216
R: Nearly five years after his last recital in Shanghai, Martin SIMONSEN returned to the port, this time as a member of "Mr. Smythe's troupe". There was also the novelty of a lady singer, Miss Amelia BAILEY, who "could not fail to render the entertainment attractive even had her voice been less excellent than it is". This was the last night of a series for which public interest had not been particularly large; only on July 31st had there been an "excellent house" and in a reproaching comment, the Herald trusted that the company would "meet with more uniform support at Hong Kong, the residents of which are reputed more willing to put up with a little heat for the sake of an evening's amusement". (NCH 1,8,1863).
October 1863
On October 24, the North China Herald informed its readers that "the Circus Company announced more than a year ago as upon its way to Shanghai has at length arrived and promises to be a valuable means of dispelling the ennui inseparable from winter in China".
17.10.-23.10.1863
A series of promenade concerts by Miss Amelia Bailey (singing) and Marquis Chisholm (piano), as well as the Rhenish Band.
TH: N.N. (H)
7.11.-13.11.1863
A continuation of the concerts mentioned above.
R: In spite of the meagre support met in Shanghai, the Smythe troupe ventured to return in October after a visit to Nagasaki. This time the concerts were more rewarding - financially, for in November it was noticed that “Miss BAILEY has continued to draw crowded houses" and that she has no reason to complain of the reception she has met in Shanghai". (NCH 17.10, 24.10, 14.11.1863).
10.2.1864 (Wedn)
E.B. LYTTON: "The Lady of Lyons" (1838)
T: Romantic comedy (5 acts)
C: C.R. Faylor's travelling company
Th: Olympic Theatre (H)
R: The port was honoured by a visit of Mr. FAYLOR's theatrical company in February and May. This was after it had toured Macao (in December 1863; see BGM 14.12.1863) and Hong Kong. There it was highly successful, but the first performance in the Yangtze city was unfortunately a failure in consequence of the ludicrous incompetence of that portion of the company which had been collected in Shanghai and pressed into service. The audience, moreover, was riotous in the extreme and displayed the worst possible taste in exciting themselves to increase the confusion on the stage" (see also Survey, p. 22). (N.C.H. 13.2.1864).
13.2.1864 (Sat)
C. DANCE: "Delicate Ground" (1849)
T: Comic drama (1 act)
C. SELBY: "A Lady and a Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicament" (1841)
T: Burletta (1 act)
C: C.R. Faylor's travelling company
Th: Olympic Theatre (H)
R: It is not quite clear how many nights were given by the FAYLOR company. The Herald of February 27 states that **it still continues its performances", but, in view of what had happened earlier, "naturally enough has not been patronised by any of the ladies resident in the Settlement". In May, it turns up again in the pages of the paper. (NCH 27.2.1864).
216
R: Nearly five years after his last recital in Shanghai Martin SIMONSEN returned to the
port, this time as a member of "Mr. Smythe's troupe". There was also the novelty of a lady singer, Miss Amelia BAILEY, who "could not fail to render the entertainment attractive even had her voice been less excellent than it is". This was the last night of a series for which public interest had not been particularly large; only on July 31st had there been an "excellent house” and in a reproaching comment the Herald trusted that the company would "meet with more uniform support at Hong Kong, the residents of which are reputed more willing to put up with a little heat for the sake of an evening's amusement*. (NCH 1,8,1863).
October 1863
On October 24 the North China Herald informed its readers that "the Circus Company announced more than a year ago as upon its way to Shanghai has at length arrived and promises to be a valuable means of dispelling the ennui inseparable from winter in China”.
17.10.-23.10.1863
A series of promenade concerts by Miss Amelia Bailey (singing) and Marquis Chisholm (piano), as well as the Rhenish Band.
TH: N.N. (H
7.11.-13.11.1863
A continuation of the concerts mentioned above.
R: In spite of the meagre support met in Shanghai, the Smythe troupe ventured to return in October after a visit to Nagasaki. This time the concerts were more rewarding - financially for in November it was noticed that “Miss BAILEY has continued to draw crowded houses" and that she has no reason to complain of the reception she has met in Shangai". (NCH 17.10, 24.10. 14.11.1863).
—
10.2.1864 (Wedn)
E.B. LYTTON: "The Lady of Lyons" (1838)
T: Romantic comdey (5 acts)
C: C.R. Faylor's travelling company
Th: Olympic Theatre (H)
R: The port was honoured by a visit of Mr. FAYLOR's theatrical company in February and May. This was after it had toured Macao (in December 1863; see BGM 14.12.1863) and Hong Kong. There it was highly successful, but the first performance in the Yangtze city was unfortunately a failure in consequence of the ludicrous incompetence of that portion of the company which had been collected in Shanghai and pressed into service. The audience, moreover, was riotous in the extreme and displayed the worst possible taste in exciting themselves to increase the confusion on the stage" (see also Survey. p. 22). (N.C.H. 13.2.1864).
13.2.1864 (Sat)
C. DANCE: "Delicate Ground" (1849)
T: Comic drama (1 act)
C. SELBY: "A Lady and a Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicement" (1841) T: Burletta (1 act)
C: C.R. Faylor's travelling company
Th: Olympic Theatre (H)
R: It is not quite clear how many nights were given by the FAYLOR company. The Herald of February 27 states that **it still continues its performances", but, in view of what had happened earlier, "naturally enough has not been patronished by any of the ladies. resident in the Settlement". In May it turns up again in the pages of the paper. (NCH 27.2.1864).
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