'The Amateur Dramatic Club gave their second performance for the present season in the New Lyceum, on Saturday night. The theatre was very' well filled, from pit to gallery; and the first novelty to attract the eye was the neat and tasteful decoration by which the former white waste of its interior was replaced or relieved. Nothing obtrusive had been introduced, however; the white ceiling reflected as before the effulgence of the sunlight, but the now pale blue of the walls rested the eye as one looked around the house, and an edying of marion velvet gave colour to the bald front of the dress circle and to the orchestra box, while a few narrow lines of gold contrasted agreeably with the very moderate display of colour.
The orchestra, under the direction of M. Remusat, having played a very pretty overture in spirited style, the curtain rose on the petite drama by Benjamin Webster, entitled "One Touch of Nature." As the piece lus been already produced by the A.D. C., at a comparatively recent date, we do not require to give detailed description of it now. enough to recall the incident upon which its interest hinges. An old copyist is accidentally placed in a position to rehearse, as substitute, the part of a father to a long-lost daughter, with the actress selected to play the part, but thereto been unable to invest tit, In the actress the old man own child, though she as yet is entirely ignorant of the relate ship. The playwright's phrases fail to touch her, but when the old man casts aside his assumed part, and describes scenes and incidents of the actress's childhood, memory is awakened, and the " One Touch of Nature" calls forth the exclamation "My Father," in tones of genuine feeling, as she throws herself into the arms which have longed to embrace her. lay is delighted, but isfuction is checked by finding that the newly awakened feeling which would secure the success of his piece is likely to be reserved for the father who has had his daughter restored to him, instead of being simulated on the stage.
The part of Mr, William Penn Holder, the copyiat, was again taken by Mr. Grifin, who was careful never to over-act it, while he sounded all its depths of pathos, Tu acertain line of characters, and this was one of them, Mr. Griffin's acting is more than clever—it is yifted; when he comes on, he may be recognisable under the disguise of his make-up, but as the piece proceeds, his individuality is entirely lost in assumed character. Thus the audience sympathised Mr. Peon Holder, and were gratified that his one touch of nature" had succeeded; but there was no special call for Mr. Griffin, when the curtain fell, though Mr. Grifin deserved the compliment. Mr. Thomas Hawk is a very important accession to the corps. His impersonation of Mr. Beaumont Fletcher, barrister and dramatic author, was unconventional and natural, yet had quite enough force, tempered by eveimess of treatment. He is happier, however, in an active than a passive position; and when old Penn Holder poured into his ear the story of his wrongs and troubles, he found Mr. Fletcher a somewhat impatient if a sympathetic listener. But it must be remenibered that Mr, Fletcher was irritated by encounters with a capricious actress and her jealous lover. The rather ungracious part of Mr, Belgrave, the jealous gentle-nan in question, who is "not to be imposed on," was given to Sr. Montressor, and he deserves not a little credit for the spirit and correctness of his performance. A slight air of consciousness showed that Mr. Montressor found himself in a novel position, but this scarcely detracted from the merit'of his acting, and will have been overcome. after a few appearances. Mr. Isaacs was well up in, his part as Jones, the porter, but we doubt if be could be heard through the house. A nervous tendency to overdo the part, also, was traceable in his treatment; but he is a new actor, to the local stage at any rate, and with 'a little study, under judicious advice, will be a very useful one. Miss
Miss Constance Belmour—charming as to Castor was simply adniirable in the role of appearance; unconstrained, vivacious, and wonderfully natural as to manner; and word-perfect as to her acquaintance with the part. The piece on the whole went very smoothly, and the audience were lavish in their applause as the curtain descended.
The orchestra now gave a musical selection by way of interlude, played for the gratification of those of the audience (including of course all the ladies) who had not left their seats to ''soothe their royal souls with pleasant reek," which a great many did in the lobby, talking the while of the drama in general and the A.D.C. in particular. The curtain then rose on Mr. W. S. Gilbert's very pretty burlesque "Thespis, or the Gods grown old," which had been thorough "acclimatized" by the literary, arris and musical talent of the A.D: ©. But though Shanghai offered subjects enough, and any number of Josses, for the representation, Olympus there was none. Looking round for substitute, the A, D. ©. determined, doubtless' from motives of economy, to patronise the native production; and selecting that which was most accessible, engaged the Feng wat hills for the occasion. As it was inconvenient that Mahomet should yo to the mountain, the local talent, (which by the way includes a Prophet), contrived to transfer the familiar eminences to Shanghai—on canvas. The ascent of the curtain, then, disclosed a very fine view of Feng-and the creeks, which must have cited a call for the artist, had not the mist partially obscuring it prevented full appreciation of its beauty until the grey mantle rolled away at the bidding of Apollo. As there is a possibility that the burlesque may be reproduced at no distant date, when some of the disadvantages under it was, after all very successfully, resented on Saturday will not recur, we refrain from doing more at present than indicating generally its construction. The Gods are grieving over the disrepute and have fallen into, as they learn from a visit Mercury has just paid to earth, or rather to Shanghai." Thespis and company of the Thessalian theatre visit Olympus on a picnicking excursion, navigating the creeks of course in a houseboat. After momentarily resenting the invasion of the sacred mount, Jupiter consults with Thespis, and in the end his suggestion to visit earth for is fellow-gods, and his company fill places, the father of the drama assuring liter that he has often. represented on the stage, but did not find the part take with the public. The Gods by 4 in any difficulty; but though depart, leaving Mercury to be consulted
the latter gives his satellites carte blanche in the direction of human affairs, he hears no complaints, and assmning that all goes well, he believes old Jupiter has much exaggerated the difficulties of the position. Mercury, however, on the eve of the Gods' return, informs Thespis that so far from there being no complaints, there are thundering lot," but as they are only presented once a year, the Gods themselves will look into them. The return of the Gods is heralded by the P. & O. mail signals being hoisted on the Customs flagstaff, and the visual two guns. A very mixed" Cvart is fen ceed to hear the peti 2d, andthe Gods pro-complaints of mismanagement in Shanghai; and Thespis and his satellites are hard pressed to find excuses for the failure of their experiments, Thespis makes a grand exculpatory speech, and with a wave of his sceptre calls into view a Model Settlement,"—showing " very effective picture of the Shanghai Bund, with the proposed new gardens. The audience applauded vehemently; and after repeated calle, the artist yielded to the demand that he should appear at the footlights, Mr. Prophet's brush has but lately been enlisted in the scenic service, and has proved an acquit si The burlesque, which is an excellent one in itself, has been localised with eu able ability, and put on the stage with great completeness. There were a number of songs and d containing local allusions, and mits in dialogue abounded, but it not infrequently happened that in delivery the latter failed to hit the mark. The leading parts were well acted, but there was sometimes a lack of smoothness, which argued insufficient study or irregularity atrehearsil. Tt should be remembered, however, that several important changes occurred in the cast at a late date; and for this reason the more praise must especially be given to Miss Walbro's very happy Metal's" suimated"' and comical acting laying of Mercury, and Miss Britannia
and make-up as Dima. The Gods—Jupiter, Mr. Will Honeycomb; Apollo, Mr, Doolittle; and Mars, Mr. Rewerb, proved worthy of the positions assigned to them. Mr, Drinkwater, as Thespis, exerted himself at all points, but seemed to some extent oppressed with manngerial responsibilities of a real as well as assumed nature. His stump speech the audience laughing, but the recurring phrase which formed the answer to his amusing category of great questions, failed altogether to fell, for the reason, no doubt, that it too closely resembled' the refrain in his previous burlesque oration, Mr. Honcycomd, highly successful in his with the 1 drinking chorus which he gave in character of Waterion, the audience evidently regarding it as out of place, We should remark that the chorus was finely rendered, however. Thespis was fairly supported by his Thessalian Company, from among whom we may single out Preposteros, Mr, Parkins; Tipseion, Mr, Carpenter, (who was generally useful, and good); the Indies, Nicemis, (Miss Castor) (as attractive a brunette in this as she was a blonde in the other piece); Daphne (Miss Jinny Rickshaw), who cortuinly had graceful carriage; and Imperia (Miss Electra Plate)—in high state of polish. The Glee Club rendered very efficient nid with the choruses, and would probably have done better had not serious indisposition compelled Miss Elliot, early in the hearsals, to relinquish her part. as lead-vocalist. Mr. Fentum followed the singers—" interpreted the symphonies," as the programme had it—very closely and skilfully, on the piano. 'The entertainment, as we have already said, was very successful; and since it would be" pity so much scenery, dressing, and adapting should be devoted to one representation, we hope the A. D. O, will "do it again," amending' the burlesque wherever Saturday's experience suggested, have little doubt that a second repr sentation would be in some respects an improvement on the first.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.