179
As was common, it was occasionally furbished up, not always to the taste of the critic who at one time in 1857 feared the decorations "threatened to overwhelm me with a fall of flowers and garlands from the roof". This was not at all what a member of the amateur company wanted to hear and he acidly reacted that "as your 'witty (?) contributor' complained of being so uncomfortable amongst the roses which surrounded him, it has been proposed and seconded by one of the ladies he admires so much |Mrs. Nesbit, cf. Calendar, 26.3.1857 — JHJ to put in a few thistles for his especial benefit, should he ever honour our private theatricals with his presence”.
The theatre was also used for a number of recitals, the acoustics reportedly being good.
D.
For some reason or other (had the Commercial House temporarily closed down? cf note 94) the godown theatre could not be put at the disposal of the amateurs during the 1855-1856 season so they had to look elsewhere. They were saved by the firm of Cramptons, Hanbury & Co who agreed to lease one of their godowns to the A.D.C. It was very probably situated on Church Street (Kiangsi Road) and for the opening night on January 23 1856 a drop scene of the Lake of Geneva had been painted which aroused "a general murmur of admiration and applause".
With the sale by public auction of the Commercial Hotel (cf note 94) in November 1858 the fate of the Theatre Royal was also sealed, and not only of the theatre itself but of the scenery and properties too, for a reporter of the Herald saw a few days after the sale "the mangled remains of Palaces and Cottages, of Bombastes' Wood [from Bombastes Furioso — JHJ] and Captain Copp's tavern [from Charles II — JHJ] lying in sad ruins in the open air".
E.
Sic transit gloria mundi, but, not deterred, the Thespian society managed to obtain a new building which was proudly called The New Theatre Royal. Once again we are at a loss where to find it, no information whatsoever appearing in the Herald. It was larger than the previous house, which was deemed all right for theatricals but much less so for solo
179
As was common, it was occasionally furbished up, not always to the taste of the critic who at one time in 1857 feared the decorations "threatened to overwhelm me with a fall of flowers and garlands from the roof". This was not at all what a member of the amateur company wanted to hear and he acidly reacted that as your 'witty (?) contributor' complained of being so uncomfortable amongst the roses which surrounded him, it has been proposed and seconded by one of the
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ladies he admires so much |Mrs. Nesbit, cf. Calendar, 26.3.1857 — JHJ to put in a few thistles for his especial benefit, should he ever honour our private theatricals with his prescence”.”
The theatre was also used for a number of recitals, the accoustics reportedly being good.
D.
For some reason or other (had the Commercial House temporarily closed down? ef note 94) the godown theatre could not be put at the disposal of the amateurs during the 1855-1856 season so they had to look elsewhere. They were saved by the firm of Cramptons, Hanbury & Co who agreed to lease one of their godowns to the A.D.C. It was very probably situated on Church Street (Kiangsi Road)" and for the opening night on January 23 1856 a drop scene of the Lake of Geneva had been painted which aroused "a general murmur of admiration and applause".
With the sale by public acution of the Commercial Hotel (cf note 94) in November 1858 the fate of the Theatre Royal as also sealed, and not only of the theatre itself but of the scenery and properties too, for a reporter of the Herald saw a few days after the sale "the mangled remains of Palaces and Cottages, of Bombastes' Wood [from Bombastes Furioso - JHJ and Captain Copp's tavern [from Charles II — JH] lying in sad ruins in the open air",
E.
TOI
Sic transit gloria mundi, but, not deterred, the Thespian society managed to obtain a new building which was proudly called The New Theatre Royal. Once again we are at a loss where to find it, no information whatsoever appearing in the Herald. It was larger than the previous house, which was deemed all right for theatricals but much less so for solo
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