"Inkum." "You omit to say (7-7-33) that the Coronet Theatre (part of the King's Theatre site) was earlier the Bijou Theatre. Old hands will remember when it was bowered in the Wyndham Street trees and flanked by the flower market, whence half-tight enthusiasts bought flowers for the performers.
I remember the disgust on the face of an Australian soubrette when she received a bouquet every time she appeared including the encores! And there was a night when they gravely presented a performer with a wreath.
A correspondent sends some interesting notes on old theatres of the Colony.
"Dramatious."- "Perhaps readers will be interested to learn that in 1866 there was a theatre in Hollywood Road. It was called 'The Royal Italian Theatre,' and its location is described as being on the top-floor of 'one of those great new houses in Hollywood Road built lately, on the site of the old Scotch Church.' The writer of the day goes on to state that the theatre was airy, well-lighted and held about two hundred persons. In the notice under review, mention is made of a concert given by Signor Mathei whereat poses plastiques were given of Helen and Cleopatra by Madame Mathei: and Mademoiselle Roberti.
"In the same year (1866) mention is also made of concerts given every evening at the British Seamen's Inn, the proprietor of which had engaged the services of a 'first-rate singer' who enlivened the company with favourite comic and new local songs: Admission being free, we can only assume that the establishment in question was merely one of our local 'pubs' whose proprietor resorted to such tactics to increase his custom.
"Then there was the Royal Garrison Theatre, at which occasional concerts and plays were given. Lane, Crawford in those days did the booking.
"In this year (1866) the Lenton Troupe also gave performances in their large pavilion on the Parade Grounds.
As a supplement to the above, we might seek the beginnings of thespian entertainment in the Colony.
The available records show that the first theatrical company to visit Hongkong was from Australia. As early as 1842, the year after the British occupation, an Australian party of entertainers, with commendable enterprise, paid this still somewhat barren island a visit, and are stated to have proved most welcome to the foreigners here, doing much to enliven the winter evenings.
The old theatre of that time saw a slightly better type of company the following winter, under a Signor Dalle Casse, and they must have found the tour worth while, as they continued to occupy the theatre until 1844. This same year the first amateur theatrical company was formed in Hongkong, no doubt inspired by the professionals' visits. The body was inaugurated as the Amateur Dramatic Corps, and is thus the progenitor of the later Amateur Dramatic Club, which exists to-day.
This corps of amateurs did not last long, becoming moribund in a few years, but was revived in 1848, and continued for some time longer.