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Saturday, November 13th.-An Amateur Performance was given at the New Theatre this evening by the Officers of the Galatea; His Royal Highness himself graciously conducting the Orchestra on the occasion. The following account of this most successful Performance is taken from the China Mail:-
"At 8.30, His Excellency the Governor, Lady MacDonnell and guests arrived; and, led by His Royal Highness, the Orchestra gave the National Anthem, the audience rising with the double sense of honouring and being honoured as the 'First Violin,' gave the opening chord. The curtain rose to the Farce of 'Notting Hill.'"
“Alderman Syllabub (Lieut. Romilly) and Mrs. Chutney (Mr. Key), were admirable in their parts, the chief work devolving upon them. Policeman X (Lord Charles Beresford) was scarcely inferior, though his outward 'get-up,' was a grave libel on that much abused body of men, the London Police. Private Tight-Leather was positively Chinese in his endeavours to fan Mrs. Chutney into consciousness; and Lizzy (Mr. Wild) ably seconded the efforts of Policeman X to be a true lover, and comforted him in a way which is supposed to be peculiarly agreeable to the frequenters of our streets and areas, at home. The fun of the piece turns on the desperate inventions of the Alderman to be prepared against burglars; his protective measures, which involved the connection of the front door with an explosive machine warranted to act, resulting of course in its going off at a most inconvenient moment. The Alderman may congratulate himself upon achieving a very marked success."
"Of the Shakesperian selection 'The Fall of Wolsey,' from Henry VIII, we can only speak in terms of unqualified praise. The part of Wolsey, as taken by the Honourable E. C. Yorke, the Equerry-in-waiting of His Royal Highness, was a real, genuine, conception of the part-not a mere acting edition-and brought the house down in thunders of applause. In many cases indeed, irrepressible individuals who started a cheer were checked by their neighbours who were anxious to hear what was undoubtedly the finest piece of dramatic acting which Hongkong has for some time witnessed. The grand climax, when the taunted, fallen Cardinal exclaims, 'Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my King, he would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies,' was superbly rendered. The enthusiasm awakened was a deserved tribute to the Cardinal's histrionic powers. Cromwell (Mr. Wild) did well, as did the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk (Lieut. McHardy and Mr. Neville.) But the Earl of Surrey (Lieut. A. Fitz-George) had a good part and made the most of it; though it is doing him and his companions no injustice to say that the great Cardinal obscured his companions by the admirable rendering of his part."
"Between the two pieces we have thus briefly noticed, the Orchestra gave a selection from Rossini's 'Mosé in Egitto. It was rendered with a precision and taste which did infinite credit to the Royal conductor, the amateurs who assisted, and the professional Bandsmen. Courtesy forbids as extended a criticism as we should desire to give, but we may say in one word, that it called forth on its merits, as a Performance alone, the heartiest applause. A Fest-march of original composition agreeably filled up the interval between the 'Fall of Wolsey' and the very laughable burlesque, by Lieutenant Poore, R.M.A., which followed. 'Crossing the Line' would not have disgraced a more experienced playwright than we presume Lieutenant Poore to be. The dialogue is sparkling, and abounds with puns, which were delivered with much effect by the very
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Saturday, November 13th.-An Amateur Performance was given at the New Theatre this evening by the Officers of the Galatea; His Royal Highness himself graciously conducting the Orchestra on the occasion. The following account of this most successful Performance is taken from the China Mail:-
"At 8.30, His Excellency the Governor, Lady MacDonnell and guests arrived; and, led by His Royal Highness, the Orchestra gave the National Anthem, the audience rising with the double sense of honouring and being honoured as the 'First Violin,' gave the opening chord. The curtain rose to the Farce of 'Notting Hill.'"
“Alderman Syllabub (Lieut. Romilly) and Mrs. Chut- ney (Mr. Key), were admirable in their parts, the chief work devolving upon them. Policeman X (Lord Charles Beresford) was scarcely inferior, though his outward 'get-up,' was a grave libel on that much abused body of men, the London Police. Private Tight-Leather was positively Chinese in his endeavours to fan Mrs. Chutney into consci- ousness; and Lizzy (Mr. Wild) ably seconded the efforts of Policeman X to be a true lover, and comforted him in a way which is supposed to be peculiarly agreeable to the frequenters of our streets and areas, at home. The fun of the piece turns on the desperate inventions of the Alder- man to be prepared against burglars; his protective measures, which involved the connection of the front door with an explosive machine warranted to act, resulting of course in its going off at a most inconvenient moment. The Alderman may congratulate himself upon achieving a very marked success."
"Of the Shakesperian selection 'The Fall of Wolsey,' from Henry VIII, we can only speak in terms of unquali- fied praise. The part of Wolsey, as taken by the Honor- able E. C. Yorke, the Equerry-in-waiting of His Royal
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Highness, was a real, genuine, conception of the part- not a mere acting edition-and brought the house down in thunders of applause. In many cases indeed, irrepres- sible individuals who started a cheer were checked by their neighbours who were anxious to hear what was undoubt- edly the finest piece of dramatic acting which Hongkong has for some time witnessed. The grand climax, when the taunted, fallen Cardinal exclaims, 'Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my King, he would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies,' was superbly rendered. The enthusiasm awakened was a deserved tribute to the Cardinal's histrionic powers. Cromwell (Mr. Wild) did well, as did the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk (Lieut. McHardy and Mr. Neville.) But the Earl of Surrey (Lieut. A. Fitz-George) had a good part and made the most of it; though it is doing him and his companions no injustice to say that the great Cardinal obscured his companions by the admirable rendering of his part."
"Between the two pieces we have thus briefly noticed, the Orchestra gave a selection from Rossini's 'Mosé in Egitto. It was rendered with a precision and taste which did infinite credit to the Royal conductor, the amateurs who assisted, and the professional Bandsmen. Courtesy forbids as extended a criticism as we should desire to give, but we may say in one word, that it called forth on its merits, as a Performance alone, the heartiest applause. A Fest-march of original composition agreeably filled up the interval between the 'Fall of Wolsey' and the very laughable burlesque, by Lieutenant Poore, R.M.A., which followed. 'Crossing the Line' would not have disgraced a more experienced playwright than we presume Lieutenant Poore to be. The dialogue is sparkling, and abounds with puns, which were delivered with much effect by the very
50
:
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