220
R: In the advertisement it was stated that tickets could be obtained from Messrs Lane, Crawford & Co, G.A. Bretts' Auction Room and Astor House Hotel. Lane, Crawford was a general store that had been established in Kiangsi Road (ex Church Street) since June 1862. The Astor House Hotel was situated in Hongkew (see also Survey).
17.6.1864 (Fri)
Performance by Messrs J.R. Black and Marquis Chisholm (piano)
TH: N.N. (H)
N: Benefit for Mr. Chisholm
R: John Reddie BLACK (1827-1880) was born in Scotland, but went to Australia to earn a living as a singer in the goldfields. After arriving in Japan, 1861, he became the editor of some English newspapers and from 1876-1880 he edited several papers in Shanghai. In 1864 he still managed to combine his two vocations. His entertainment was "composed of songs interspersed with anecdotes and conversation of the most lively description which he varied every evening. He has a splendid voice and sings with great taste and feeling" (NCH 4.6.1864). His accompanist on the piano was Mr. L.C. PHILIPPS (cf. 1.4.1864), but the latter died of cholera and his place was taken by Mr. Marquis CHISHOLM who was no newcomer to the Shanghai public. On June 17 he played a fantasia on Japanese airs, composed by himself. As a matter of coincidence there was "an absence of ladies, many of whom are at present rusticating in Japan", but for the other evenings "the audience has always comprised the majority of the ladies resident in the Settlement". Evidently this had come to be considered as most desirable, perhaps to lend an air of respectability to the performance. (NCH 11, 18.6.1864).
22.6.1864 (Wedn)
H.J. BYRON: "Il Treated Il Trovatore" (1863)
T: Burlesque extravaganza (1 act)
C: Shanghai Amateur Burlesque Company
F: Music by the Rhenish Band
Th: Olympic Theatre (H)
+
R: The first night of a new company, the "*Shanghai Amateur Burlesque Company" and, if we may believe the Herald, the Shanghai world "was completely taken by surprise. So minute an acquaintance with stage proprieties was shown that many of the audience were disposed to believe that they were witnessing a display of professional talent”. (NCH 25.6.1864).
29.6.1864 (Wedn)
H.J. BYRON: "Ill Treated 11 Trovators" (1863)
T: Burlesque extravaganza (1 act)
T.H. LACY: "A Silent Woman" (1835)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Shanghai Amateur Burlesque Company
F: "New burlesque music" by the Rhenish Band
Th: Olympic Theatre (H)
R: This is one of those increasing occasions in which only a short summary was published in the Herald, while the full report had appeared in the North China Daily News, no longer extant for this year. In any case the hope was expressed that more would be seen of the company "as soon as the cool weather sets in" (NCH 2.7.1864). According to the advertisement, tickets were obtainable from Lane, Crawford & Co (see 13.6.1864), Hall & Holtz (Ship chandler, general store and bakers; at the corner of Foochow Road (ex Mission Road) and Kiangsi Road (ex Bridge Street); MacKenzie & Co (shipchandlers, general store and general agents on the Yangkingpang in the French Concession); the Astor House Hotel; and Phillips Restaurant (Phillips, Moore & Co, Nanking Road-ex...)