1932-12-21 — Page 10

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A.D.C. PRODUCTIONS AND TRIUMPHS RECÄLLED

(Continued from Page 1). seniad a temple on an island in the middle of a lake, and Sinclair and Mrs. Mompetz had to come along side in a punt. We could never get this punt to work smoothly, und more than once we nearly capsized Sinclair who would insist upon stamling up in u striking attitudo.

"Kismet."

very lucky In the last scene the

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1932.

unuhite runde men come to life and BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP

kill att the human beings To get the desired effect much red Hame powder was used, and the man in charge, knowing it was the last pór- tormance, and dooiding there was no need to keep any of the red flame powder, emptied the whole tin into the pan with the result that we got a flame five or six foor high that filled the stage and audi- torum to suffocation:

In 1925, Sinclair produced hus loat play in Hong Kong St. John. This was a very wonderful In 1916 Kismet" was produced. production: He designed and made This was a very big show and exall the scenery. I arrive back frour hoine to see the dress rehearsal and éeptionally well done. The scenery

was asked to halp in the lighting. was designed by Sinclair and i helped to make it. In this show I played a small part. My first and

In 1998, Commander Hole pro- duced French Leave" with Bir

I hope the last. I had to black and Mrs. H. W Bird, Foster, Mon- my face, hands and feet and apcrieff and Eager in the principal pear in one stone only for two parts. I did the scenery and was minutes duration. GH. P. Hay was Hatz, the beggar, and in the scene where he was seated outside the entrance to a temple, I had to cross the stage and enter the temple for prayer. As I was cross- ing he had to say to mo " Alms, for the Love of Allah." then I had to give him the delightful rotort" "Allah will provide," and so pass on into the temple; off the stage and my job was done.

The music was specially composed by Norin Peterkin, of the Robert non Music Shop and was excep. tiondly good. At the Cinema Theatre the other evening, when educ..ional pictures of Egypt were showing, I noticed a portion -»-

his" Kismet "composition used for

incidental music,

In 1917, Sinclair produced "The Witness for the Defence," with himself in a part for the second and last time. The scenery we obtain- ed from Shanghai, and I did the lighting which was a very simple and easy job. The only exciting moment being to change the rell signal light to green when the train

from Poona was due.

In 1918"The Darton Mastery/ Was produced. I made the sornery and the late Deume Fuller did the lighting.

A.D.C.'s Prettiest Show.

J

OF THE COLONY

DRAW FOR THE FIRST ROUND

At a meeting of the Committee responsible for conducting the Open Billiards Championship of the Colony (which is being held under the auspices of St. Patrick's Club, Garden Road), the following Rules for the Championship tour ney were decided upon

3. Total points to be played in the First Round will be 950, 80 cond and Third Round 500, Somi Finals 750 and in the Final 1,000

1. All the games will be played

Club on the No. 1 Table at St. Patrick's 2. The loser of the game will pay for the use of the table at the also prompter. We took this playmate of 20 cents per half hour. up to Cunton and played at the They have an ex- Shameen 'Club. cellent stage up there and the hoe pitality of the members is wonder ful. The stage is placed between the auditorium and the Club, so that at each interval the whole.o the audience

crosses the stage, colleets together the stage hands, prompter, and players and carries thens off into the Club bar. Within three minutos of the fall of the final curtain, all the chairs in the audi torin were swept away and the audience was dancing to the latest rag time tuies played by their owning to put in an appearance for his game, his opponent will be

15 minutes! "walk over given after the published time for the

orchestra.

the

In 1925, Major Macready pro- duced A Little Bit of Fluff scenery being of a very simple

nature,

"I" And Boldness Rewarded,

4. Games to be played at the times and on the dates selected by the Hon. Secretary. These will be published in the Sports columns of the local press, from time to time as the tourney proceeds. No other intimation will be sent to entranta.

5. The Honorary Secretary will. bo responsible for arranging a marker for each game,

e. In the event of a player fail-"

game.

7. In the event of any occurrence or point arising which is not cover- ed by these Rules, the matter will he investigated by the Committee, whose decision will be final.

Thanks to Donors of Prizes,

*

In 1020, Commander Holo pro duced if by Lord Dunsany." indair gave Lucey and I a type

In connection with the publica- written copy of the words of the play and told us to produce it tion of the above Rules, the Com There were no stage directions, na descriptions or plana of the sceners mittea recorded their sincere thanks and lighting plot. I rond through to Messrs, N. Ruttonjee and Son. the play, and endeavoured to visua1 Queen's Road Central, Hong lise the scenery and made half-inch Kong, for kindly consenting to pro vide the trophies for the Champion reale drawings of each scene.

ship.

I was living at the Paik Hotel and so was Commander Hole. One In 1919, "Pinkie and the Fairies was given. Sinclair designed the evening I took the play and the scenery and I frequently was at his scene up to his room asked him to house on Mount Kellett to talk read it and consider producing it. about the show." He went on holi-think it was the same evening day to Japan and I had the job of he told me he had decided to pro:

duce the play. making the scenery. This wou on extremely interesting work, and oc cupied all my spare time. The innous cottage in the woods he left for me to design and make in such a way that it could collapse up fiat and be carried quickly off the stage. This show was the prettiest, over produced in the Theatre Royal and it ran for 10 porformances. The lighting was by the late Denman

Fuller.

In 10:20,

"Four Dausany Plays" were produced. I was on leave when the rehearsals started but was roped in as a scene shifter on my

return.

.

In 1921, no play was produced for the reason that Sinclair, our one and only producer in those days was away. The Theatre Royal is 60 years old, and the Hong Kong Amateur Dramatic Cnb has been in existance 62 years only the sixth year during all tha. Feriod that a play has not been produced by the A.D.C.

1021 was

To-day it makes my blood run cold to think of the audacity of Hole and I in attempting such a huge. production. There were nine Boones two of which showed twice

The cast numbered 50 people.

!

As the total number of entries received is 31, the Committee have decided to seed from the First Round, Mr. A. J. Ogmund, the present Championship holder, so as to arrive at the necessary 10 com. petitors for the Second Round.

By the kind permission of the President and Members of the Club all entrants for the Cham- pionship are welcome to the Club

and constant changes of lighting. Lee Theatre on St. George's Day

The interior off One of the scenes was the in- to Tepresent the exterior of a terior of a 3rd class Bailway Car public use. riage. I got George Duncan of the Pepys' Hall and dining room wit Kowloon Dock to construct it. It its oak staircase and panelling, I was my job on the stage to gently consider one of my best efforts. rock the carriage to give it a realise affect, but this job so attracted other members of the cast that sometimes there were some 10 to 12 people rocking the carriage.

Another scene was the flat roof of Eastern Palace with domes, minerets and cupolas silhouted against the moonlit, sky. I got this off the lid of an expensive box of chocolates. Hopking and Mrs. Bowes Smith sang a delightful song in this scene.

Another scene was the interior of In 1922, Sinclair returned and produced, I'll leave it to you," by Arge tent in an Eastern desert, Noel Coard, in which Northcote I had the canvas painted in red and took the lead. I designed and white vertical stripes. At the first Rade the scenery. There was only dress rehearsal it was found tha: one set and we hal real wood the audience could not sit and look panelling on the walls. This panel-at it without receiving severe oye ling has been re-used time" after time in sabsequent plays.

The Tempest" and Some Weird

Scenery.

In 1923, Sinclair producsd." The Tempest." He designed the scenery

strain. This scene had to be hur riedly re-painted in grey and cream

coloured stripes.

This play turned out to be some what of a tragedy na it is generally. thought that W. A. Hannibal was not in a fit state of health to play the strenuous part of Mr.. Pepy. His wonderful and excellent acting took so much out of him that it 8 feared it was somewhat to blame. for his untimely end.

LOCAL FOOTBALL

CHARITY MATCH ON JAN. 9

An attractive game has been arranged to take place at the Army Sports Ground, Sookuppoo, o Monday, January 2, kick off 4 for practice on the Club table if p.m. Proceeds to be devoted to they so desire. The Club premises are open daily from 11 am. until 11.88 p.m.

The Draw.

The draw for the First Round has resulted as follows and games will be played at the times and on the dates stated: Dec.

23, Mr. Gar. Bailey, R.A. v. Plo

Atkinson, Lincolnshire. Regi- meat:

Gill,

27 S/m, Sinith, R.E. . Mr Hong Kong University 29. Sgt. Buckle, R.E. Mr. A.

Oswick, Dockyard Club,

Jan,

9. Cpl. Cottle, R.E. z. Pte. Baker

Lincolnshire Regiment.

4. Libut: King, Lincolnshire Re- giment. v. Pte. Herriott, Lin-

colnshire Regiment.

7. Mr. Charles Sinn, Hong Kong Police . Mr. F. Jones, Dock- yard Club,

11.

9. Sergeant Ach, Lincolnshire Regiment. v. Mr. E. Reme dios, St. Patrick's Club. Officers less. . G. P. G. Bim- Mr. F. Brimblecombe, Prison monds, Royal Navy.

sche Hande! Maatschappiz, 12 M. Ada Luz, Nederland N.V.. Mr. Donald O. Dar ham, American Consulate Gen- oral.

14. Mr. Osmund Junior, St. Patrick's Club. . G, P. 0. Barwis, Royal Navy," L/Cpl. Molthy Lincolnshire Regiment, e. Mr. P. Yvano vich, C/o., Hutchinson and Co. Francis Hotel: Mr. S. M. 17. Mr. A. P. Pereira Junior St. da Cruz, Netherlands India Commercial Bank.

18

Mr. L. E Remedios, St. Patrick's Club. e. Mr. W.. Hill, Sanitary Department. 19. Mr. S. Bilva, St. Patrick's Club, Mr. W. A. Palmer, Palace Hotel.

21. C/Sgt. E. Jarman, South Wales Borderera. Mr. T. Gooding, Prison Officers Mess. All matches start at 8.30 p.m. Hong Kong December, 1932. Hon. Secretary, St. Patrick's Club.

VIGOROUS ATTACK

ON JAPAN

BY MR. J. R. CLYNES

(Special Air-Mall Service)

LONDON, NOV, 20. Mr. J. R. Clynes, Honte Secre In 1923, Mrs. Hunt produced tary in the last Labour Govern. for the Philhar-ment, made a vigorous attack on "The Geisha monio Society and she asked me to Japar. at a Rotary Chab luncheon in do the scenery. Her instructions London un November 23. He said consisted of Act. I, has a Japen- that millions of people must recent- ese teahouse on the O.P. side and ly have been scared by the horrify bridge in the centre; Act. II: ing forecasts of another great war. has a Japanese Temple on the Prompt side" and that's all she told me, I made the teahouse on wheels and the back of it was the temple so that the same piece wae sed in each Act but on opposite mides of the stage. The trees were the vee I made for "Pinkie and the Fairies" in 1919 and the back blus cloth was from "Blue Bird"

is likely to be soon, but everyone No one, of course, says that it agrees that it may be hastened by any failure of the League of Nations to function effectively in recuring differences between coun tries."

The claim Japan made of a right to set in self-defence could in all of 1914: The artificial wisteria like circumstances be made by every other country. The sanertion of this right through force of arms

The play ran for seven perform ances, The box office receipts wera very disappointing at first but improved and we played to capacity hanging down from the borders was en the final performance. We were used at St. George's ball in 1918.

step to the infliction of wrong.

which was of a very modern and very disappointed that the Theatre In 1930, Commander Hols pro. had always been the disastrous first Royal was not available for a fur duced the Middle Watch." I ther three nights as we should have started the scenery, but went off to had full houses.

Shanghai in the middle of it and left it to him to finish,

A.D.C.'s Worst Show !'"

::

In 1931, Art and Mrs. Bottle" was produced, the scenery being,

In 1920 a dramatic medley was” produced. Lucey and I were re- sponsible and I hate to think about straightforward interior sets. it. It was the worst show the “The Theatre Royal is Closed, A.D.C. has ever staged. The thres

This, gentlemen, is the end of

A League of Nations could not do its work on the basis of being told by any one member to stand aside because that member claims ed the right to act it thought proper. The League must be ac cepted as the medium for adjucting quarrels, or the pledged word of its members became a hollow sham

weird kind, and Martyn made it for him. At the back of the stage was a large cani-circular dome which appeared in every scene. It was constructed by the Dock Com pany like the hood of a perambula- tor with steel stays and canvas. It had to be made folding so that it could be removed when other companies required the stage or when boxing contests were on short plays were taken out of soins Unfortunately, the thing was so fre- revue and were awful. I made they story. quently moved and rough handled scenery which was crude and con It has been my duty to examine that on the night of the first dress sisted of ons set with moveable the floors and roof of the City Hall rehearsal it completely broke up and doors, windows and mantlepieces so and Theatre Hoyal every year for was wrecked,

that by a General. Post, those dif the last 20 years and to certify sa ferent appearance, could be obtain to whether it was safe br. not to ed. I took His Honour the Puinne hold St. Andrew's end St. George's | Judge to see the first performance, Balls. Last year it was my and and, like the very sensible man that duty to sound the death knell of he is he slept right through each the building by reporting the place

LONDON, Nov. 29. 3.45 unsuitable for further public

performances. This opinion was The suggestion that in the doc- confirmed by the Fire Brigade and trine of; Buddha might be found a the Building Authority and so now solution of many of the ills that now the Theatre Royal is closed and no beset Europe was made by Profes further shows will be seen there. sor: Norman Baynes, who presided

Martyn had had a very strenuous Lime in the construction of the Hocnery and this collapse so upset him that he also collapsed and had to take to his bod. I was on the stage at the time of the accident play,

and Sinclair asked me to take over and so I employed a building cou- tractor to make a lath and plastor dome and the work was carried on all through the night and completed the next day, Eric Rice, travelling Becretary of the Overseas League, composed the music,

Robots

and Red Flada,

In 1923 I persuaded Lacey to HUR (Rossum's Universal Robots), a wonderful play in the

In 1997, Commander Holo pro duced "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," He asked me to do the scenery which consisted of three soenes, but was easy, because I had plans and pictures of the scenery na dar ried out in London. In 1927, Major Macready produced "Bulldog Drum- mond and I made the scenery,

*** Mr. Pepys.**

In 1929, Rupert Foster and John future about machine made men, Roberts produced." And Bo to I carried out the scenery, which Bad a very fino-piece of work, consisted of all panels walls so that it was particularly interesting for by turning the panels round" a me as it was a period play. The different coloured scena could be bedroom sceas I designed and made obtained Lacey, Donald Logan and in striat. Izing Fifteenth style, Hinson took parts, and on the last The outside of Pony House in formance we nearly set fire to London was somewhat similar to the theatro. This is the one and Shanghai. Club production but only occasion that I have known moro correct in detail. This scene fan alam, which considering the has boor used several times at the

(Continued, on at Colums) stre is built entirely of wood is

F.A. CUP REPLAY

READING BEAT COVENTRY

THEOUGH REUTER'E AGENCY.),

LONDON, Dec. 19. READING to-day defeated Coven

try in their Association Cup second round replay at Stamford Bridge by one goal to 'm..

BUDDHISM AS CURE FOR MODERN ILLS

ecial Air-Mail Service)

at the annual dinner of the Uni- versity College, London, Old Stud outs Association, on November 28, Prof. Baynes end: “In this distracted. Europe of ours there is surely need for us to return to the doctrine of Buddha, that Middle Path which opens the eyes and be stows understanding, which leads. to pesce and insight and higher wisdom to that Nirvans which is the dying out in the heart of the Are of the three cardinal xios- sensuality, all will and stupidity. If we could only see in Europeito day the dying out of sensuality ill- dity we should, in- will and

for which we deed, be far advanced on the road to that recovery

DRAY

The game is between - ·niden senting the Combined. Services and the local Chinese, and the very best players are being selected by the bodies responsible, in order to make. this a real test.

All, the Military and Chinoso Interport players will be in view, and the best game of the Season should result

the funds of the Ministering Child will be published later in th

ren's League.

The composition of the teams

columns.

FANLING HUNT

STEEPLECHASE RACES

TUESDAY

27th DEC, and SUNDAY, IST JAN, Special Trafn Isavos Kowloon 1.05 p.. First class train fare. § 1.00 includes admission to coures.

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