RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 224 CARL T. SMITH With children performing there was no question of respectability. It was announced some weeks after the first performance that "several ladies having expressed regret at not witnessing the late performance of the Portuguese children, Mr. Souza, with the consent of the parents, and at the request of the Committee, has consented to repeat the performance at an early date". In 1866 the Portuguese community built a club house at Shelley and Elgin Streets. Attached to it was a small theatre. It was used not only by Portuguese amateurs but, before the opening of the Theatre Royal in the City Hall in 1869, it was the venue for the productions of the Amateur Dramatic Club. The Theatre portion of Club Lusitano was demolished in 1873, The Germans built a club house on Wyndham Street in 1872. It contained a small auditorium. German amateur groups used it for plays and operettas. More appreciated by the non-German speaking community were the concerts and the appearance of Liedertafel singing groups. THE A.D.C—BORN IN A MATSHED An Amateur Theatrical Society was formed in 1860. Its membership was made up of both civilians and military officers. For the 1860-61 season they erected a new matshed. It was said that in its internal arrangements there was "no lack of comfort, indeed elegance has received its share of attention". It included a continental innovation the prompter's box was placed in the centre in front of the curtain "according to the French custom”. The Committee of the Society came under attack for alleged misuse of funds. At the second performance of the 1861 season it was deemed necessary to make a public statement refuting accusations which had appeared in the local press. The Committee had been charged "with spending the profits in cold fowl and sherry behind the scenes." Two professional ladies of the stage also figured in the accusations. The newspaper account of the public explanation concluded with the sentiment that "Hong Kong thanks the Amateurs and has fullest confidence in the ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 226 CARL T. SMITH see what should be done toward erecting a permanent theatre". The year following, 1862, plans for a Theatre and Assembly Room were on view at the Hong Kong Club. They were estimated to cost $34,000, but a newspaper reporter was more realistic. In his opinion "a glance shows it would cost $60,000 at least". Something as ambitious as this had to wait some years. It was finally realized with the opening of the City Hall in 1869. In the meantime, mat sheds, a large room in St. Andrew's School and the Club Lusitano were used. A public meeting in 1864 resolved that the Amateur Theatrical Matshed should be kept and a committee appointed to see to its preservation. One happy feature was the debt-free state of the theatre following a successful season. During the 60s there were notices of the Queen's Theatre on Queen's Road East. It was probably the adapted godown mentioned in the columns of Jarrett in his series "Old Hongkong" in the South China Morning Post. A Theatre Royal was on military ground, used not only for performances by the Garrison but also by visiting professional dramatic companies. In 1865 it was announced it was to be pulled down "for much needed barrack improvements". After its demolition, the Garrison amateurs used the Murray Barracks Canteen. The general public expressed its appreciation to the military for permitting the theatre to occupy their ground. It had, however, been a hot, stuffy place, poorly ventilated. TYPES OF DRAMA All the early productions of the amateurs were described variously as farce, burlesque, comic drama, facetious tragedy, vaudeville comedy or burlesque extravaganza. Perhaps the first play of a mere serious tone was given in 1875, when "Plot and Passion" by Thomas Taylor and J. Lang was presented. It was noted, however, that a drawback to such a play was its love scenes, as these were difficult when played by males only companies. The reviewer thought that while it ! ! ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 243 12 Feb. 1863 week. 30 Apr. 1863 second amateur performance of season last amateurs gave fourth performance on Wed. subscription: 1863/64 ― 17 Dec. 1863 1864/65 ― 1865/66 ― first performance "Follies of a Night" vaudeville comedy (J. R. Planche, 1842) "A Kiss in the Dark" given also in 1853. 6 Feb. 1864 on 4th third subscription performance and on 6th third public appearance. 31 Mar. 1864- fourth and last performance of season: "Tailor of Tamworth" (also known as "State Secrets", T. Wilks, 1836) given also in 1861. "Alladin, the Wonderful Scamp" burlesque (T. C. Bryon, 1861) 16 June 1864 ___ public meeting resolved the Amateur Theatrical matshed should be kept up. 13 Oct. 1864 meeting of those interested in Amateur Theatricals agreed to continue them in next season in usual way. 2 Jan. 1865 a visiting professional group, the Lewis Company, gave first subscription night to the subscribers of the Amateurs 9 Nov. 1865 check given to movement for organizing a new Amateur Theatrical Corp by non-attendance at public meeting. To be hoped they shall not collapse in consequence. 1866/67 3 Jan. 1867 first at new Club Lusitano Theatre performance of season of Amateur Dramatic Society: "Sent to the Tower" farce (J. M. Morton, 1850) "Alladin, or The Wonderful Scamp" burlesque extravaganza (T. C. Bryon, 1860) also given in 1864. ― 4 Feb. 1867 second subscription night of Hong Kong Amateur Theatricals: "The Area Belle" farce (Brough and Halliday, 1864) "Shylock, or the Merchant of Venice Preserved" burlesque (F. Talfourd, 1853) 1866/67 7 Mar. 1867 1867/68 Hong Kong Amateur Theatricals third subscription night: "Slasher and Crasher" (J. M. Morton, 1848) given also in 1853. "Raising the Wind" (J. Kennedy, 1803) 23 Mar. 1867 Hong Kong Amateur Theatricals fourth subscription performance. — 28 Sept. 1867 Hong Kong Amateur Theatrical Society propose giving five subscription performances this season. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 244 1870/71 P 1871/72 1872/73 1873/74 — 1874/75 — CARL T. SMITH 25 Nov. 1867 first performance of season at Club Lusitano Theatre: "All that Glitters is not Gold" comedy (J. M. Morton, 1851) "Cox and Box, married and settled" farce (F. C. Burnard and J. M. Morton, 1867) 19 Dec. 1867 Hong Kong Amateur Theatrical Society second performance: "Romeo and Juliet" burlesque "Little Toddlekins" farce (J. Mathews, 1852) 4 Nov. 1870 Amateur Dramatic Club first performance of season at Theatre Royal, City Hall. "Diamond Cut Diamond" farce (W. H. Murray, 1838) "Orpheus and Eurydice" burlesque (H. J. Bryon, 1863) 20 Apr. 1871 "I've Written to Brown" farce (T. J. Williams, 1859) burlesque by Francis Talfourd. 28 Apr. 1871 "Ici, en Parlais Francais" (T. J. Williams, 1859) "Shylock, or the Merchant of Venice Preserved" burlesque (F. Talfourd, 1853) also given in 1867. - 26 Jan. 1872 - "The Two Bonnycastles" farce (J. M. Morton, 1851) "Masanielle" burlesque (R. B. Brough, 1857) 21 Feb. 1872 - "The Rifle and how to use it" farce (J. V. Bridgeman, 1859) 11 Apr. 1872 "Castles in the Air" comedy (T. W. Robertson, 1854) Instead of "Castles", the production may have been "Caste" by T. W. Robertson (1867) 3 Jan. 1873 - "Locked In" farce (J. P. Wooler, 1870) "The Cricket on the Hearth" 13 Feb. 1873 "Kenilworth, or Ye Queen, Ye Earl and Ye Maiden", burlesque 13 Apr. 1873 "The Blighted Being" farce (T. Taylor, 1854) "Checkmate" comedy (Andrew Halliday, 1869) 30 Oct. 1873 1853) "Plot and Passion" (T. Taylor and J. Lang, 1853) 15 Nov. 1873 "The Spitalfield Hospital" farcical comedy "Not such a Fool as she Looks" (H. J. Bryon, 1868) 2 Mar. 1874 —— "A Romantic Idea" (J. R. Planche, 1849) "The Steeple Chase" (J. M. Morton, 1865) 5 Apr. 1875 - "Ticket of Leave Man" (T. Taylor, 1863) ================================================================================