to our amateurs to 90 to Waikiki
beach. and howl against a kona for practice.
Don't be afraid, that's all. Give your manly
breasts a slap or two, before going on the stage,
and then let it out to the gods, and you'll
fetch down their thunder. The B~oatswain Of
Mr.. Atkinson was a good illustration of the
warrant officers Of Captain Marryatt's navy; a
grutf BOS II ChuckS, ever ready to pipe all hands
to grOg, or quarters. Certainly we could not
recognize our accomplished brother Editor in
the grey old salt, who out-jacked the Jacks in
the swing of his gait, and the hitch of his pants.
HOuldSwOrth'S Deadeye was good; perhaps a
little overdone. 1t is hardly in character for
styled an . able seaman, - to be launching
and twisting around with the appearance Of a
badly bumped back and a broken leg. However,
there was some good acting in our Deadeye, of
which this first appearance gives large promise.
Mr.. fuckers Boatswain's mate was well rem
dered, and he looked every inch a genuine Brit
ish x heart of oak" afoat. And there was
another Tucker, Master Mist, the nice, trim little
AIidshipmite, who, with glass in hand, and con-
sequentIal little dirk by his side, pleasantly re-
to our memory the interesting little naval
heroes in Marryatt's Midshipman Easy, and
stories,
The whole naval get up was capital. The
jolly tars appeared very well; and the present
arms of the marines Capt. +. Macfarlane, A.
Richardson, CT. Macfarlane, Deering, Freeth,
Clifford, and Harry Whitney,, brought down the
house, again and again.
The chorus by the Amateur Musical Society
was excellent. Miss Bernice Parke, as Cousin
Hebe, who presented a very fine and graceful
appearance, and in the chorus, brought out very
humorously and pleasantly the refrain about the
E : Sisters, the Cousins, and the Aunts." In the
chorus we observed H.. r. II. Princess Likelike,
Honorable Mrs. Bishop. Mrs. Atkinson. Miss
Rhodes. Mrs. Patty, Miss Robertson, and Miss
Miss Harnden, Miss Mcintyre.
We must say that the whole performance
went off well. There were, it is true, a few
bitches and delays in the second part; but they
bIllltS lIdt ALA5It Ottti III Il iINL DtIlDIli-
ance of regular stock actors, which can be read
lily remedied at subsequent representations We
hope that several viii take place. This repre-
of Pinafore reflects great credit on the
taste and cultivation of the ladies and gentle
men of our society. And our amateur company
has rendered a service in promoting a taste for
and instructive entertainment, for
which they deserve the thanks of the community.
And last but not least, is credit due to Prof.
Berger for his admirable orchestral ~accompani-
nent, which contributes so largely to the effect
i've rendering of the operetta.
In the large audience present, we observed
EXccllency Gov. Dominis, Hon. A. S. rCleg-
horn, His Excellency e. S. Minister Comfy,
Mrs. Comfy, Miss Comfy, H. B. NJ, Commits
sioner Wodehouse, Mrs. Wodehouse, Miss
.odehouse, Mr.. Feer, Commissioner Of the
Republic of France, Mr.. Ratard, Chancellor of
the French Legation, and a host of our society
iolks.
HE Y. NJ. c. A.-Professor swift late of
was to have given a lecture under the
auspices and for the benefit Of the Young Mems
Association on Thursday evening last