RAS-1989 — Page 229

RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 All AI Reviewed

204

Pique delighted to honour, Marvellous is the ingenuity of Jack. Difficulties which would appal the ghost of Richardson* — that prince of theatrical improvisers, he makes nothing of it. Whether it be to prepare a great banquet hall or to erect a theatre, it is all the same to him and comes to his hands as readily as the marlin-spike. Huge guns disappear and hatchways vanish from the sight and are replaced by draperies and benches with all the quickness of enchantment. We sat looking around us at the proscenium, the footlights and the drop scene, representing a view on the late of Como, and fell difficult to remain in the belief that we were on board of one of H.M. 'ships of war' and not seated in a neat little theatre". Thus far the impression of the surroundings.

About the acting qualities the reviewer was equally in high spirits: in the Birthday, Captain Bertram R.N. proved to be “a gouty, choleric old gentleman, a very positive, perverse individual to boot and more than becomingly addicted to the occasional use of strong language". All these little eccentricities were him forgiven, however, when "we saw him yield to the impulses of nature and even felt a degree of alarm when he well nigh became smothered in the affectionate embrace of his loving and pretty — but somewhat bulky niece. (...) The songs of Dibdin appear to be no longer the prime favorites afloat they were half a century ago; and although we cannot but regret this, we were glad to find, from the specimens we listened to, that they have been superseded by not unworthy successors.

The trill of

I've heard of foreign countries.

That are very fair to see

But England! dear old England!

Is quite fair enough for me

was ringing in our ear, when it was joined in by notes of a different kind — the cheering notes, to wit, of the Dustman's Bell. We are quite converts to the doctrine that believes, for the moment, in the mimic scene which is enacting before us. How could we do otherwise at the sight of such a Dustman and such a Sally! It did one's heart good to look upon such a fresh, comely and good-looking face as Miss Sally's, and to hear the praise of it sung with such evident gusto by her honest lover in the lines:

Of all the girls that dress so smart

There's none like pretty Sally

She is the darling of my heart

And she lives in our Alley."

Raising the Wind the reporter found not "so brilliantly successful but not without its merit".

Summing up, his **still aching sides" testified sufficiently to the "care and trouble which the performers had taken to entertain their numerous audience'' (NCH 13.2.1858)

10.2.1858 (Wedn)

PELHAM HARDWICKE (= C. MATHEWS): "A Bachelor of Arts" (1853) T: Comic drama (2 acts)

J.M. MORTON: "Done on Both Sides" (1847)

T: Farce (1 act)

C: Amateurs

F: Music by "Messrs Phu & Mor"

Th: Theatre Royal (C)

* An allusion to John Richardson (1767?-1837), nicknamed "the penny showman"; in his performance of J.S. Knowles' (?) "Virginius" the ghost was the great effect (Dict. of Nat. Biogr., Vol. 48, p. 230-231).

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204 Pique delighted to honour, Marvellous is the ingenuity of Jack. Difficulties which would appal the ghost of Richardson* — that prince of theatrical improvisers, he makes nothing of it. Whether it be to prepare a great banquet hall or to erect a theatre, it is all the same to him and comes to his hands as readily as the marlin-spike. Huge guns disappear and hatchways vanish from the sight and are replaced by draperies and benches with all the quickness of enchantment. We sat looking around us at the proscenium, the footlights and the drop scene, representing a view on the late of Como, and fell difficult to remain in the belief that we were on board of one of H.M. 'ships of war' and not seated in a neat little theatre". Thus far the impression of the surroundings. About the acting qualities the reviewer was equally in high spirits: in the Birthday, Captain Bertram R.N. proved to be “a gouty, choleric old gentleman, a very positive, perverse individual to boot and more than becomingly addicted to the occasional use of strong language". All these little eccentricities were him forgiven, however, when "we saw him yield to the impulses of nature and even felt a degree of alarm when he well nigh became smothered in the affectionate embrace of his loving and pretty — but somewhat bulky niece. (...) The songs of Dibdin appear to be no longer the prime favorites afloat they were half a century ago; and although we cannot but regret this, we were glad to find, from the specimens we listened to, that they have been superseded by not unworthy successors. The trill of I've heard of foreign countries. That are very fair to see But England! dear old England! Is quite fair enough for me was ringing in our ear, when it was joined in by notes of a different kind — the cheering notes, to wit, of the Dustman's Bell. We are quite converts to the doctrine that believes, for the moment, in the mimic scene which is enacting before us. How could we do otherwise at the sight of such a Dustman and such a Sally! It did one's heart good to look upon such a fresh, comely and good-looking face as Miss Sally's, and to hear the praise of it sung with such evident gusto by her honest lover in the lines: Of all the girls that dress so smart There's none like pretty Sally She is the darling of my heart And she lives in our Alley." Raising the Wind the reporter found not "so brilliantly successful but not without its merit". Summing up, his **still aching sides" testified sufficiently to the "care and trouble which the performers had taken to entertain their numerous audience'' (NCH 13.2.1858) 10.2.1858 (Wedn) PELHAM HARDWICKE (= C. MATHEWS): "A Bachelor of Arts" (1853) T: Comic drama (2 acts) J.M. MORTON: "Done on Both Sides" (1847) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs F: Music by "Messrs Phu & Mor" Th: Theatre Royal (C) + * An allusion to John Richardson (1767?-1837), nicknamed "the penny showman"; in his performance of J.S. Knowles' (?) "Virginius" the ghost was the great effect (Dict. of Nat. Biogr., Vol. 48, p. 230-231).

Baseline (Original)

204 Pique delighted to honour, Marvellous is the ingenuity of Jack. Difficulties which would appal the ghost of Richardson* - - that prince of theatrical improvisers, he makes nothing of it. Whether it be to prepare a great banquet hall or to erect a theatre, it is all the same to him and comes to his hands as readily as the marlin-spike. Huge guns disappear and hatchways vanish from the sight and are replaced by draperies and benches with all the quickness of enchantment. We sat looking around us at the proscenium, the footlights and the drop scene, representing a view on the late of Como, and fell il difficult to remain in the belief that we were on board of one of H.M. 'ships of war' and not seated in a neat little theatre". Thus far the impression of the surroundings. About the acting qualities the reviewer was equally in high spirits: in the Birthday, Captain Bertram R.N. proved to be “a gouty, choleric old gentleman, a very positive, perverse individual to boot and more than becomingly addicted to the occasional use of strong language". All these little eccentricities were him forgiven, however, when "we saw him yield to the impulses of nature and even felt a degree of alarm when he well nigh became smothered in the affectionate embrace of his loving and pretty - bul somewhat bulky niece. (. .) The songs of Dibdin appear to be no longer the prime favorites afloat they were half a century ago; and although we cannot but regret this, we were glad to find, from the specimens we listened to. that they have been superseded by not unworthy successors. The trill of I've heard of foreign countries. That are very fair to see But England! dear old England! Is quite fair enough for me was ringing in our ear, when it was joined in by notes of a different kind - the cheering notes, to wit, of the Dustman's Bell. We are quite converts to the doctrine that believes. for the moment, in the mimic scene which is enacting before us. How could we do otherwise at the sight of such a Dustman and such a Sally! It did one's heart good to look upon such a fresh, comely and good-looking face as Miss Sally's, and to hear the praise of it sung with such evident gusto by her honest lover in the lines: Of all the girls that dress so smart There's none like pretty Sally She is the darling of my heart And she lives in our Alley." Raising the Wind the reporter found not "so brilliantly successful but not without its merit". Summing up, his **still aching sides" testified sufficiently to the "care and trouble which the performers had taken to entertain their numerous audience'' (NCH 13.2.1858) 10.2.1858 (Wedn) PELHAM HARDWICKE (= C. MATHEWS): "A Bachelor of Arts" (1853) T: Comic drama (2 acts) J.M. MORTON: "Done on Both Sides" (1847) T: Farce (I act) C: Amateurs F: Music by "Messrs Phu & Mor" Th: Theatre Royal (C) + * An allusion to John Richardson (1767?-1837), nicknamed "the penny showman"; in his performance of J.S. Knowles' (?) "Virginius'' the ghost was the great effect (Dict. of Nat. Biogr., Vol. 48, p. 230-231).

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204

Pique delighted to honour, Marvellous is the ingenuity of Jack. Difficulties which would appal the ghost of Richardson* - - that prince of theatrical improvisers, he makes nothing of it. Whether it be to prepare a great banquet hall or to erect a theatre, it is all the same to him and comes to his hands as readily as the marlin-spike. Huge guns disappear and hatchways vanish from the sight and are replaced by draperies and benches with all the quickness of enchantment. We sat looking around us at the proscenium, the footlights and the drop scene, representing a view on the late of Como, and fell il difficult to remain in the belief that we were on board of one of H.M. 'ships of war' and not seated in a neat little theatre". Thus far the impression of the surroundings. About the acting qualities the reviewer was equally in high spirits: in the Birthday, Captain Bertram R.N. proved to be “a gouty, choleric old gentleman, a very positive, perverse individual to boot and more than becomingly addicted to the occasional use of strong language". All these little eccentricities were him forgiven, however, when "we saw him yield to the impulses of nature and even felt a degree of alarm when he well nigh became smothered in the affectionate embrace of his loving and pretty - bul somewhat bulky niece. (. .) The songs of Dibdin appear to be no longer the prime favorites afloat they were half a century ago; and although we cannot but regret this, we were glad to find, from the specimens we listened to. that they have been superseded by not unworthy successors. The trill of

I've heard of foreign countries.

That are very fair to see But England! dear old England! Is quite fair enough for me

was ringing in our ear, when it was joined in by notes of a different kind - the cheering notes, to wit, of the Dustman's Bell. We are quite converts to the doctrine that believes. for the moment, in the mimic scene which is enacting before us. How could we do otherwise at the sight of such a Dustman and such a Sally! It did one's heart good to look upon such a fresh, comely and good-looking face as Miss Sally's, and to hear the praise of it sung with such evident gusto by her honest lover in the lines:

Of all the girls that dress so smart There's none like pretty Sally She is the darling of my heart And she lives in our Alley."