The Pickwickian Representation.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 449, 3 May 1890, Page 2

The Pickwickian Representation.

Anything that tends to further popularise the very popular works of the famous Charles Dickens cannot be other than a good service in a community, and it cannot be denied that the committee of the Union Literary Society had a happy idea when they decided to open the session with a representation from some of Dickens works. The amusing trial scene Bardell v. Pickwick, waa the representation selected. Of course no one will contend that this is any indication of the real work undertaken by a Literary Society, but a great deal can be done in the way of popularising such a society by prefacing the earnest work with a representation of the quaint humors with which a master author depicted the scenes of his time. The Bardeli v. Pickwick trial is a by no means easy matter to successfully render, and in the case of the Literary Society it was done with rather short notice, but everything went off capitally, and the audienoe seemed intensely interested throughout. Heavy showers of rain came down just before the time for commencing, but there wae a large attendance. The Rev. Canon Fox made a few introductory remarks commending tbs society to the support of all who could give it, and remarking that though some items on tbs syllabus might seem frivolous, yet a little amusement could hardly ba objected to, provided that the higher intellectual culture was not neglected. At 8 o’clock tha worthy Mr Pickwick appeared, in the person of Mr Harry Watson, whose get up could not fail to remind one of the original whoee history wo have so often enjoyed. Mr Watson also succeeded very well in his portrayal ot the honest old soul whose virtuous indignation was so much moved by the false construction which thelawyers put on his innocent and kindly actions. Mr John Bourke made an inimitable Justice Stareleigb, sod tha good humored way in which he caricatured His Lordship, communicated a spirit of drollery to the audience. He also got off a few impromptu jokes, tbs beet of which was perhaps that when Mra Bardell 1 was said by Tracy Tapman to be ill when she fainted in Mr Pickwick's armi, that ft was a case of “is grippe.” Miss G. ford took the part of Mrs Bardell, which MP acted with much animation, though it wad easy to distinguish that she had not seen nearly as many summers as the Mrs Bardoll is supposed to have done. Master Riy Drummond was the marble playing Tommy, whose frolicsome disposition had been sobered by sadness. Mias Taylor, aS Mrs Clnppina, put much spirit into bar part, and she provided a great deal of lanesment for the audienoe, making ths best of every point. Miss Palairet, at Sneannah Saunders, could not be beaten, and shs

repeatedly convulsed the audience with laughter, without in any way losing con. trol of herself, though there was reason to suspect that soma friends would have boon only the more pleased if she had given way to the laughter which she created. But she had one fault—aha was far too good looking in spite of her disguise. Mr Mann took tha part of Serjeant Buzfus, whose famous speech he made with co much effect as to cause the audience to interrupt the regularity of the proceedings by the bestowal of well merited applause. The other members of counsel did well, Mr E. Chrisp representing SerjeantSnubbins, Mr R. N. Jones as Mr Ski Impin, and Mr Percival aid Mr Phunkey, while Messrs H. and L. Maude were capital as Dodson and Fogg, Mr Harry Maude’s get up being especially good. Mr F. Lysnar was a lively Perker, and Mr Greenwood wae a fruitless clerk of the Court, hie dry “ and mind you do," when he had sworn the witnesses causing roars of laughter. Mr D. Bourke as the irrepressible and witty Sam Weller, could not fail to provoke laughter, the comical element introduced being very enjoyable, without being coarse. Mr Pickwick's bosom friends of the Pickwickian Club had also made a good interpretation of their parts. Mr Palairet, junr., was the sportive Winkle and Mr F. Drummond the lovesick Tracy Tupman. Augustus Snodgrass, the poet, had been fitted out in a very eccentric style, but he seemed to have forgotten the use of his voice. Mr Crawford, as foreman of the jury, introduced some good jokes, and his associates were a laughably motley group. Mr W. Good as the chemist, Mr G. Foster as the Rev. Stigglne, Mr Pettie as a grocer, and Mr F. Faram aa a navvy, were exceptionally good ; the rest of the jury included Messrs Featon (jun.l, H. Lysnar, Foster, Watson, F. Sherriff and Taylor. Messrs W. Ratcliffe and E. H. Featon took the duty of criers. The whole performance went off well, and the Judge's summing up of the evidence and his subsequent praise to the jury were very witty, and the effect most comical. Among the audience there were some visitors to Gisborne, and they expressed themselves highly pleased with the evening's entertainment.