Coleshill Chronicle, 21 Feb 1880

Dramatic Club – The Amateur Dramatic Club gave a special performance on the 11^th, repeating it on the 12^th, in consequence of the Public Hall not being large enough to accommodate the numerous applications for tickets. The piece chosen for this occasion was a considerable portion of Dusisetti’s favourite opera of “Lucia di Lammemore,” and the greatest praise is due to the committee of management for the excellent manner in which it was put upon the stage, the scenery and appointments being all that could be desired, and the acting and singing generally such as we rarely neet with wont of professional circles. The part of “Lord Edgar,” was taken by Mr HR Piercy; “Sir Henry Ashton” by Mr John Dale; Sir Arthur Stocklow, Mr Arthur Dobbs, [Illegible] Mr FW Smith and Norman by Mr Charles Banks; all of whom gave unmistakable proofs of dramatic, combined with musical talents.  The heroine of the piece, Lucy Ashton, was played by Miss Lizzie Preston, and from the great progress that this young lady is making in the dramatic art, we venture to predict that she will sometime be looked upon as a valuable adjunct to a talented operatic corps.  Miss Constance Smith was very good as Alice, and sustained her part with her usual correctness, both musical and dramatic.  The performance concluded with a musical adaptation of the well known extravaganza of “Bombastes Feriosio” but now called “Artemosone ye Great” the characters being sustained by Mr AD Adams, Mr A Dubbs, and Master Paulin, Miss Constance Smith rendering her valuable [illegible] in keeping the audience in that continual rear of laughter which always waits upon this truly clever baroque. The music (by Anderson) is very good, but there is a sameness about it that we think might have been avoided if the incidental songs had been sung to their original melodies.  The dramatic band was in full force on the occasion, and was most deservedly applauded.  We are much pleased to see that the whole of the performances are to be repeated at a lower rate of admission, and we think that few persons in the neighbourhood of Acock’s Green will willingly miss so great a treat.