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N: J.B. Creswick's benefit
R: For the second time a scene from Shakespeare could be seen in Shanghai: now it was act V from Richard III in which the king is confronted with the ghosts of his victims, lights his enemies ('A Horse! A Horse! My kingdom for a horse!') and is finally killed. In what kind of version it was played must be a matter of conjecture, although the worst days of adapting, cutting and rewriting Shakespeare's dramas were over. The Record found it "somewhat disappointing. Richard was too declamatory and an evident appearance of striving for effect predominated". Who personated the role of Richard III was not stated, but as it was Mr. CRESWICK's benefit it may have been him. The Frantic Husband went off well, with Tilly EARL as the "Injured wife". Miss NYE as Mrs. Alibi and Mr. GILL in the leading parts (SCR 5.5.1865).
27.4.1865 (Thur)
No titles were given, but probably:
J.H. PAYNE: 'T was (* (1825)
T: Farce (1 act)
J.T. RODWELL: "The Young Widow" (1824)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Lewis A.D.C.
Th: Lyceum Theatre (1)
N: Miss Nye's benefit
R: Miss NYE was described by the Commercial Record as a "ladylike and pleasing actress" who had a good house. "The performance was light and amusing. She acted neatly and with pleasing unconsciousness of doing so. This actress will some day occupy a position which will still further develop her as a personifier of light and agreeable parts" (SCR 5.5.1865).
28.4.1865 (Fri)
M. BARNETT: "The Serious Family" (1849)
T: Comedy (3 acts)
"Cinderella"; by H.J. BYRON? T. TAYLOR!
C: Lewis A.D.C.
Th: Lyceum Theatre (D)
R: In Cinderella, a burlesque, Miss NAYLOR once again “looked and acted with well assumed demeanour" one of the ugly sisters of the heroine. The latter part was possibly played by Mrs. GILL, "the most accomplished of the troupe. She pays great attention to dress (...) and there is a quiet repose in her manner that is not easy to attain and only adds to the effect and spirit of her acting“. Miss Tilly EARL also took one of the parts; she was "vivacious and fascinating". Only the singing was "not so good as usual, but one of the fair warblers was suffering from a cold" (SCR 5.5.1865).
29.4.1865 (Sat)
H.J. BRYON: "Aladdin or the Wonderful Scump" (1861)
T: Burlesque extravaganza (1 act)
"The Lady of Lyons". Arthur either LYTTON or BYRON.
C: Lewis A.D.C.
Th: Lyceum Theatre (1)
R: This was the farewell performance of the Company as well as Mr. Henry Birch's benefit. BIRCH was described as "an old hand on the boards of the theatre. He has acted with many well known celebrities and to a certain extent still retains the manner of a school now almost extinct. The Company had left a good impression, although the Record's critic occasionally thought the actors deficient in making “a lucky hit by the casual introduction of a remark. They depend in some instances too much on the prompter and considering the case they act with one another this should not be" (of the Herald's
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