213
Our Wife:
Count de Brissac: Major Taylor
Rosine: Mr. W. Hyslop (of Gibb, Livington & Co) Pomaret, father of Rosine: D.A.C.G. Cooksley
Marquis de Ligny: Mr. Stuart
Mariette: Lt Maynard of the 31st regiment
The Goose with the Golden Eggs:
Mr. Turby: D.A.C.G. Cooksley
His wife: D.A.C.G. Hayter
Clara, their daughter: Mr. A. Broom (of Jardine, Matheson & Co)
Bonsor, clerk: Dr. Sexton of the 5th Bombay N.L.I. (native lancers and infantry) Flickster: Li Yonge, 2nd Beloochi regiment
After a lapse of almost three years the amateur theatricals took a new lease of life in a tastefully fitted up godown-theatre (for a description see Survey). It was a subscription-night with about 250 spectators, of whom 30 were female. For the first time some real names of actors were given and it became clear that the cooperation of the military had been sought for the occasion. Because the names are no longer phoney, it is finally useful to present a cast list. Among those mentioned was D.A.C.G. (i.e. Deputy Assistant Commissary General) Cooksley who died in July during one of the campaigns against the Taipings, at Quinsan. Fine playing, if one did not mind the pieces. That, however, had become a standard complaint by now. "There was nothing striking or witty in either of the plays so that an occasional local pun or remark interpolated by the actors elicited the greatest applause"; rather sourly the critic continued “this should not be as it interferes with the harmony of the play”. In Our Wife "the gentle blushing Rosine was capitally got up by Mr. HYSLOP who created quite ‘a sensation' when he made his curtsey to the audience". In contrast Mr. STUART "was graceful in his part but lacked energy where it was requisite to give effect to the plot". That female dress was not always easy to wear for the men was underlined when "Lt MAYNARD acted the strong-minded cousin Mariette very fairly, despite the difficulties of crinoline”. In The Goose with the Golden Eggs the Mrs. Turby of D.A.C.G. HAYTER was "the best piece of masculo-feminine performance we have seen". It had to be admitted though that not all men were equally up to female characters: "Clara, as represented by Mr. BROOM, although admirably got up in the coiffure, was rather outré in the dress, especially about the sleeves; while the manner and voice resembled more the roughness of the father than the gentleness of the mother". (NCH 14.2.1863).
L
17.2.1863 (Tue)
Repeat of 13.2.1863.
2.3.1863
S. LOVER: "The White Horse of the Peppers" (1838)
T: Comic drama (2 acts)
R.B. BROUGH: "Crinoline*" (1856)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Amateurs of the British 31st regiment
TH: N.N.
R: Cast:
The White Horse of the Peppers:
Major Hans Mansfeldt: W. Parrott Gerald Pepper: A. Keeble Magdalene: H. MacGuire Crinoline:
Mrs. Coobiddy: S. Gale Mr. Coobiddy: W. Phillips
Agutha: S. Gule
Dillon: J.S. Galbreath
Capt. LeBrown: J.S. Galbreath Miss Tite: P. Conron