fifချွံffiဇွဲ | \9ዓ ዓ After the farces were printed at the expense of the Rajahs of Paikpara, and the characters were cast, the rehearsals comnenced. But an adverse circumstance occurred which prevented their being brought on the stage. A few of the "young Bengal” class, getting a scent of the farce "acts fre (CG) is fe" and feeling that the caricature made in it touched them too closely, raised a hue aud cry, and choosing for their leader a gentleman of position and affluence who, they knew, had some influence with the Rajahs, deputed him to dissuade them from producing the farce on the boards of their Theatre. This gentleman (also a “young Bengal') fought tooth and nail for the success of his mission. The Rajahs would not yield at first, but under great pressure were obliged to give up the farce. Rajah Issur Chander Sing was so disgusted at this affair that he resolved not only to give up the other farce too, but to have no more Bengali plays acted at the Belgachia. Theatre. This circumstance was not made known to our friend, Michael, who pestered me with repeated enquiries why the farces were not taken up in earnest by the Belgachia dramatic corps. Is it be cause we all think that they are not well written f I could only give him an evasive reply saying, that as one farce exposes the faults and failings of 'young Bengal', and the other those of the old Hindus, and as the Rajahs were popular with both the classes, they did not wish to offend either class by having them acted in their Theatre This circumstance drew from Modhu the remark in one of his letters to me 'Mind, you broke my wings once about the farces ; if you play a similar trick this time, I shall fors wear Bengali and write books in Ilebrew or Chinese ' I may mention here inter alia that after this affair about the Bengali farces, Rajah I. C. Sing made every preparation for having some English farces acted on the boards of the Belgachia Theatre, and rehearsal artually commenced. The persons who took parts in these farces were the Rajah himself, Babu, latterly Raja, Rajendra Lall Mitter, Rabu Dinanath Ghose, my humble self, and one or two other amateurs. Babu.. (now Maharaja Bahadur Sir) Jo teendra Mohun Tagore was all along opposed to the acting of English plays or farces on the boards of a Bengalee Theatre. However the untinely death of Rajah I. C. Sing on the 29th March, I86 put an end to the project for ever. Our Belgachia. Theatre was broken up. Michael's "Pudmabatee' which was written inn mediately after his two farces, was not written, like his 'Shormista,” for the Belgachia. Theatre and was not acted in any theatre until after his return from England. It was produced on the boards of the Bengal Amateur Theatrical Society (now no more) at Burtola, no. 246 Chitpore Road, on the 4th, September 1867. This Prince for an hour, Power and Principle,’ and “Fast train, high pressure, express.'
