PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK.
JUVENILE THEATRICALS.—CHURCHER’S COLLEGE.—Nearly a century and a-half has elapsed since the foundation of this excellent institution, and some hundreds of boys have been hoarded, clothed, educated, and apprenticed through the bountiful munificence of its founder, Mr. Richard Churcher, an East India merchant. But in all this time it is doubtful if the pupils ever ‟came out” in the manner in which they have just finished up the past session. Having obtained the sanction of the head master, Mr. Dusautoy, they, with the assistance of the second master, set to work to get up an entertainment by which to inaugurate the Christmas vacation. The pieces chosen were ‟Box and Cox,” and ‟Good for Nothing.” The performance came off in the school-room on Monday evening last, in the presence of a large company of the gentry of the town and neighbourhood, including some of the trustees of the college. The whole affair was a complete success, and elicited high commendation from the audience. Mr. Dusautoy being desirous of affording the parents of the boys and others an opportunity of' witnessing the performance (and the smallness of the room not admitting of their being invited on the Monday) allowed the pieces to be repeated on the following evening, when the room was again completely filled. The following was the cast of the pieces:—Box and Cox —John Box, a journeyman printer, Master Holdaway; James Cox, a journeyman hatter, Master Knight; Mrs. Bouncer, a lodging-house keeper, Master Fry. Good for Nothing—Tom Dibbles, a gardener, Master Carter; Henry Collier,a railway firerman, Master Gosden; Charley, a carpenter, Master Knight; young Mr. Simpson, Master Holdaway; servant, Master Blackmore; Nan, Master Fry. The whole of the characters were admirably sustained, and the entire performance reflected great credit, not only on the young gentlemen themselves, but also on Mr. Martin, under whose direction and guidance the rehearsals had been conducted. We must not omit to notice the excellent taste displayed by Mr. and the Misses Dusautoy in the decoration of the room, which was profusely festooned with evergreens, interspersed with floral devices, coloured lamps, and Chinese lanterns; several transparencies also adorned the walls, and the stage arrangements were excellent. In the course of the evening a number of songs were very nicely sung by the young gentlemen, one by Master Fry, ‟The Charity Boy” (in character), being warmly encored. The evening finished with the National Anthem, and every one left delighted with what they had seen and heard, and hoping to be favoured with a similar treat next year.