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6.5.1852 (Thur)
J.M. MORTON: "Attic Story" (1842)
T: Farce (1 act)
R.B. PEAKS: "The Haunted Inn" (1828)
T: Farce (2 act)
C: Amateurs
F: Music, i.a. selections from Mozart's “Le Nozze di Figaro" and other operas. Epilogue.
Th: New Theatre Royal (A)
N: Last performance of the season
R: Again there was a new drop scene. "A View near Palermo, a very pleasing view of an Italian villa with the bay and hills in the background". The pieces were "well performed and excited much merriment, especially the mistakes of the Attic Story" (NCH 8.5.1852).
27.1.1853 (Thur)
D. BOUCICAULT & C. MATHEWS: "Used Up" (1846)
T: Comedietta (2 acts)
G.A.A. BECKETT: "The Turned Head" (1834)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Amateurs
Th: Imperial Theatre (B)
N: First performance of the season
R: After not a little uncertainty about the state of affairs respecting the theatre, finally the management for the new season was laid in the hands of Horatio BUSKIN (a compound pseudonym: Horatio, from Hamlet; Buskin, the boot worn by Greek actors) who succeeded "Doldrum".
For a "very good attendance graced by many of the beau sexe" the evening "came off with great éclat" (NCH 22, 29.1.1853).
23.3.1853 (Wedn)
J.M. MORTON: "Betsey Baker" (1851)
T: Farce (1 act)
W. BROUGH: "Apartments" (1851)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Amateurs
F: Prologue; comic songs
Th: Imperial Theatre (B)
R: In the presence of the British Superintendent of Trade and Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George Bonham, Betsey Baker turned out to be "a most decided and palpable hit, received throughout with shouts of laughter and applause". Bonham was in Shanghai on his way to Nanking which had been taken by the Taipings on March 19. The Rebellion had a profound effect on the foreign community and although the Taipings enjoyed for some time a lot of sympathy, on this occasion they were satirised in a **most original and witty Prologue**: "The Manager appeared before the curtain, in a state of intense excitement, informing the audience of mutiny in the corps! Dreadful consequences!! No performance!!! What could be done!? Then arose such a "Row and Bobbery" [Bobbery: an Anglo-Indian word meaning 'noise, disturbance' - JH] led by those who were in the secret and poor Horatio BUSKIN could scarcely be heard amidst the crash of broken glass and was almost unable to face the shower of oranges aimed at his devoted head. An amiable conspirator elevating himself on a bench expressed most loudly and eloquently his indignation at this state of affairs; however, after a parley with the Manager, he proposed a compromise, and the curtain was drawn up exposing the corps evidently in a state of 'Rebellion'. Fortunately they would listen to reason and the 'refractory members' agreed to 'go on' for this occasion, and the Manager retired with...