December 1, 1900.]
On the motion of Colonel BROWN, seconded by Colonel CROOKENDEN, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded His Excellency for his kindly interest in the club, and His Excellency having expressed his thanks for the vote, the proceedings terminated.
191
ture-removing operations he was nobly assisted by two stalwarts in Mr. Howkins and Sergeant Conway, R.E. Mr. H. W. Bird was an hum- orous lift-man, most pertinacious in his atten- tions to Bella, and with an unerring eye for a tip. Mr. J. Hayes played Pinohard, the milkman, with a Lincolnshiro accent as thick as cream, and con- tributed his part to the mirth-provoking dunning of the temporarily penniless Sylvesters.
By kind permission of Lieut. Col. Hon. R. H. Bertie and the officers, the band of the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers played a selection of music, which was a great addition to the attractions of the evening.
E
The full caste was:-
Mr. Reginald Sylvester, Mr. W. K. Bagnall Wild, R.E. Mr. Clarence Vanc Mr. G. J. P. Geiger, R.W.F., Mr. Mc ullum (Father of Margery and Imoy) Pinchard (Dairy-man) Stout (Lift-man)
Mr. H. W. Looker. Mr. J. Hayos. Mr. H. W. Bird. Mr. Glover (Lessee and Manager Royal Star Theatre) Mr. C. H. P. Hay. Margery Sylvester (Wife of Reginald and Daughter of Mr. McCullum) Mrs. Bagnall Wild. Lucy-(Daughter of Mr. McCullum)... Mrs. Hoykins. Bella (Maid Servant to the Sylvesters)
Mrs. Francis Clark. Madame Volaut-(Court Dressmaker)... Mrs. Mossop. lara-(Daughter of occupants of Flat E) Miss Powell. Mr. J. J. O'Neill. Foreman (Furniture Shop)
Mr. Howkins. 2nd Man (Furniture Shop) 3rd Man-(Furniture Shop) Sergt. Conway, B.E.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADË REPORT.
that I have not forgotten these things and they have been excusable. One and all they had shall come in time. I tender the sub-committee settled down to their roles in splendid fashion. my grateful thanks for what they have done. Mrs. Bagnall Wild as Margery Sylvester was, but I shall be glad if they will remember that if even to those who have seen her act before, they have anything to suggest to Captain Trefusis a revelation. Throughout she was perfectly that they may think worthy of consideration, natural and devoid of any atom of staginess. either in the way of entertainments or getting We never want to 889 a woman's part played up matches, or anything of that sort, their sug-better in our A.D.C. performances. Moreover, gestions will have every consideration. In fact she and Mr. Bagnall Wild as the husband, the club is in your hands. Before I sit down I Reginald Sylvester, combined most admirably think I should say that all our thanks are due together, and it is indeed an advantago for the to the working committee, to whom the success Club to possess two such capable performers of the club is due, and in connection with this I accustomed to play in company. This is al- must mention my own aide-de-camp. Captain ways half the battle in amateur theatricals. Trefusis-(applause)-who has devoted himself We shall hope to see them both in many future heart and soul to this club. He knew what a performances. As Margery's sister Lucy, Mrs. warm interest I had in it. He himself has been Howkins, a new-comer to the Colony, made a greatly interested in similar things in the home most promising first appearance. She played district connected with the Brigade of Guards, with great vivacity throughout and fairly in- and it is largely owing to his energy and hard spired life into her fiancé, Clarence Vane. She work that we have got over the difficulties looked charming in her white bridal costume in which always attend the opening of a building the second act, and altogether is a distinct ad- of this nature. (Applause.)
dition to the ranks of our local amateurs. Mrs. Francis Clark, who played Bella, the indepen- peut but good natured maidservant, is a well- known and tried supporter of the A. D. C., and once again she gave most excellent exhibition of her talent and versatility. Some of her utterances quite fetched" the house, spoken as they were with a delightful sharpness and
It was truth to housemaidenly nature. capital bit of acting; particularly in the inter-
The Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club gave view with Nathaniel Glover. Mrs. Clark has put another success to her credit. As Madame a second performance of "Our Flat" on the 26th Volant, Mrs. Mossop had not a very grateful alt., before a crowded house, amongst those part to play, but she made a very good show present being H. E. Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M.G., with it. She dropped rather too suddenly from and H. E. Major-General Gascoigne, C.M.G., the broken French-English into cockney, but and Mrs. Gascoigne. The performance was in other respects was a most adequate exponent most successful, and on the whole was an im- of the dressmaker. Last of the female char-provement on that of the opening night, the acters comes Miss Powell's Clara, a really performers being naturally more familiar with admirable representation of the hoyden daughter their parts, and showing greater confidence, from a neighbouring flat. We felt every Mrs. Bagnall Wild and Mrs. Clarke were again moment, as indeed we were meant to, that a exceedingly good, the latter never failing in flower-pot must fall over soon or a candle-stick provoking the laughter of the house. as Clara flitted from side to side of the room. Bagnall Wild and Mr. C. H. P. Hay again earned well-deserved applause for their clever Possibly the dropping of the manuscripts on the floor was a trifle overdone, but it is difficult and consistent acting, and the minor characters not to exaggerate in such a part. Miss Powell's were all ably portrayed. At the close of the energy was inimitable.
performance a bouquet was presented to Mrs. Bagnall Wild. The Band of the Royal Welch Fusiliers were present, by permission, and rendered the following programme:-Over- "Silver Cross," Herman; selection, ture,
London night by dight," Bonheur; selection "Shop Girl." Jones; March, "Regatta," Doring.
THE A.D.C. AT THE THEATRE.
Once more the Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club has achieved a thorough success, and shown to the public of the Colony that without waiting for any professional combination to visit us from distant lands we have in our midst enough dramatic talent of a high order to provide a well-spent evening's amusement. It is no exaggeration to say that the company which took part in Our Flat on the 24th ult. suffered nothing in comparison with any of the touring combinations which usually call at Hongkong. The performers had not that practice which the necessities of a professional tour bring, but they more than made up for it by a freshness of their own, while at the same time everything went without a hitch and at the right pace at which á comedy of this kind should go. Great credit belongs to those who are responsible for the training and rehearsing of the caste, and they have the satisfaction of knowing that their labour and energy were productive of the best results. It was feared at first, that with so many new members taking part in the performance the A.D.C. might not come up to the standard of its previous triumphs, but as the first act got under weigh such fears were dissipated and the new blood was seen to have brought with it fresh vigour. Indeed some of the chief successos of the evening were won by players who have not previously appeared before the general pub. lic hero.
*
Among the actors, Mr. C. H. P. Hay beyond a doubt made the hit of the evening Nathaniel Glover, Lessee and Manager of the Royal Star Theatre, "lived" upon the stage on Saturday night. Admirably had Mr. Hay caught the tones, the geniality, pomposity, and vulgarity of a certain class of theatrical managers. While he was on the scene he seemed to eclipse overy- one else with his pervasive personality, and his exits and re-entrances when he arrived at the Hat to pay "Mr. Reginald" his £200 were Mr. Hay is to be extremely diverting. felicitated on a wonderfully humorous piece of acting. His make-up too was splendid; he might have been drawn by Phil May. In Mr. Hay the A. D. C. have a genuine comedian. Next to him in merit, perhaps, came Mr. Bag. uall Wild, of whom we have already spoken incidentally. As the would-be tragic dramatist who is forced at last to turn to comedy. ho played with the right amount of restraint, varied with such lyric outbursts as that with which he greeted Madame Volant and her "leetle bill."
Had
|
The play chosen was one which lends itself admirably to representation by amateurs of talent. None of the roles are exacting, thongh they call for ample intelligence on the part of those who sustain them, the characters are well differentiated, the mounting is modest, but effective, and there is abundance of life and of humour of a popular kind. In con- struction Our Flat is of the utmost simpli- city (we do not refer to the furniture in
Mr. Bagnall Wild is already known to the third act) but it is also ingenious and
many as a most efficient actor. He showed him amusing. In London, it will be remembered self so again and with one day's more experience the comedy had an excellent run and was one of in the scene with his wife and the manager the successes of the season in which it saw the who has come to buy the play, will be a first light. The A.D.C. made a very wise choice rate Reginald; in the scene we mention we when they selected it for their first appearance thought there was a slight roughness, which in the season 1900-1901. The audience fully another performance cannot but remove. bore witness by their constant applause that Mr. Looker as Mr. McCallum maintained the they appreciated all the points brought out by same level in the second and third acts which he the actors and actresses. Most laughter per reached in the first he would certainly have car- haps greeted the rehabilitation of the dismantled ried off the second honours among the men but he | flat by Margery (Mrs. Bagnall Wild), Bella seemed to tire a little toward the end. His per- (Mrs. Clark), and Stout (Mr. H. W. Bird).formance, all the same, was good, and, as we have The make-shifts adopted by Reginald Sylves intimated, in the first act was very good indeed. ter's quick-witted wife were welcomed with Mr. G. J. P. Geiger took the part of Clar- much merriment in all parts of the house. The euce Vane a little too quietly. The fate of his bath-chair played its part nobly, and as various Academy picture seemed to weigh over-heavily performers collapsed into it the mirth was re-
on him.
With an extra infusion of vigour, newed.
however, he would fill the part very well Coming now to the individual performers and Among the minor characters the palm was taking the ladies first, we must testify to the way undoubtedly borne off by Mr. J. J. O'Neill, who in which they all threw themselves into their was a foreman of a furniture shop to the very parts. No hesitation was observable in a single life. In a larger part Mr. O'Neill would give speech, though on a first night it would an excellent account of himself. Lu his furni-
dadebu
Mr.
On Monday, 3rd December, we are glad to hear, there will be a third perfomance, the proceeds to be devoted by the A.D.C. to a de- serving charity, the Italian Convent extension. A large audience will no doubt be present.
MESSRS. MARSH AND WARD'S CONCERT.
(Second Nolice.) The second subscription concert_given by Messrs. Alec Marsh and A. G. Ward took place in the St. George's Hall on Thursday, 22nd ult. Judging from the applause with which the different items were received, the audience thoroughly appreciated the musi cal treat submitted to them; and notwithstand- ing the counter-attraction of Trilby at the Theatre every seat in the hall was occupied.
Owing to the indisposition of Mrs. Badeley and Mr. Lammert, two alterations were made in the original programme-Mrs. Lowson and Mr Hill, in addition to their own parts, kindly tak- ing their places, The amended programme
was as follows:-
Song...
Song
...
Part First.
**
Duet for 2 Pianofortes (8 hands) Overture
"Comedietts
Gurlitt. Misses SHELTON HOOPER and Shaw, and Messrs. GRIMBLE and Ward.
La Serenata"... Mr. ALEC MARSH. Kathleen Mavourneen
Mrs. MUDIE. "Queen of the Earth" Song
Mr. E: E. HILL.
**Barcarola" Duet...
Mrs. Lowson and Mr. ALSc Marsh. Violoncello Solò..... “Menuet"
Mr. J. H. MOIB.
***
"
Tosti.
Crouch.
***
Pinauti.
Gounod.
Squire.
...
***