The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-04-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ASTON PLOWER MISSION.  On Tuesday evening an entertainment was given in tbr Assembly Room, Lower Grounds. Alton, by Messrs. Cooke and Stubbs snd the Alexandri Dramatic Company, in aid of the above adWOOL There WIIR • good attendance. After an overture by the baud, the celebrated drama, "The Corsican Bothers' wair given, the characters Weir as under: Fabian. Del Franck and Louis Del Trauchi, twin brothers, Mr. Harry J. Cooke' M. Chateau Renaud, Mr. Arthur Seymour; Le !Baron Monnenon. Mr. Arthur Meredith; M. Alfred Meynard, Mr. Percy Howard; Le Baron Giordano Montelli, Mr. Dwell ' Vincent; Gaetano Orlando and Marco Conant, the heads of two Corsician families, Mr. Refry Fowler . and Mr. Frank Stuart Hill; riffo a domestic, servant, Mr. W. Taylor; Antonio Rambla, justice of the peace, Mr. W. Makepiece ; Blaze, a wood cutter, Mr.-Frank Stuart Hill; Madame Sivilia de Franchi, Mies Lizzie Ryland; Emilie de L'Esperre, Miss Alice Eaves; Marie, an attendant, Miss Nellie Jackson ; Esther and Grain D'Or, ladies of the ball* Miss Jenny Johnson and Mies Roes Jones. The piece was played with a good deal of ability and was thoroughly enjoyed. One learns much from the play of Conician character and the customs of the country. The plot is founded on what in these enlightened days is known as a neighbours' quarrel, and which is frequently settled at the police court, but in Corsicia in early tures, when two neighbours quarrelled they were almost as bad as the Kilkenny cats—therr fought to the bitter end, one relative considering le his duty to avenge the death of another. In a quarrel of that kind as many an seven or eight members of a family have been killed, but obi murderous work was sometimes stopped by the intervention of • third party, who got a member of the one family to meet one of the other, shake hands, and sign an agreement to cease hostilities. These meetings were not of a very pesmable character. The members of the rival parties came armed, and even when signing the document and shakier hands, longed to spring at each other on the pretence that the number slain an one side was not equal to that on the other. This meeting of the representatives of the opposing factions wan uspitally performed, as was the part where Fabien Del Franchi avenges the death of his brother. The whcle niece, however, was remarkably well done. The entertainment concluded with a laughable farce entitled "Bamboozling," in which the following took part :—Mr. F. S. Hill- (Sir Marmaduke Meadows), Mr. H. J. Cooke (Capt. F. Bamboozle), Mr. D. Vincent (Doiley, a waiter), Mr. G Riguold (Frank Tiverton), Ms. J. Henson (Humphrey Sims), Miss Lizzie Ryland (Emily Trevor),Miss Rose Jones (Lady Meadows), and Mies Jenny Johnson (Sophy Weston). This part of the programme proved exceedingly amusing, Mr. H. J. Cooke being particulry good. The entertainment was under the direction of Messrs. Cooke and Stubbe, while Mr. F. S. Hill was atm* manager, and Mr. H. Brown musical director, the band having been organised by Mr. H. Brown and friends. The Aston-Flower Mission, it may be remarked, Was established nearly twelve years ago, and during that time have subscribed to the various charities of Birmingham over 325 guineas, and dietributed close upon 3,000 I: ispeneary,Eye, General and other hospital notes to the needy arid deserving poor of the immediate and surrounding districts. The heavy demand upon the charity during the year has limn such that increased funds are requiled. Hence the present effort. The secretary is Mr. G C. Barber, 37, Clifton-road.