[
    {
        "id": 211779,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
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        "document_key": "RAS-1989",
        "page_number": 194,
        "title": "RAS-1989",
        "content_text": "169\n\nyear after a visit to Hong Kong\" for another run of several weeks. As was usual with repertory companies of this kind their output was vast, ranging from Planché's The Invisible Prince to Shakespeare's Richard III from which the fifth act only (\"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!\") was given \"somewhat disappointingly\".\n\nOne other touring company is mentioned in the early Shanghai annals: the Thorne Company, which consisted of \"seven gentlemen and two ladies\" whose talents had been \"extolled by the Hong Kong press\", and which came to the Yangtze port in January 1865. Conflicting reports make it difficult to judge whether the group was praised as much in Shanghai as in Hong Kong. According to the Herald it had given a \"successful representation of the Octoroon (by Dion Boucicault, on January 11 1865) and announced a second performance for the 14th\". However, the Shanghai Commercial Record wrote that \"the patronage bestowed on the Thorne Troupe was extremely small. Indeed when they opened on Wednesday evening last (January 11) it was literally to an empty house, for we hear there was actually no one present to view the performance. The company were so disgusted that they left next day for San Francisco\". So many years later there is obviously no way in which we can verify either of these assessments, but it only stresses how unfortunate it is that the sources for the study of early Shanghai are not more abundant.\n\n152x\n\nA special feature of some of these travelling groups should be noticed, namely the existence of benefit performances. Benefits had been known in Britain from the late 17th century; generally speaking the net proceeds of such a performance went to a member of the company, but gradually it was realised that the system had more disadvantages than advantages\n\ne.g. actors were frequently paid low salaries because of the, often highly uncertain, supplementary income that could be derived from the benefits. One of the first to try to abolish them was Madame Vestris in the 1830s, but they existed well into the 1870s. Both the Faylor and Lewis companies had kept the custom. Thus it was announced that on November 26 1864 \"the benefit of J.B. Creswick under the distinguished patronage of the Consular authorities\" would be given; on December 9, \"Mr. H. Birch's benefit took place\", and so on for nearly every member of the company.",
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    {
        "id": 211835,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1989",
        "page_number": 250,
        "title": "RAS-1989",
        "content_text": "225\n\n\"Lady Audley's Secret\", for which HED lists the following authors: C.H. HAZLEWOOD (1863), G. ROBERTS (1863) and W.E. SUTER (1863).\n\nC: Shanghai Amateur Burlesque Company\n\nTh: N.N. (I)\n\nR: For the first time we have at our disposal another source than the \"North China Herald\" for reviews of the Shanghai theatre, viz. the \"Shanghai Commercial Record\". In general, though, the reports were in the same vein as those in the Herald had been, but sometimes more information was given and different accents set. Hardly so for tonight's pieces: they \"reflected great credit on the talent of the performers and their endeavour to provide for the amusement of their fellow exiles has we are sure been highly appreciated\" (SCR 7.1.1865). The Herald only published an announcement (NCH 24.12.1864).\n\n11.1.1865 (Wedn)\n\nD. BOUCICAULT: \"The Octaroon\" (1859)\n\nT: Drama (4 acts)\n\nC: Thorne (travelling) Company\n\nTh: Lyceum Theatre (1)\n\nR: Sometimes the availability of two sources does not make it easier to make a judgement about the truth of things. What to think e.g., of the following reports on the Thorne Company: The Herald was short in its weekly summary of 14.1.1865: \"The Thorne Company have given a successful representation of the Octoroon at the Lyceum Theatre and announce a second performance for this evening\" (i.e., Saturday). In contrast, the Shanghai Commercial Record reported in its issue of January 25: \"We have had another theatrical troupe here, calling themselves the Thorne Troupe. But whether it is that Shanghai has had too much of this class of entertainment lately, or that the pressure of the times is so great that people do not care to attend the Theatre, we cannot say. Both these causes combined probably to render the patronage bestowed on the Thorne Troupe extremely small. Indeed, when they opened on Wednesday evening last [this should read January 11 - JH] it was literally to an empty house for we hear there was actually no one present to view the performance. The company, as well they might be, were so disgusted that they left next day for San Francisco where we sincerely trust they will be more successful\" Cf. however, Survey, note $2.\n\n14.1.1865 (Sat)?\n\nAs above?\n\n4.2.-10.2.1865\n\nConcert by Mr. Desvachez and Signor Enrico Grossi. Th: Town Hall of the French Concession\n\nR: The violinist DESVACHEZ returned to Shanghai, this time accompanied by the bass singer Enrico GROSSI who had earlier, in December 1863, performed with the Faylor Company in Macao (see BGM 14.12.1863). The concert had called for favourable comment at the hands of our music critic” — indicating that a more detailed review had appeared in the North China Daily News (NCH 11.2.1865).\n\n15.2.1865 (Wedn)\n\nAnnual Volunteer Concert by the Volunteer Band and the \"Shanghai Amateur Quartet Club**.\n\nTh: Shanghai Club\n\nR: The Commercial Record of 22.2.1865 gave the following impression of this concert: \"The Volunteer Band was assisted by the Shanghai Amateur Quartette Club and several gentleman amateurs. The large room in the Club House was lent for the occasion and we were glad to see it well filled. The gay uniforms of the Shanghai Mounted Rangers, mingled with the more sober dress of the Volunteers gave the room a very gay",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1989.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h",
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    },
    {
        "id": 211845,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1989",
        "page_number": 260,
        "title": "RAS-1989",
        "content_text": "235\n\nthat in more congenial parts Mr. FUNNYDOG will help to compensate us for the loss of that most genial of humourists, our incomplete BRUSHWOOD\". The critic ended with the following advice: \"For the future it would be better to rehearse three pieces and play two of them the first night; then in the event of a second performance the piece which was received on the first occasion with the heartiest plaudits might be repeated, preceded or followed by the new Drama held ready and in reserve. We are inclined to offer this suggestion owing to the various complaints which we have heard of the lateness of the hour at which Thursday's entertainment concluded, and also from a selfish wish perhaps to have two dramatic treats instead of one” (NCH 16.12.1865).\n\n## APPENDIX I\n## Authorlist of plays staged in Shanghai 1850-1865\n\nIn this list full titles of the plays staged in Shanghai will be found as well as first nights in London (these generally according to Nicoll. History of English Drama).\n\nP: Performance in Shanghai\n\n?: The play is listed under more than one author\n\n| Author | Play Title | First Night in London | P: Performance in Shanghai |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| AYTON, Richard (1786-1823) | \"The Rendez-Vous\" | 21.9.1818 | 24.3.1852 |\n| BARNETT, Morris (1800-1856) | **The Serious Family** | 30.10.1849 | 8.10.1859; 23.3.1865; 28.4.1865 |\n| A BECKETT, Gilbert Abbott (1811-1856) | \"The Roofscrambler” | 15.6.1835 | 12.12.1850 |\n|  | **Siamese Twins** | [14.4.1834] | 5.5.1853 |\n|  | **The Turned Head** | 3.11.1834 | 27.1.1865 |\n| BERNARD, William Bayle (1807-1875) | \"A Practical Man\" | 20.10.1849 | 8.3.1854 |\n| BOUCICAULT, Dion (1822-1890) | **The Colleen Bawn or the Brides of Garryowen** | 29.3.1860 | 25.4.1865 |\n|  | \"The Octoroon or Life in Louisiana\" | 6.12.1859 | 7.1.1865; 13.1.1865; 14.1.1865 |\n|  | \"Used Up\" (with C. Mathews) | 1.6.1846 | 26.1.1853; 8.2.1857 |\n| BRIDGEMAN, John Vipon (1819-1889) | **I've Been Eaten My Friend!** | 8.9.1851 | 22.3.1854 |\n| BROOKS, Charles William Shirley (1816-1874) | \"Anything for a Change\" | 7.6.1848 | 14.5.1854 |\n| BROUGH, Robert Barnabas (1828-1860) | \"Crinoline\" | 18.12.1856 | March 1863; 16.3.1863; 1.4.1863 |\n|  | **Medea or The Best of Mothers with a Brute of a Husband** | 14.7.1856 | 28.12.1864 |\n| BROUGH, William (1826-1870) | 'Apartments: Visitors to the Exhibition may be accommodated. A piece of extravaganza to suit the times' | 14.5.1851 | 23.3.1853 |\n|  | \"The Area Belle\" (with A. Halliday) | 7.3.1864 | 30.9.1865 |\n|  | \"Conrad and Medora or Harlequin Little Fairy at the Bottom of the Sea\" | 26.12.1856 |  |\n\n138",
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    {
        "id": 211852,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1989",
        "page_number": 267,
        "title": "RAS-1989",
        "content_text": "242\n\nHigh Life below Stairs: J. Townley; 21.4.1851. The Honey Moon: W. Linley? J. Tobin? 19.4.1865. A Household Fairy: F. Talfourd; 216.11.1864.\n\nI couldn't help it: J. Oxenford; 13.4.1865.\n\nIII Treated Il Trovatore: H.J. Byron; 22.6.1864, 29.6.1864. The Infanticidal Farce: J.S. Coyne; 21.2.1856.\n\nThe Invisible Prince: J.R. Planché; 23.3.1865.\n\nThe Irish Tutor: R. Butler; 5.5.1853.\n\nIsabella: J.B. Buckstone; 28.3.-5.4.1865.\n\nI've Eaten My Friend: J.V. Bridgeman; 22.3.1854.\n\nKenilworth: N.N.; 28.3.-5.4.1865.\n\nKing John: W. Shakespeare; 12.11.-18.11.1864.\n\nA Kiss in the Dark: J.B. Buckstone; 26.3.1857.\n\nThe Knights of the Round Table: J.R. Planché; 24.5.1865.\n\nA Lady and a Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicement: C. Selby; 13.12.1864. Lady Audley's Secret: C.H. Hazlewood? G. Roberts? W.E. Suter?; 28.12.1864.\n\nThe Lady of Lyons: E. Bulwer Lytton; 10.2.1864.\n\nThe Lady of Lyons: H.J. Byron?; 22.10.-28.10.1864, 29.4.1865.\n\nLend me Five Shillings: J.M. Morton; see p. 15.\n\nA Lesson for the Ladies: J.B. Buckstone; 8.4.1865.\n\nAs Like as Two Peas: H. Lillo; 16.3.1858.\n\nLittle Toddlekins: C.J. Mathews; 26.5.1864.\n\nLove Laughs at Locksmiths: G. Colman the Younger; 9.5.1864,\n\nLove, Law and Physics: J. Kenney; 28.1.1851.\n\nA Lucky Escape: C.S. Cheltnam; 25.4.1864.\n\nThe Maid and the Magpie: H.J. Byron; 8.10.-14.10.1864, 15.10.-21.10.1864, 15.4.1865. Make your Wills: E. Mayhew; 23.1.1856.\n\nMarried Life: J.B. Buckstone; 12.11.-18.11.1864.\n\nMedea: R.B. Brough; 28.12.1864.\n\nA Most Unwarrantable Intrusion: J.M. Morton; 22.3.1854, 1.4.1864,\n\nNature and Philosophy: N.N.; 9.5.1864.\n\nThe Nigger Doctor and his Patient Patient: N.N.; 14.8.1856.\n\nNo!: W.H. Murray? F. Reynolds?; 23.2.1852.\n\nNo 1 round the corner: W. Brough; 23.1.1856.\n\nNursery Chickweed: T.J. Williams; 28.3.-5.4.1865.\n\nThe Octoroon: D. Boucicault; 7.1.-13.1.1865, 14.1.1865,\n\nOn and Off: T.J. Williams; 25.4.1864.\n\nOur Wife: J.M. Morton; 13.2.1863, 17.2.1863.\n\nPerdita: W. Brough; 8.4.1865.\n\nPoor Pillicoddy: J.M. Morton; 15.3.1860, 26.5.1864.\n\nA Practical Man: W.B. Bernard; 8.3.1854.\n\nPrincess Springtime: H.J. Byron; 10.11.1865, 20.11.1865.\n\nA Race for Dinner: J.T.G. Rodwell; announced but not performed. Raising the wind: J. Kenney; 9.2.1858, 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864.\n\nThe Rendez-vous: R. Ayton; 24.3.1852.\n\nRetained for the Defence: J. Oxenford; 25.4.1864. The Review; G. Colman the Younger; 24.3.1852.",
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