Sarawak Gazette 4 January 1907 Issue No 492/Amateur Theatricals
Amateur Theatricals.
On the 29th an amateur theatrical performance was given in the Govt. School house here which lends itself admirably to this kind of entertainment.
The curtain rose at 9 o'clock to the first piece "Chiselling". This farce has been so often performed and is so well known that no description is needed here, it is sufficient to say that the acting was distinctly good and the make up of the performers excellent. Dr. Wellington's particularly so in the part of Dr. Stonecrop. Mr. F. G. Day as the bibulous statue in his song "Beer, Beer, Beautiful Beer" so appealed to the male portion of the audience that a rapid adjournment to the bar at the termination of the piece seemed a perfectly natural coincidence.
At 10 o'clock was presented the amusing comedy "The Snowball" which might equally well be designated "The Entanglement of Felix." The latter unfortunate individual thinking, in a moment of weakness, to outwit and give a lesson to his wife "Mrs. Featherstone," admirably presented by Mrs. Sharp, gets badly left and has, to say the least of it, a very poor time. Mrs. Wellington as "Penelope" was sufficiently fascinating to excuse the gloomy suspicions of "Uncle John" played by Mr. F. G. Day and founded apparently on his own youthful escapades, his appearance certainly lending colour to the belief that he must have had a "fearful past." Finally "Felix" regains the dubious possession of his marital authority, the process being proved a somewhat expensive one to himself and for "Uncle John." "Felix" was played with effect by Mr. Stuart Cunynghame and the other parts convincingly and naturally by Mr. Ellis as "Prendergast," Dr. Wellington as "Saunders and Miss Johns as "Ethel Granger."
In conclusion, to draw comparisons between the performers would be invidious, it is sufficient to say that the whole thing was distinctly good and the staging of both pieces reflects the greatest credit on Archdeacon Sharp, Church and Stage in his person being once more happily united.
Another performance is announced to take place on January 5th and should be well attended.
The full caste was as follows:—
Chiselling.
A Farce in one Act.
Harry Larkspur, (a Sculptor) Mr. Stuart
Cunynghame
| Trotter (his Servant) | .... | Mr. F. G. Day |
| Dr. Stonecrop | .... | Mr. A. R. Wellington |
| Kate Norton | .... | Mrs. Wellington |
| Mrs. Piper | .... | Mrs. Sharp |
Scene. — Larkspur's Studio.
The Snowball.
A Farcical Comedy in Three Acts.
| Felix Featherstone | .... | Mr. Stuart Cunynghame |
| Uncle John | .... | Mr. F. G. Day |
| Harry Prendergast | .... | Mr. H. D. Ellis |
| Saunders | .... | Mr. A. R. Wellington |
| Mrs. Featherstone | .... | Mrs. Sharp |
| Ethel Granger (her sister) | .... | Miss K. Johns |
| Penelope | .... | Mrs. Wellington |
Scene. — A room in Featherstone's house.
An extra performance was given on the evening of Regatta Day, 1st January, so that those who had come to attend the Regatta and were unable to stay on might have an opportunity of seeing the two pieces should they wish to do so. The evening was unfortunately wet but cleared up a little before the curtain rose, and the rain fortunately held off during the performance. Had it been otherwise it would have been very difficult for the performers to have made themselves heard. Both pieces went even better than on the first occasion, and the audience, if small, were certainly very appreciative.