The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-06-29
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HAWAIIAN OPERA HOUSE.
AN AMATEUR PERFORMANCES.


that the Honolulu Amateur Dram
attic Company is what its name i'm
plies, an amateur company-a com
pany which does not pose before the
public professionally or for the pur-
pose of pecuniary gain, but partly
perhaps as diversion for its own
members, and principally for the
amusement of the public-always
remembering this fact, the com
pany's representation on the stage
of the Opera House, last night, of
w. S. Gilbert's three-act comedy,
Engaged" can be referred to only
in terms of eulogy. Indeed, this
fact might be ignored, and still but
little adverse criticism could be hon
estly advanced respecting the repre-
sentatiom of the various characters
of the play as presented.
The prediction that the second
appearance OF the company in cen
gagged" would be an improvement
on the first, was fulfilled, and more
than fulfilled by the event; for there
was not only a perceptible improve
ment, but a great and unmistakable
Improvement, which anyone who
was present on both occasions must
admit. The emDreSSement to spirit
ualize each part, so to speak, found
q vitality in the various players TO
an extent not approached on the
first occasion.
Such is the play that its success de-
pends mainly on looks of a peculiar
character and words appropriately
expressed. The players are called
upon to represent the conduct of la
dies and gentlemen in situations
which, fortunately for mankind, are
not included in the programme of
ordinary human liabilities; and it is
gratifying TO testify that the efforts
of our amateurs were wonderful,
and their success marvellous.
The gentlemen and the parts they
played were: Mr.. j. F. Brown,
"Cheviot Hill;" Mr.. f. p. Hast
ings, "Balvawney;" Mr.. E. F.
Bishop. "Symperson;" Mr.. w. M.
MacFarland. Angus MacAllister !"
Mr.. w. Unger, "Major Macgilli-
cuddy."
Mr.. Browns was the central cha
racter of the play, and he looked,
acted, and talked the "much-en-
gagged young gentleman excellent
ly. Mr.. Bishop represented the
"merceny and moralizing" old man
so well, and his guise was so COM
plete, that gentleman in the aud
ience who knows him well, was
heard to say, "That cannot be Mr..
Bishop, for Mr.. Bishop is young
man, and cannot possibly look OF
move like that Mr.. Hastings
never forgot that he was the adven.
turous "Balvawney," and repre-
sented the character with credit tc
himself. The rustic Scotch lac
could scarcely have found a better
representative than Mr.. MacFar-
land. Mr.. Unger had little to do
but did that little we'll.
The ladies of the company were
Miss B. Parlle, who played "Be
linda Treherne;" Miss r. Makc'
represented "Minnie Symperson :
Miss Jane Hare, "Maggie Macfar
lane;" Miss A. Walker, "Mrs
Macfarlane !" and Miss Nj. Brown
"Parker."
Miss Parlle's distinct articulation
and easy acting were very agree
able. Miss Makee "looked' a
well as played the part assigned t.
her like professional. The sim
pie, unsophisticated, vivaciou
Scotch lassie was eXquisitely acte'
throughout by Miss Hare. TIL
character and the person fount
their exact counterparts. Mis-
I Walker and Miss Brown were as
signed minor parts of the play, bu
those minor parts were creditabl,
/ performed,
: The applause from the audience
; which was not stinted, but well
J timed, bespoke approval and appre
citation. Whenever palpable poin
was made, and there were many
a the audible expressions of recogn
ton came in pat,
c The audience was of fair size, bu
1 not large. The people present ha
the satisfaction of such an evening"
e pleasure as they seldom have th
e opportunity of enjoying, and thos
i who were absent missed n rare trpat