THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPII, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1937.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 0, 1937.
DIFFICULT DECISIONS
Whether China fights or sur- renders, her future is not! exactly bright. She is faced
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duct. For the moment the deci sion rests with Marshal Chinng
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may change hands, if rumours from the North mean anything. Whether Marshal Chiang goes or stays, may make no difference to the issue of peace or war. There are still men of spirit in the Central Government, but it is certain that the retirement of the Generalissimo would Joe Peterson, make the prospect of successful peace negotiations considerably brighter. It is very likely that any terms which Japan may offer will include the demand for the Marshal's resignation, and compliance in this one thing would possibly gain China & better bargain in surrender.
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Unpleasant as it is, surrender is the only word applicable. Peace will be on Japan's terms. They are bound to be severe. Will China accept them?
Garage-Hand by Day.. STAR by NIGHT
By John Bourne
D
actress,
Playwright, producer, adjudicator, and editor of "The Amateur Theatre."
URING the day, John Smith is a miner; in the evening he is an actor. John Smith's daughter is a school teacher; but also she is an
John Smith has a brother who was a miner but is now unemployed-that is, during the day.
At night he, too, "walks the boards.” Even John Smith's wife is n costumier.
The picture is no exaggeration. In all parts of England all sorts and conditions whole families, are of people, sometimes
The amateur turning
acason the stage.
has begun.
The amateur actor of 1937 is entirely different from the happy-go-lucky player of 1000.
Then, the amateurs, cajoling their friends and fond relatives into buying tickets for their shows, were mainly copyists of the professional stage, having fun at other people's" expense, and doing it largely as a social or Society function.
Now, large numbers of them are genuine students of drama striv- ing to keep flesh and blood acting alive in places where there are no theatres and where, but for their efforts, plays would never be seen. By reason of hard work at drama schools and the introduction of the producer, amateur acting has greatly improved. It is much more
communal effort in which people of all classes gather to- gether to experiment with original plays or to produce established
successes.
SHAW
HAW and Priestley are high in the list of favourite dramatists, and among the works of other authors that will be widely acted during the coming season are Spring Tide, Pride and Prejudice, Call # A Day. Distinguished Gathering, The Unguarded Hour, Love From A Stranger, and Night Must Fall.
The latest play to be released is Love On The Dole. Ronald Gow dramatised it from the novel by Walter Greenwood, who was on the dale" when he wrote it, and, in Mr. Cow's own words, "shiv- ered in Salford altle during the hard winter of 1932,
No of
Amateur actors abound. census has ever been taken them, but at the lowest estimate there exist no fewer than 20,000 dramatic societies.
They range from the big operatic societies performing for a week at a time in full-sized
a
theatres or cinemas to little village groups performing in old army huts or schoolrooms.
Children, too, now act in large numbers occasionally as part of their school curriculum, There has lately arisen a "Theatre of
Youth," with Dame Sybil Thorn-
dike as president.
The movement is certainly Ja-
among tento especially
the smaller groups. These, anxious to be independent, are struggling to possess their own headquarters.
Already some strange buildings have been transformed into "little theatres" barn, a laundry, an old garage, a disused ratiway station, a cellar, a chapel, a cow- shcd.
In them stages have been bullt, with great economy, and every- thing from the scenery to the seats has been made or "picked up cheap."
ON
the other hand. amateurs-with-rather-more-re- sources have set up comfortable and fully-equipped theatres of their own. notably at Dundee. Altrincham and Southport.
The Southport Little Theatre. opened recently, has cost nearly £15,000. and seals 400.
Unemployed groups are numer- One such toured the dis-
ous.
tressed areas in Wales and the North, using an
old lorry (given them by a benc- factor) as a stage and sleeping out.
Others meet regularly in the Unemployed Workers' Centres, frequently to act improvised plays or works of their own writing.
The National Council of Social Bervice has several drama advisora whose time is chiefly taken up with visiting unemployed centres and acting as producers. A workless group recently built their own stage from old railway sleepers and used blankets from their own beda as a
curtain" background. On the Left, the Unity Theatre Club has inaugurated a theatre movement, frankly propagandist. which already has close contact with 150 similar groups in various parts of the country.
The International Pax Players' -Association.-with-a-Scottish-off- shoot, is desi ned to develop the peaco
already play, and has organised a peace - propaganda festival.
All-women socletles have grown rapidly during the last few years, sometimes coming into open com- petition at the drama festivals and gining awards. Playwrights have,
Auld Donal', The Cabby
livening company.
A typical situa- tion
for on amateur actor -after work in his parage ho becomes Cap- tain Arthur Donegall in "Florodora."
Indeed, found it profitable to turn their attention to the all women
play, both one-act and full-length.
Sometimes there
aro
incongruities, especially when women attempt male characterisa- tion. Not long ago all-women .society seriously debated whether it should attempt Journey's End!" "The fact remains, however, that all-women casts have played Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, Julius Cæsar, Henry the Fourth and Romeo and Juliet. While most Women's Institutes prefer to
casts entirely to their members, some do not dis-
keep their
dain the help of men,
iri
Dramatic festivals are growing organized on popularity. That a national scale by the British Drama League is the biggest, with about 700 entries per annum.
One-act plays only are per- formed in this festival, and by a process of elimination Ave *teams" from Eivø different parta of Great Britain are chosen to play in a final, generally hold at the Old Vic.
Ar
T the Anal early this year a company entirely composed of miners came from Scotland and was placed second Yer- its per- formance of Jos Corrio's Hewers of Coat
There is a move, this reason to transfer this Final to Glasgow during the time of the Empire Exhibition.
The situation forbids predic- tions. If the war is to continue it is probable that Japan will make a formal declaration of
Independent festivals, usually held for a week at a time, are hostilities, declare the Central on her side, there will be no
locally organised in certain cen- Government outlawed and pro- possibility of the invaded areas
tres, sometimes with the support ceed to set up a puppet regime tration. They may be lost to returning to Chinese adininis-
of the Corporation. Both one-act at Nanking just as has been
and full-length plays are per- done in Manchukuo and, on a China in any event, of course, the leisurely days before the journeys, but the old cabby had be- formed.
Among the towns and cities smaller scale, in Shanghai. The but there is a chance that much advent of the motor car, a certain come such a popular character that next development would prob-1of the land now occupied coula top-hatted worthy known as Auid travellers were willing to forgo com- regularly running such events are Blackpool, Doncaster, ably be the occupation of sea- be regained under pence Donal acted as charioteer for many fort for the sake of having his en- Buxton,
travellers.
Scarborough, Morecambe, Harro- ports, Canton included. This treaty. Then there is the ques- He occupied the best stance near would entail a
So fond of his horse was the old Rate, Huddersfield, Skipton and tion of China's economic posi- the station, by fair means or toul, cabby that in stormy weather he
Welwyn Garden City. struggle, Kn
Wales la strong in drams weeks. enormous expenditure of mention. How long can the country and plied a very successful trade, would rather get drenched to the skin
In one case the local cinema was and money, and a scattering of buy arms to resist if Japan chiefly because of his "gift of the gab" himself than let Tam Tirl suffer. bought out for six days so that Japan's resources over
Would and his détermination never to let seaports? a vast holds her
Often he would take off his old top-stage plays could take the place Hils white side-whiskers contrasted coat to put on the horse's back: and a of nims, front. It is inevitable that the Russia finance her campaign? potential customer elude him. const cities would be doomed. Are foreign powera prepared to strikingly with his fiery face and he rival cabby was once heard to remark The three chief organisations The Japanese Navy is in a posi-extend unlimited credit when wore a tight-fitting tall-coat, almost to him. "It's a wunner ye diuna leave advising all this activity are the tion to shell them almost at will the prospect of repayment is green with age. Auld Donal' himself that beast o' yours at hame an draw British Drama League, the Scottish and could thus subdue resist- very uncertain? It seems that was weighed down with years
"sair trauchled wi the rheumatics,"
Auld Donal' made short shrift of his the answer must be negative in but he never lost his zeal for his rivals. The more up-to-date their ance. With the const-line
What will China trade, and vowed
that he would patrolled the pressure which every case.
the greater his scorn, As he waited Japan could apply would be gain by continuing the war? rather die in his cab than in his bed. triages and the fresher their horses. for a fare, he would volce his dis enormous and her hand would Self-rospect and the admiration, la ramshackle equipage bore be greatly strengthened when for perhaps pity, of other nations same evidence of having seen hotsust loud enough for the whole street i
days, and Tam Tiri, his
to hear.
Between
the
old
grey
the cab yerse,"
*
Community . Drama Association and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association. The move- ment also has its own magazine, "The Amateur Theatre and Play- wrights' Journal," •
W.
HERS it is all loading
Apart from the fun of it and the
alive, it has its paychological us0 in making malde into mistresses, clerks into kings and miners into
service it renders in keeping drama
it came to negotiating peace. are difficult things to value. She horse, seemed to be suffering from But even the complete soverance may, it is true, win more than the same disease as its master. Yet of China's communications by moral support from some other it valiantly hobbled along, and was
always certain to
to reach its destination
On the subject of tips the old nobody can foretell. But there is no doubt that amateur acting to- sca would not mean the defeat power or group of powers if she some time or another.
fares Auld Donal cabby held some strange opinions, day a great class levciler, since of that country. The back door continues to fight, but it must
Indeed, waxed very indignant at the It is also a valuable corrective to would still be open and aid, even be said that that hope is a small would sit on the box, idly flourishing he would take one for himself, and, mixing" is excential to success. the routine ilfe so many people If it takes the form of nothing ono. Alone she cannot hope to the whip that he would never dream idea. But he was always careful to
an antiquated cutty pipe. But his THE OFFICE APPLIANCE Co., Ltd. more substantial than muni defeat Japan in the field. Her of using on Tam Tirl, and smoking add. "Gin ye like to thraw in a saxo
tions and aircraft, would be one chance of victory is that keen eyes were ever on the look-out pence for Tem Tirl. I'll not see it lead in factories, mines; ahops and
no' for marol' I'll gl'e him an alxtra available from Russia. So the Japan will exhaust herself and for customers, and once he had spied soun post him. But, mind ye, it's offices. situation is not hopeless from call a halt to her campaign, n likely fare, he would crack is helpin' o corn the nicht for a treat.
Noo, then, Tam Tiel, nod your heldj to the gentleman." the point of view of the Chinese eventually withdrawing from whip to attract attention. who wish to continue the Chinese soll.
"Cab, air, cab?" was his cry. "Hiero Who benefited in the long run it struggle.
It is thene possibilities which Marahal Chiang and his col-ye are! Tam Tiri an' me are ready was difficult to tell, but Auld Donal to tak yo ongwhore ye wani-frae was reckoned by the other cabbies But argument for peace is leagues are pondering at the Land's End to John of Groats, gin ye in be "gayan rowthy" in spite of his strong. It can be sald without moment, it can be guessed. The like. Juist step inbye an say the dilapidated appearance. He never much fear of contradiction that decision they will reach within word. There's no a mair shaire-fitted retired to enjoy his wealth, however, In a matter of months Japan the next few days will affect beast on the roads than Tam Tirt, but was often heard to remark that will have gone far enough in China's whole destiny, and pos-byer, or hoti be rare frontit, "As I s Tam Tirl can take the
road yo'll find me on the box. her campaign against China to sibly the entire future of Asia That's rich! In wi' yet. Haud ficht! commence to consolidate herself At the moment it seems that Non we're siti"
Fortunately for the old cabby's of travelling for the privilege of a The bumpiness of the ronds in those pride, his day was done before the bumpy Journey in his old cab and the
COUNT THE
"TELEGRAPHS"
EVERYWHERE
*
Sed at him cockin' his lugs Step
directors-if only for a night.
-To-day's ThoughtTM HEAVEN no'er helps the man
who will not act
--SOPHOCLES.
In conquered territory. As long China must be propared to loso as there is a Chineso army re-Marshat Chiang, or Marshal days, combined with the sad state of motor car arrived to oust him from pleasure of hearing again the pawky alating her and the advantage is Chiang may lose China.
the springs in Auld Donal's quipage, its place. But there were many who remarks he addressed to Tam Tiri, accounted for many hazardous would have given up the swifter mode,
Lavinia Derwent,