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THE HONGKONG AMATEUR
DRAMATIC CLUB.
SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION OF
“A COUNTRY GIRL."
•
On Dec. 2the Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club opened a series of six performances of A Country Girl" in the Theatre Royal under the most successful auspices. Practically, no other result could have been anticipated, as the A.D.C. have acquired the reputation of doing well whatever they take in hand, but seldom have they achieved such a complete triumph as they have done on the present occasion. We have had reason to congratulate the Club on past performances and it is pleasant to be in a position to again compliment onr premier amateur combination on a production which is fully up to expectations. The community will enjoy it, and no other criterion nood be considered, because, after all, the important. tandard of judgment is whether the public appreciate it or not. And there can be no two opinions about the present production.
Of course it will be readily admitted that a performance by amateurs possesses an attraction which professionals, however popular individuals they may bo, cannot hope to enjoy. That is the personal attraction, the interest that is born of personal acquaintance and friendship, and while st produces a fooling of sympathy it is also responsible in some degree for a more acute, but not necessarily unfriendly, criticism. Undoubt- edly it is this bond, this knowledge, which makes in the eyes of patrons an indifferent performance tolerable and a successful production the acme of perfection. It is no doubt foolish to employ such extravagant language in describing the work of amateurs, who, however clever they may be, are themselves conscious of their limitatious, but it may be aptly said of the present production that it would be no discredit to professionals.
Doubtless it is due to its excellent reputation, but it is very apparent that the Club experiences little difficulty in filling up the vacancies which must occur in its personnel in, a changing community like ours. It seems to draw the best talent in the Colony, and the prosent cast includes a number of new performers whom the corn- munity will delight to honour. The return of Mr. H. P. White to the stage is a matter for congratulation, but the most conspicuous ac quisition is that of Mrs. H. A. Stewart, and there| are others who have shown themselves very useful in the minor parts.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The cast is as under:
Geoffrey Challoner. Mr. Geo. P. Lammert. Rajah of Bhong... Mr. H. P. White. Sir Joseph Verity Lt. Com. Dickens, B.N. Douglas Verity Lord Anchester Maj. Vicat
Mr. H. Hancock. Mr. H. V. Wilkinson. .Mr. D. P. Warbrook. Mr. F. C. Carrol. Mr. E. G. May. Mr. M.S. Northcote. Mr. A. J. Darby. Mr. J. Hall. Sub-Lt. D. Maxwell, R.N. Mr. F. C. Hall. Mr. C. C. F. Cunningham. Max, W. G. Worcester. Mrs. W. Logan.
Lord Grassmere Sir Charles Cortelyou Granfer Mummery Rube Fairway Groom Tyinchiff Rajah's
Attendants
Barry
Marjorie Joy
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Princess Methlina of thong Miss P'. Seth. Madame Sophie.
Miss Ella Rowe.
Mrs. St. Quintin.. Mrs. Henry Humphreys. Lady Anchester Mrs. W, L. Carter. Miss Ecroyd
Mr. Eran Jones. Lady Arnott Nurse.. Princess' Attendants
Nan
Miss D. Shelton Hooper. Miss Warren.
Miss Chapman.
..Miss Chatham,
and
で
Mrs. H. 'A. Stewart.
Villagers, Rustic, Farm Hands, &c., &c. Mesdames Gilby, McFarlane, Capel, Tarrant, Misses Peth, Andrew Te at Lambert, Wine. Sayer. Schmi-l!, Miller. Mes Flemming. Coughtrie, Lammert, Wilson, St. Clair, Young, Nagent. Turner. Walker, Ayris, raff. Sayer. Thomas, Hayward. II. W. Siyor. The principal dancers were. Miss Ella Rowe, Mrs. Henry Humphreys, Miss Hooper, Mrs. Gilby, and Miss Sethi, while Mrs. McFarlano sang • Come to Devonshire" with a most delightful vigour and charm.
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[December 7, 1908 -
a pleasing sense of restraint manifested in al his movements. Not the least meritorious part of his performance was his singing, and alike in solos and duets he was heard to great advan. ' tage. Mr. H. P. White's commanding figure and easy dignified mien recommended him for the role of the Rajah of Bhong in which position he was humorous and dignified as required. His allusions to the Sanitary Board cats made his songs more appreciated, the ease with which Hongkong rhymed with Bhong being doubtless responsible for the many references to the Colony. As the irre- pressible Barry, full of fun and frolic, Mr. W. G. Worcester scored a great success, Every. thing he said aul did was humorous from selling a worthless tin mine for two thousand pounds to his political speel in sa mort of his master's candidature, when he declared that politics was the ruin of Parliament," or his discourse on - painters or dressing as a woman and fooling the men int proposing to him. He certainly is entitled to every credit for his good work, “. Though Mr. Mowbray Northcote had perhaps less to do than usual on the stage he acted Granfer Mummery with his accustomed success, while Lieut. Commander Dickens acquitted himself admirably as the obsequions Sir Joseph Verity. Mr. H. Hancock as Douglas Verity, the young man who was not very keen on becoming a member of Parliament, and Mr. Wilkinson as Lord Anchester gave creditable performances.
To sum up, the entire production was in the highest degree praiseworthy. The orchestration enhanced the value of the performance and the mounting proved very effective. The tableaux in the opening of the second act roused the enthusiasm of the audience, the effects being very picturesque. The costumes were beautiful. The musical director was Mr. George Grim-Tho furnishing was entrusted to Messrs. W. blo, the orchestra being composed as follows: Powell and Company, and the business side of First Violins, Capt. H. M. Beasley, K.A., Mr. the production was looked after by Mr. A. J. R. Hargeaves, Mr. E. Wolf, Mr. C. A. P. Chapman, as business manager, assisted by Mr. Xavier, "Cello,--M. P. A. Rozario. Bass. Mr. M. Northcote as hon. secretary and Mr. E. W. W. Matthews. Cornets. -Mr. C. C. Elliott Ormiston as lion. treasurer. and Mr. Bristow. Clarionet.-Baudsman Hotel- kins. The Buffs." Trombone. -Bandsman McQuade, The Buffs. Second Violins, Mr. G. G. Catchick, Mr. J. M. S. Rozario, Mr. Sibbitt, Sergt Perdue, A. P. D. Viola.-Bands- man Tester, The Bulls. Flute. Mr. J. D. Osinund. French Horns.-Corporal Miller, and Corporal Miles, The Buffs." Bas- soon. Lance Corporal Smith, The Buffs." Timpani, --Bandsman Kennings. The "Buffs." Piano. - Mr. George Grimble.
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The large audience which witnessed the open. ing performance last night was very appreciative and, had time permitted, a few encores would have been given, but, as it was, the promise of three hours' merriment was more than fulfilled.
The Hongkong Amateur Dramatic Club has every reason to be gratified at the success attending their production of "A' Country Girl." On Saturday night the City Hall was filled to excess, not evou standing room being available in the lower portions of the house, asure testimony of the appreciation accorded our local amateurs by their somewhat critical Hongkong friends. A Country Girl" is considered a formidable undertaking even for a professional Company, and it is no exaggera- tion to say that the A.D.C. performance is quite up to. if not in advance of, the standard wu are accustomed to expect from the professional troups visiting the Colony,
The occasion was rendered the more enjoyable owing to the visit of the Interport cricket team from Canton, and many were the topical allusions introduced at the expense of our friends from the Shameen, who, judging from appearances, thoroughly appreciated the fau. Most of the performers have been accorded their full moad of praise in previous issues of the Daily Press, but Saturday might's performance was so good as to be worthy of special mention.
Without being invidious, reference may "A Country Girl is a fairly ambitions he made to the performances of several of the undertaking, but the many difficulties which it principals. "Nan" is the first name that suggests presented vanished under the guidance of Mr. itself." the vivacious Devonshire girl endowed | John Robertsori, who was responsible for the with plenty of feminine charms and thrilling artistic scenery and the admirable effects. A with the sheer joy of life. Mrs. H. A. Stewart | bright sparkling comedy, "A Country Girl" proved a comely and fascinating Nan aud gave opportunities for fun which were utilised laughed and sang and joked to the manner born. to the full. The scene where Geoffrey Challoner Her interpretation left nothing to be desired; is surprised by his sweetheart kissing the fa- in fact it was very much admired and no more scinating Nan was very cleverly portrayed, and popular figure moved on the stage, Her singing Barry, the irrepressible, supplied a good deal of "Iry again Johuny" was received with great of amusement. To hear him refer to Michael applause. The more dignified role of Marjorie Angelo as Mike was very mirth-provoking, Joy was entrusted to Mrs. W. Logan, a lady who but when he inquired if he had a cousin enjoys the distinction of being one of the in Kowloon he simply brought down the premier amateur actresses of Hongkong, a house. Speaking generally, the performance distinction gained by several clever studies. was characterised with a swing and a dashı She was well suited and her impersonation was that indicated how thorougli was the knowledge | in the highest degree artistic. Her solos were each individual possessed of his or her part exquisitely rendered, one of the most attractive and showed the excellent understanding | being "Över the hills and far away and the which obtained between the various com - ducts in which she appeared with Geoffroy
Encoros were numerous, in fact much too binations,-cast, chorus and orchestra, The | Chulloner were most delightful efforts, notably | numerous, and the lady performers began to principals filled their roles most effectively, the boy and girl duets. The ambitions Madame exhibit unmistakeable signs of fatigue con- the minor characters supported them almirably. Sophie, the dressmaker who aspired to society.sequent upon the repeated responses they had to and the chorus sang with a verve and swing that was cleverly represented by Miss Ella Rowe, make to the appeals of some of the less con. contributed greatly to the success of the pro- who assumed all sorts of airs in a distinctly siderate among the audience. Nevertheless it duction. From the curtain's rise till its fall feminine manner. Her dainty dancing was also Was 8 most creditable performance, and so after midnight the piece went without a hitch, much admired and she came in for a fair share | long as the Colony can produce such a ple- and though there was an occasional hesitation, of the approbation of the audience. Mrs. H. thora of talented Thespians we need have no scarcely perceptible, the performance could hardly Humphreys essayed the part of Mrs. St. Quintin, | fear that the Hongkong A.D.C. will not con. be bettered. Some of those who took rocal parts the aristocratic lady with electioneering ideas, tinue to flourish and hold its reputation as second would have been more effective had their voices with a distinct success, while Miss P. Seth was very. to none in the Far East. been more powerful and telling, but that, of effective in her characterisation of the Princess course, was not the fault of the artists. Every Methlina of Bhong. Miss Warren took the body was at home in front of the footlights. part of nurse very creditably, and Miss Hooper Not one seemed to suffer from that woaknes filled the pleasing part of Lady Arnott. Mr. G. common to amateurs, Stago fright," and the P. Lammert nude an excellent Geoffrey Chal ease and nonchalence of the principals gavo to loner. He looked the dashing naval officer and the whole a smoothness that was perhaps its most interpreted his part with an artistic taste that distinguishing feature.
appealed strongly to the audience.
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There was
Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who appears to be still at Singapore, and not in Japan, as recently reported in Japanese journals, denies being associated with the revolutionary movement in Kwangsi province as recently alleged by the Governor of the province in a memorial to the throne.