The Rivals. 1861 saw some entertainment on board H.M.S. Scout, and in March 1864 there was a Prussian ship, the Gazelle, in port, and its amateur society performed three plays, two of which were by Kotzebue and Körner, whether in German or English is unknown, but the audience "frequently expressed their approval by enthusiastic applause”.
As was stated in the introduction, there were times in the history of Shanghai when the Settlement was threatened from outside and foreign troops had to assist in its defence. Thus in the early sixties several regiments were brought down to the city. Both the British 31st and 67th regiment came out in 1861, to sail home in July 1863 and July 1865 respectively. The Royal Artillery started operations in 1862. After the military tasks had been largely completed in 1863, there was time left for whatever amusement could be organised — among these, of course, theatricals. Mid-March 1863 the amateurs of the 31st staged Lover's The White Horse of the Peppers and Brough's Crinoline "before the largest audience of the season"." Some weeks later the Royal Artillery scored an equal success. Shortly before their return to England the 67th amateurs put on Selby's The Unfinished Gentleman on June 17, 1865, which was "well attended and gave great satisfaction"." On more than one occasion the officers and local amateurs joined forces for the staging, for instance, of Morton's farces Where there's a Will there's a Way and Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall on March 26, 1863 "before a crowded audience of subscribers to the fund for defraying the expenses".42
Travelling Companies
Until the heyday of theatrical entertainment in Shanghai during the years 1864 and 1865 only one professional company visited the city: On August 9, 1856 Messrs Baker, Woodward and Montgomery ("formerly of the New York Serenaders") advertised that they would give, on the 14th, a "Grand Ethiopian Musical Soiree" which “could not fail to please all lovers of fun and harmony" and at which among others "the sidesplitting Negro farce 'The Nigger Doctor and his Patient, or The First Lesson in Surgery' "' would be performed. Ethiopian Soirees were another name for the minstrel shows given by blackened whites; they originated in the early 1830s and became hugely popular, especially in America, but later also in Britain,40 and to some extent in Shanghai too. These Ethiopian entertainments were given sometimes by amateurs (May 15, 1854) and sometimes by touring companies like the one mentioned above and later, in November and December 1864, by the
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The Rivals. 1861 saw some entertainment on board H.M.S. Scout, and in March 1864 there was a Prussian ship, the Gazelle, in port, and its amateur society performed three plays, two of which were by Kotzebue and Körner, whether in German or English is unknown, but the audience "frequently expressed their approval by enthusiastic applause”.
As was stated in the introduction, there were times in the history of Shanghai when the Settlement was threatened from outside and foreign troops had to assist in its defence. Thus in the early sixties several regiments were brought down to the city. Both the British 31st and 67th regiment came out in 1861, to sail home in July 1863 and July 1865 respectively. The Royal Artillery started operations in 1862. After the military tasks had been largely completed in 1863, there was time left for whatever amusement could be organised — among these, of course, theatricals. Mid-March 1863 the amateurs of the 31st staged Lover's The White Horse of the Peppers and Brough's Crinoline "before the largest audience of the season"."" Some weeks later the Royal Artillery scored an equal success. Shortly before their return to England the 67th amateurs put on Selby's The Unfinished Gentleman on June 17 1865, which was "well attended and gave great satisfaction"." On more than one occasion the officers and local amateurs joined forces for the staging. for instance, of Morton's farces Where there's a Will there's a Way and Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall on March 26 1863 "before a crowded audience of subscribers to the fund for defraying the expenses".42
Travelling Companies
40
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Until the heyday of theatrical entertainment in Shanghai during the years 1864 and 1865 only one professional company visited the city: On August 9 1856 Messrs Baker, Woodward and Montgomery ("formerly of the New York Serenaders") advertised that they would give, on the 14th, a "Grand Ethiopian Musical Soiree" which “could not fail to please all lovers of fun and harmony" and at which among others "the sidesplitting Negro farce 'The Nigger Doctor and his Patient, or The First Lesson in Surgery' "' would be performed. Ethiopian Soirees were another name for the minstrel shows given by blackened whites; they originated in the early 1830s and became hugely popular, especially in America, but later also in Britain," and to some extent in Shanghai too. These Ethiopian entertainments were given sometimes by amateurs (May 15 1854) and sometimes by touring companies like the one mentioned above and later, in November and December 1864, by the
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