November 21, 1909)
This terminated the toast list, and Mr. Gray having declared the section of the railway opened, the company dispersed,
THE A.D.C, AT THE THEATRE.
LORD AND LADY ALGT."
Was
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
aunt to her niece Ottiline, while Mrs. Pemberton imparted a charming air of youth and innocence. Mrs. Baker-Browne might have been more querulous as Mrs. Vokins, but was always amusing, and Mrs. Chapman made the most! she could of the role of Emily Cardew.
The costumes and mounting of the piece were alike first-rate. The majority of the former, at least as far as the fancy clothes are | concerned, came from Shanghai, but were copied from the original dresses. The scenery was as good of its kind as we have geen here, The orchestra was that of the Philharmonic Society, ander the able conducting of Mr. George Grimble. The stage manager Was Mr. George Caldwell, who was assisted by Major Bunny, A.O.D., while Mr. H. C. Nicolle was acting manager. The whole performance was produced under the direction of Mr. E. W. Mitchell. evidence of whose constant and conscien ion< labour Was abundantly manifest. The police hal for tunately been instructed to regulate the traffic during the performance, so that uo such interruptions to hearing were present a ther generally are in the neighbourhood of the City Hall at night.
In attempting RC. Carton's successful comedy Lord and Lady Algy, the Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club set themselves a formidable task, but the Club has ever been wont to make a brave effort and certainly Saturday night was an occasion on which ambition was justified. We do not mean to say that the performance was perfect, but it assuredly better than that of any of the professional companies which visit Hong. kong, with the exception of the Broughs. It is not that the acting as uniformly good. for there were degrees; but in one and all of the cast there was enthusiasm and determination to go the whole way, to borrow a sporting phrase. It is this characteristic which is one of the chief charms of the A.D.C. work, and it was well marked on Saturday! The one drawback, in our estimation, was that the action dragged too much. There was only one absolute pause, owing to the delay of one of the actors in the Ballers:- scene in appearing on the stage; but there was in s veral places a need of quickening upe Doubtless much of this will disappear to-night. The defect is a small one compared with the many excellences exhibited by the company.
The plot of the play is familiar-it has been seen before on the Hongkong stage-so that it is with the interpreters only that we need concern ourselves. To begin with, it must be admitted that one performer stood in a class by herself. Others were good, but Mrs. Grace was more than good. She is a finished actress, on whose possession the Hongkong stage has every reason to pride itself. A batter Lady Algy we do not want to see. Ease, voice, charm of manner and the instinct for comedy are all here, and the result of these qualities is a happy one. The audience was not slow to show its appreciation, but Mrs Grace fairly won all the applause which she got. Lord Algy was in the hands of Mr. Battterworth, whom Hongkong has been anxious to see in the part, owing to the reports of his successful treatment of it in Shanghai. His was a good performance on Saturday, At firs he appeared a
trifle frigid, but he improted rapidly; and, though he was one of the chief sinners in protracting the action, he had at least the excuse that his part demanded a certain amount of "go- ing easy." It is mach in his favour that in the Ball scene he played that most difficult of all stage-parts, a dranken gentleman, without vulgarity. Generally speaking, he was hardly enough of & sportsman. Nevertheless bis rendering of this essentially "Hawtrey" part was enjoyable.
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The following is the complete list of charac- Duke of Droneborough
Mr. H. W. Bird Marquis of Quarmby (his elder son) Mr. John Hays Lord Algernon Chetland (his younger son)...
Mr. H. T. Butterworth
...
Capt. Bushe, R.A.
Hon. Crosby Jethro (of the Coldstreams) Capt. Standi 'ge (of the
Brabason Tudway Richard Annesley Montague Denton
Coldstreaus)
Mr. F. Hayley Bell Surgeon Norri‹, R N. Mr. A. Chapman
Lieut. Davidson Lieut. Hodgson, 8 F. Mr. Hudson
Mr. Jeal (a reporter).. Kinch (a sheriff's officer) Swepson (valet to Lord Algernon)...............
Mr. M. Stafford-Northcote Mawley Jemmet (Lord Algernon's jockey)...
Wyke (Tudway's footman).
Lady Algernon Chetland. Lady Pamela Mallinson... Ottiline Wallinson (her niece).
Emily Cardew
Mr. M. D. Silas Major Baker-
Browne, B.A.
Mrs. Grace Miss Hazeland Mrs. Peniberton Mrs. A. Chapman Mr. Brabazon Tudway
Mrs. Patrick Jones Mrs. Vokins (her mother)...... Mrs. Baker-Brown Guests-Messrs. Arthur, Becke, Rain, Holmes, Henderson, H, A. Laminert, L. Lammert, F. Lam mert, and O. 5. Thomson. Mesdames Bateman, Bunny, Henderson, Holmes, Preston, F. Shaw and E. Shaw.
The house was one of the best on record for the A.D.C. we believe, about $1,200 being taken.
Crowded homes witnessed the performance of the piece on Monday and Tuesday.
The Hongkong A.D.C.. having successfully got through the three performances of Lord and Lady Algy, with the record takings in its history, is now preparing busily for the production of The Importance of being Earnest, the late Oscar Wilde's fascinating comedy, perhaps in its class the most brilliant, certainly the most witty comedy of the last century. This will be staged three times, on the 11th, 12th, and 14th December. The cast will be as follows: — John Worthing
Merriman Lane
Lady Bracknell Hon. Gwendoline Fairfax Cecily Cardew Miss Prism
No other character of course, stands out so much as the title-roles. But there is much opportunity for a lot good acting in half-a- dozen other parts, M. Bird rose to the occasion as the Duke. Perhaps a little too senile, he yet admirably indicated the reasons why his younger son held him in such awe. In the hat scene he was very amusing. Mr. John Hays's Quarmby was not his best appearance in amateur dramatic circles, but we doubt whether Algernon Moncrieff the part could have been assigned to more Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D., capable hands. Voice and manner were ex- cellent; the make up not so good. Both Captain Bushe and Mr. F. H. Bell made hits as Coldstream officers, particularly Mr. Bell, whose laugh was inimitable; his make-up in the second act was a perfect disguise, if not what Lord Algy would call" wonderful pretty." Surgeon Norris was a little disappointing is Tudway and altogether too melodrramatic in Act II; he was better in the quieter scenes. Smaller parts were efficient- ly played by Major Baker-Browne, Lieutenant Davidson and Hodgson (a very high-trned reporter), Messrs. Chapman, Hudson, and Silas; Mr. Northcote's Swapson is perhaps also a small port, but he managed to invest it with a good deal of humour and to keep the house on good terms with him. Of the ladies we have already mentioned Mrs. Grace. Mrs. Patrick Jones bad the next largest speaking part; she played it with no slight charm and looked very well, in the first and thirds acts especially. Miss Hzealand's Lady Pamela was an excellent
f
Lt. Smith, R.A. Lt. Davidson, R.A. Capt. Bushe, RA, Mr. Brent
↓
Mr. H. Han cook Mrs. J. Hastings Mrs. Pemberton Mrs. Tulloch Mrs. Fitzwilliams There is a possibility, if a afficiently strong chorus can be got together, of the A.D.C. per- forming about the end of January His Excel- lency, the comic opera by W. S. Gilbert and Osmod Carr, which was originally to have been given by the A.D.C. early in 1901, but was postponed indefinitely on account of the death of Queen Victoria.
It appears that H.M.8. Certurion is com- missioned, not for this station, but for the Mediterranean to relievз one of the battleships there, which will then come on, to China. H.M.8. Europa is commissioned for the China station.
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HONGKONG LICENSING
SESSIONS.
t
375
The annual Licensing Sessions for the city of Hongkong was held on the 17th inst. at the Magistracy. Mr T. Bercombe Smith presided, nnd the other Justices prazaut were Messrs. E. R. Hallifax, J. B. Ken, E. D. C. Wolfe, R. C. Wilcox, F. Browne, C. Mol. Messer, A. Shelton Hooper, R. H. Craig, G. T. Veitoh, W. H. Davis, P. W. Sergeant, A. Rumjahn, Lau Chu Pak, and C. A. D. Melbourne.
IRREGULAR APPLICATIONS.
The first application to come on for considera- tion was by Moritz Steuberg for the Interna- ti nal Hotel, 318, Queen's Road.
The CHAIRMAN said he noticed that one of
the thres householders who guaranteed the applicant's respectability of character belonged to Carlowitz & Co.: did Carlowitz & Co. supply the applicant with liquor?
APPLICANT-Yes.
The CHAIRMAN said that in that case the ap-. plication was not in order. Under the Liquor Licences Ordinance the householders who signed as sureties must not be implicated in supplying liquor to the applicant. He did not think the Justices could ent rtain this application.
Mr. HOOPER s'ggested that they might djourn it.
applicant was instructed to put in a fresh The application 'was adjourned. and the application to-day.
BAY VIEW HOTEL.
A similar irregularity was found in several other applications, and in each case the appli cant was instrnoted to put in a fresh one in proper form.
James Christie applied for licence for Bay View Hotel.
Mr. HALLIFAX said he understood that the applicant had been informed that the Government iutended to resume this property next year.
8
publican's
APPLICANT stated that he bad not been so informed.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that of course if be ied for a year's licence he would have to
app take the risk of Government determining the lease before the expiry of the licence.
Application granted.
HONGKONG HOTEL.
Harry Haynes made application for a licence for the Hongkong Hotel.
The CHAIRMAN pointed out that this applica- tion had not been properly filled up. The Ordinance required that three householders should be ecurity for the applicant, whereas here only two had signed -Messrs. R. C. Wilcox and C. Mooney. Applicant had been informed by the First Clerk of the Magistracy that his application was not in order, yet no attempt had been made to remedy it.
Mr. HOOPER-We might adjourn it. The CHAIRMAN —Yes, hat I do not think we can deal with an imperfect application.
Mr. WILCOX-If you will take a third name now, Mr. Grist is ready to sign.
The CHAIRMAN stated that it was clearly laid down that a perfect application must be sent in ten days beforehand. He must give it as a ruling that this was an imperfect applion- tion which they could not entertain at that slage.
Mr. VEITCH thought it showed great care. lessness when an applicant was warned to amend his application and did not do it.
The CHAIRMAN—I agree with you. Ultimately the application was renewed and Mr. Haynes instru ted to send in a new appli- cation in proper form.
ABSENTEES.
1
Several applicants were not in attendance or represented.
The CHAIRMAN made the remark generally regarding such cases that when the applicants were not present or represented they must take it that they did not want the licence. At a later stage he stated that such applicants must apply at once in order to be in time for the granting of their licence from the 1st December next, They would be considered at a meeting of Justices to be held subsequently.
MAIN HOTEL.
گیا
Lou's Comar applied for a publican's licence for the Main Hotel, 59, Des Voeux Road Central, which at present has only got in adjunct licence..
Mr. E. J. GEIST, solicitor, appeared on be-
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