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T^ ? PEEFOEMJLNCE. - .
naW«hwd«j mninfetfa Amateur Cera Drta* I
fc™ ^ire» gnUraJertilmnent at to Victoria
OMMUhOitt maLadvMaeDonnefl. In aid of the
lotto. Belief ftmd. PoriwetoiwtHienKwmtffljM
Merest had been excited on th« subject, and th« tickeU
ware eandy taken. Tha lieaire had undergone epn»j
SSihaltoaon. far ths occasion, tha box and pit
«rtrmeM hiring bswrthwwn into -mt, ind the seea in
tne latter rendered 'as convenient aa back* and lining
«.iMii.ih *h— 'T These portions of the boose were
pliced-moa the tan» footing, md.tten to the gallery
the ehsrgelbr admission wasmnchJiigher than usual.
Tl» doors were scarcely opened before the company
jLcEnseteirdft in the literal imae of the word, and prt
sentin* a congregation of beauty and fashion sektom
?MBSlddaideTwhile the back tiers were occupied by
tend a stauTardisplay of toato 1««^mj, ?«*«*«
attendant gentlemen enjoyed a doable advantage over
muteftiioM»ho had gwe op stain; for they were
able tosMMbesida their lilies, and to see the play with
P*AMu5Xst t o'clock the band itnick np the National
Anthem, and the company rose aa Hi* Excellency aad
Xadr TJirP^''*11 entered the viceregal box, attendeo
bya eanifderabto suite, including the Hon. the Chief
Secretary and tbe ladies uf his family. The business of
the evening eommenced immediately with the prologue,
written for the oceaabn by a gentleman of the colony,
and spoken by the tame amateur who at a subsequent
period of the evening performed the roval hero of tha
comedietta. We have been favoured with a coir, which
we subjoin r— .
? noxoscx. '
Laiattate war ! Agafi the vengeful flghii
The fisah of rteel, Ute roar — Bat Jo 1 what tight.
What charm is Ben? Bright eye and towfr cheek
Some gentler them* than thai or war bespeak; .
Yet war, alaa \ demands yoor thought awhfle,
Ere Mirth deBghta you with his joyous smile.
We wane to greet you with a laugh to-night—
Oar work not heavy, for oarplay Is light
Sot Ot the grieft, the woes that bring as here, .
Instead of Joy, might claim the pitying tear—
Might wring pom Laughter sobs of deep despair,
And UB tTen Mirth, himself wiUtsorrowjnjr care.
Bat what walls it thus to grieve iartin—
To smite our breaata, to weep oar teats again ?
Nor lore, nor grW.eaa e'er recall to lift
The fair-ants ilsm.the brave who fell in strife.
To too, indeed, the noble tatk belongs
To heal the widow** griefs, the orphan's wrong* ;
To soothe— as fir as lore may soothe— their woe :
Those hearts that pine, those tears that sadly flaw.
Then if to-night in this most holy cairn
We aet but badly, stOl we earn applause sl;
For since in Chanty oar pity begins,
jEhat virtue will most sorely hide oar sins.
The prologue was received with much applause, and,
ate a short interval, pleasingly filled up by a musical
'jjTfarm«r\g* frnm « *ny »ffifipnt runrt, tha i»qT+»in rose,
and the members of tie eorpt dramaHqn* proceeded
with their arduous task.
Perhaps no piece could have been more jadidonsly
chosen than *Tha BIvbIs.' It affords considerable
variety of character, and each part baa sufficient promt
nesce te interest an amateur, while none is 10 labo
rious a. to overtax his energy. The grand difficoliy
would generally be to find an actor good enough for Falk
land, a&d an aetren who could succeed in making Julia
interesting. This knot having been cut, in Alexander's
etjle, by striking oat the seml-tragis pair entirely, the
only n^mtta^Tf to be smoothed down and valleys to be
filled np could lie about the regions of Sir Anthony and
airs. Malaprop ; toe former ia beyond the metier of ox
practised aoton, and then are very few ladies, even
'?nu^y the professional ranks, who can do justice to the
latter. Fortunately for tbe success of the performance,
a lady and a gentleman were found willing to lend their
assistance, who though. at present unconnected with the
stage have figured there in foimer days professionally,
and who tniftud those difficult characters most ftmtr.
ably. The other male parts were taken by amateurs
more or less .unpractised, and X«jdui .Languish and her
'? simple' maid found very fascinating representatives in
two of those pretty auters whom it u oar almost daily
task and daily pleasure to eulogize, end who had also
been so food as to lend their valuable aid for tte comple
tion of the cast.
The comedy was produced with every requisite aeces
sory, in a manner which does credit to the taste and
liberality of those concerned. Tne scenery— that in
ordinary use by tbe Nelson family— was quite as appro
priate aa a provincial theatre can generally boast; and
the dresM* wen got np with great care, the only grots
anachrooitm being Captain Absolute's & stume, which
was tbe very last new uuiionn of the line, sppropdate to
a great-gandson three or four times removal of his
venerable father, or a descendant almost as distant of
the captivating tjdia, both of whom wore the dresses of
a century and a halt ago.
.Pag and Thomas the coachman, whose trying lot it
jras to open the ball, acquitted themselves admirably,
both playing their paitt to the. life, and leaving the
audience to regret 'that they had not more to do. Lydia
looked exquisitely 'beantiloJ, and Lacy alternately mc»t
provoking ry innocent ami bewitchingiy roguish. Tbe
Capjbin bid a fine soldierly bearing, and the part waa
clevsrly performed throughout, especially in the scene
with his lather, where he reads his recantation and
stolidly promises unqualified submission. Sir Anthony
himself waa the truepepp.ry despot, but the courteous
gentleman withal of the old school whom Sheridan so
graphically depicU. It was a finished and most per
led piece of acting, eliciting in each successive
am the matt hearty maniiestations of applause
?Uf frequent borsta of laughter; and his high
nigbtinets waa admirably supported by Mi*.
JUapr p, whose ingenious 'parti of speech' were
trolled lorth with singular raciuess. Bub Acres was
la himself a picture, and if no artist wen then to per
petuate it, we can only say the mere's the pity. The
actinic of tbe lart deserves great praise. Sir Lucius
alto was exceedingly well got up, and the performer
did not i lose sight ot his real honesty or purpose
in Bs qoixutic love of action— he neither sank the
gentleman in the bully, nor the man of honour in the
?ortonc-banter. David was a very clever performance.
The actor entered thoroughly into his part, and so com
pletely did he identify himself with it, as to preserve a
mote perfect incognito tban any of his compeers.
Taken as a whole, the play was acted in exceediagly
good style, in a way, in fact, which would have done
credit to a professional company. The interest was
never suffered to flag, and— an uncommon event in
amateur entertainments— there waa not a aiagle contre
temps or blander to mar tbe effect.
Ihe afterpiece was Payne's pleasing comedietta
'Charles the Second,' the same which another amateur
company selected for a similar performance fcj Adelaide,
nan than 17 yean ago. The merry monarch and the
kindlj sailor ot that early period are living stilL though
buth have left the colony; bat should either of them
chance to see this notice it may not be anpleasing to
them to know that many an still hen who remember
their performance well, and who, though fortunate In
repladisg -them by other talented amateurs, associate
their aames with happy reminiscences. The Rochester
of the former cast, aad another gentleman of the
original corps, who ased to deOgbt the audience with his
comic songs, an still in the colony, and one of them, waa
present on Wednesday evening; but, in looking through ,
a faded satin bill which still exists, we are reminded
of two or three others who an gone for ever— among
them the amiable and talented persanifier of 'ZeUei
Hamefpun,'
Charts the Second was reproduced with excellent
effect, and the merry monarch found a worthy represen
tative in a respected and portly gentleman, as kind
and good-humoured aa himself. The part was exceed
ingly well performed, and tbe same may be said of
Bochcster, who, in the hands of an elocutionist of
acknowledged power*, sustained his credit as an eloquent
and witty nobleman. Captain Copp wa3 the true BritUh
tar, and the clever amateur who enacted the part dis
played most admirably tho rnhlixpVtrJft ef pft froiKUt
affectionate heart. The jooiig ladies again were highly
successful, and they introduced several songs with very
pleasing- effect.
At the conclusion of each piece, the performers were
separately called for, and each received the congratula
tions of the audience.
In these remarks we have exceeded our intended
limits, but theraccatian must famish oar excuse, fer it is
one whieh does not often occur. Such performances an
lew and far between, and in the present faftsiw the
success has been Brilliant. We may expect to see one of
. the most valuable items la the list of contributions tat
the relief of those who an suffering by the Indian
mutiny recorded aa the donation of the MaliiJti Ama
teur Corps Dramatique.
Yictobxa IffEATHB.— The nttendance at tbe
Theatn on Thondsy evening waa rather large, certainly
greater than might have been anticipated, the eveninjr
having been dark, and the weather wet and cold. The
drams- of 'Black-Eyed Susan** waa produced; in which
the part of William was «xtreme)v well sustained by
Mr. UoUowav, and that of Susan by Miss Marie Nelson.
Mr, Greyilte was aa comical as the part of Jacob Twig,
Which was allotted to him, would permit; and Mr.
Webster Impemtuted the crafty and anscrnpaloas
Pofrgrsss wiihsll the stolidity end implacable determi*
nadon of 'the man without a heart.' Miss Carry
Helaoa made. the most of the character of Dolly
Majflower j' whilst Mr. A. Selsan si Gnatbnin waa
as hai-py as nsaar in his part' As a whole, the
piece waa well got up, and will bear repeating. The
prison scene, and the denouement in particular wen
extremely effective, and drew forth unmistakable
demonstrations from all parts of the house. A selec
tion of mtaio from Macbeth by the company, and in
character, formed the interlude. The evening's enter
tainments wen concluded with a capital farce called,
we know nbVwEy, 'The Laughing Hyena.' Love,
jealoasy, and walking-sticks an its staple eommoditim,
and its performance kept tbe house in a conttnmous state
of risibility. We may mention that the pit, formerly
so comfortless and dirty,* has been rendered the very
reverse by the improvements effected previous to the
amateur performance on Wednesday evening, and which,
?we presume, an intended to n-m*in
CONCERT AT GAWLER TOWN.— A correspondent
has sent the following: - "Mr. S. N. Edwards gave
a grand miscellaneous concert of vocal and instrumental
music, on Monday last, in Mr. Jas. Martin's corn store,
assisted by the following professionals: - Vocalists: Miss
Lingellbach, Miss Petman, and Mr. Sanderson, Pianist:
Miss Rowe. Mr. Edward's song, 'The Sea King,' was
encored, as were also two songs by Miss Lingellbach,
sung in German. In fact, nearly all the ongs and duets
wen encored, including a song by Mis Petman,
'As if you did not know? It is hard to describe this
accomplished artiste's vocal powers; it is enough to say
she received the loud applause of the delighted audience.
We cannot do too much credit to the entire company
for the efficient way in which they performed their several
parts. The band which was in attendance was
highly agreeable. It was to be regretted that Herr
Linger was not in attendance, as announced in the programme,
on account of sickness. The consequence was,
the performance on the piano fell upon Miss Rowe, who
played throughout the evening with entire success.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was a
good attendance."
BURTON'S CIRCUS.— The performances at tha
drcos en Thsndsr wen diversified by tha appearance
of Madame Lee. This lady's tight-rope dandngeliclUd
ireP^essrvedapolanse; ss did also the equestrian ex
ploits 'of th»*o»Bt memben of the company, and the
Wtggeries oLBobxes, whs nan* seems to have an
chamUess fisatofTftin fa bis compositton. Tha second
pet of the petfcrnuBVifs consisted of the equestrian
Sana, ' ToSrt BUato York,' in which Back Ben
again proved herwonderful docility and the exrraordinarj
power of her trainer. Tbe mectitori wen fcw in com
parison with the crowds which nied to flock to the
parinon on .warmsr evenings, notwithitandmg the
attrsctive character of the novelty to which we have
1 GrOTKBiaonn! Psss School.— A. corres
poodent has forwarded us the following t—f On Tuesday
hat the childna of the above iniUtoBoa, through the
?Uadnefsof thaBaUway Directors, a few friends, and
Seir teachers, bad a trip upon the line to Qawler Town,
aoMttaa nlnSr, .liattsd tha ehndrw and delimed a
ghirtand simpie, but suitable and impressive aBdress,
witb whieh thf roamr people wen highly ptetsed. Tney
aftsrwards ptociedednom the Bashmau's Hotel to St.
Oeorge's Scioo^jnd ezehBOgedsome pieoesof ndtatioa
with the papflavof that large sehooL : The Qoeen's
Anthem snd three ebeen for each other and their triends
wound np the ejnmonies of the dsy. They wen again
?efltM ft the-Terndaus Hotel whtUt awaiting the
ttSra train. The Ser. Mr. Sow, Bible Christhu mi
sister, and tbftJiev, Mr, Moir, Pree Chanb miniiter.
wtn ansToiiMIr absent. The- weather was an that
could he dedadTfor the event; and tha voong people
not only cxpwsssd their satisfaction of the day's pro
eeedlnga,battfca$ it would be remanbend by them all
tttarns of their lives: whilst thcao friends who had so
delighted them woold be held to their highest and best
associations.'' '
- SXDBTTTE ASH BVBBA BuiLBIHQ- SoCISTT.
-Jtw £K shares of this Society wen sold on Tnesdar,
$