Students’ Amateur Performance, The National Tragedy of “Wallace”, by Professor Buchanan, 20th March 1862

A short article on page four of The Glasgow Herald, on Friday the 21st of March, 1862, reads:

 

“STUDENTS’ AMATEUR PERFORMANCE.- The National Tragedy of ‘Wallace,’ by Professor Buchanan, was performed last night, in the Prince’s Theatre, by students of Glasgow University, for the benefit of the unemployed. The entertainments were given under the patronage of the Lord Provost and Magistrates, and the house was crowded from floor to ceiling. A considerable portion of the gallery was filled by students, who, at intervals during the evening, indulged in the very reprehensible practice of throwing peas upon the stage, and on the heads of the occupants of the pit and stalls. In spite of these occasional interruptions, the play went exceedingly well, all the actors being ‘letter perfect.’ The part of Wallace was a high-class histrionic effort; those of Bruce, Edward I, and David Wylie, were considerably above the average of amateur delineations, and the others were respectable. The principal female characters were ably sustained by Miss Fanny Maskell and Miss Reinhardt. The entertainments, of which we must delay a lengthened notice till to-morrow, concluded with the laughable farce of ‘The Irish Tutor.’ The performance will be repeated to-night in the same theatre, for the same object, when there will, no doubt, be a large attendance.”