RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 242 CARL T. SMITH 1 Dec. 1852 - first performance of amateurs under new management. 12 Feb. 1853 — Victoria Amateurs. "Twice Killed" farce (John Oxenham, 1837) "Slasher and Crasher" farce (J. M. Morton, 1848) 19 Mar. 1853 meeting at Victoria Theatre for purpose of forming a Corps Dramatique to arrange for another performance at an early date. 20 Apr. 1853 "Animal Magnetism" farce (Mrs. E. Inchbald, 1758) "A Kiss in the Dark" farce 19 May 1853 last night of season of Victoria Amateurs. "Time Tries All" dramatic drama (J. Courtney, 1848) "Toothache, or The Prince and the Chimney Sweep" farce 1853/54 27 Oct. 1853 Meeting at Victoria Theatre of those interested in theatricals to make arrangements for the coming season. (I found no notice of any performance for this season). 1860/61 3 Jan. 1861 "Still Waters Run Deep" (T. Taylor, 1855) 1861/62 1862/1863 29 Jan. 1861 new theatre, Hong Kong Amateur Theatre, performance by officers and gentlemen who have organized this establishment: "A Bachelor of Arts" (P. Hardwicke, 1853) "A Nice Firm" (T. Taylor, 1853) 25 Feb. 1861 performance of Gentlemen Amateurs Mon. last. 28 Mar. 1861 theatrical season drawing to close. Appreciation to the Committee. Difficult to see how the Amateur Theatrical Company could have managed without aid from the garrison. Dec. 1861 - first performance of season: "Cool as a Cucumber" (M. W. B. Jerrold, 1851) "The State Secret" (A. Snodgrass, 1821, or T. E. Wilks, 1836) in same commodious erection as served so well for last year's performances, 23 Jan. 1862 second public performance of Hong Kong Amateur Theatre: "Not a Bad Judge" comic drama (J. R. Planche, 1848) "The Critics" facetious tragedy (Sheridan, 1779) 1862 season "Cramond Brig" (W. H. Murray, 1826) Dec. 1862 The theatre a reproduction of last year's design. "Uncle Zachary" comic drama (John Oxenford, 1860) "Fearful Tragedy in Seven Dials" (Charles Selby, 1857) ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 206 (...) Our first favourite was Captain Copp. This is a glorious character and was performed faultlessly [by Benjamin BLUSTER-JH]. From the first moment we made his acquaintance until we took a reluctant leave of him, our heart was kept in a continuous glow by his honest face, his blunt, sea-faring manner; his rugged but kindly touches of feeling, harmonically blended together as they were by his ceremonial bursts of good humoured jollity. Every time he broke out with his favourite stave 'In the time of the Dump When Old Admiral Trump' we felt a strong inclination to hear more of it and were scarcely pleased with Mary for stopping it so abruptly. (...) Mary's taste in the choice of a lover was unexceptionable - a compliment which cannot be said with truth, of pretty girls generally. The page who was the favoured suitor deserved his good fortune: he played well and sung sweetly. It is some time indeed since we heard on the stage or elsewhere a song given with so much taste and expression (...). No wonder the pretty Mary melted under the influence of the mellow tones of such a music master". And Mary? She was played of course by Mrs NESBIT who "as usual placed before us a lively picture of the piquant and coquettish, but withal modest and pretty niece of the host of the 'Grand Admiral'; and she looked so enticing as to make some of those who were present and near us wish that they too were actors provided there was plenty of kissing in the play and such a delightful subject as herself to practice upon”. (NCH 20.3.1858). Again it should be stressed that all female characters were portrayed by men, which, paradoxically, probably allowed the critic to write in such a vein! 5.5.1858 (Wedn) J. COURTNEY: "Time Tries All" (1848) T: Drama (2 acts) J.S. COYNE: “Urgent Private Affairs" (1856) T: Farce (1 act) W.B. RHODES: "Bombastes Furioso" (1810) T: Burlesque tragic opera (1 act) C: Amateurs F: Music by the band of H.M.S. Highflyer Th: Theatre Royal (C) N: Third and final performance of the season R: For a house that was "crowded to the doors" the curtain rose on a new drop scene **of a light and pretty character". Once more Mrs. NESBIT could be admired, in Time Tries All, as Laura Leeson and "too much credit could not be extended on her for the manner in which she brought before us the wilful, pettish but withal warm-hearted woman". As her husband, Mr. Leeson, "Mr. ROLLER was most successful; he has made for himself a 'spécialité' in this line of characters which it would be difficult to surpass or to replace. Mr. PICKWICK played the role of Matthew Bates and by **his judicious, quiet acting gained considerable and well-merited applause". Mr. TINTINNABULUM (who also sung a "pretty Irish ballad") as the Hon Mr. Yawn "was capital and exercised the propensity with which his cognomen so plainly gifts him with such arts as to make many of the audience strenuously follow his example"; whereas Miss Fact and Mr. Tact found fit representatives in Miss WALTERS and Mr. BRUSWOOD. Some of the actors again appeared in the closing piece; Bombastes Furioso when Mr. Beverley NEWCOME impersonated General Bombastes, “a creditable performance, but the role was evidently not so well suited to the powers of that gentleman as other parts in which we have seen him". King Artaxominous was taken by Mr. PICKWICK, Furbos by Mr. TINTINNABULUM and Destafina by Mrs. NESBIT. Concluding, the reviewer was "especially pleased with the scenery of this and other ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 211 on any stage with ease and aptitude. And the part of the soubrette was acted "in a manner for which we had not given the young lady who sustained it credit" (NCH 17.3.1860). 10.5.1860 (Thur) J. COURTNEY: “Time Tries All" (1848) T: Drama (2 acts) J.M. MORTON: “To Paris and back for £5" (1853) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs F: Music by the Germania Singing Club and the band of the 101st regiment Th: N.N. (1) N: Third and last performance of the season R: Time Tries All was a revival from 1858 and in it some of the old familiar faces could be admired again. This time Mr. TINTINNBULUM personified Matthew Bates and he "threw an amount of grace and feeling into his acting that make us well regret his absence in the two former representations“. Mrs NESRIT gave a repeat of her Laura Leeson. One of the newcomers, Mr. ADOLPHE, “has assumed the character of negative instead of the positive villain of the last representation and almost succeeded in making us gape, so natural was his representation of that peculiar because catching disease". Phunago BRUSHWOOD reappeared in To Paris and back for £5 and this farce offered **full scope to his laughter moving capabilities, both as to acting and costume". There was music too, by the Germania Singverein – which reminded the critic “of their own charming Soirées Musicales" (not recorded). However, the construction of the theatre was "such as to mar to a considerable extent the effect of their well chosen and well executed pieces“ (NCH 12.5.1860). 17.3.1861 (Sunday) Concert by the band of the French 101st regiment, conducted by Mr. Dumas. Programme: G. DONIZETTI: "La Favorita", D.F.E. AUBER: "La Part du Diable", overture, **Haydée” (an opéra-comique), fantaisie, George BOUSQUET (1818-1854); “Hélène” (waltz), DENEAUX: Mazurka. Location: Headquarters of General De Montauban at Messrs. Rémi, Schmidt & Co French Concession. (NCH 16.3.1861). 24.3.1861 (Sunday) Concert by the band of the French 101st regiment, conducted by Mr. Dumas. Programme: GURTNER: Pas redoublé, DUMAS: Ronde tyrolienne. D.F.E. AUBER: "La Muette de Portici", overture, G. ROSSINI: **[Il Barbiere di Siviglia” fantasia, D.F.E. AUBER: **Les Diamants de la Couronne", overture, “La Brise”. Location: as on 17.3.1861 (NCH 23.3.1861). 31.3.1861 (Sunday) Concert by the band of the French 101st regiment, conducted by Mr. Dumas. Programme: BOSCH: Pas redoublé. C.W. VON GLUCK: "Armide", F.M.V. MASSE: "La Chanteuse Voilée", overture, G. ROSSINI: "Mosè in Egitto”, chorus **Valse allemande“. GURTNER: "France" (polka). Location: as on 17.3.1861 (NCH 30.3.1861) November 1861 Concert by Signor Robbio. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 226 appearance. The music selected afforded great satisfaction to the audience and was really very well performed. The violin solos by a gentleman Amateur of the place were most deservedly encored. Indeed we fancy few home concerts could show anything of the same sort much better. Amateur concerts we are sure rarely could". 23.2.1865 (Thur) Concert by Signor Enrico Grossi, assisted by Messrs Desvachez and Terry, and the Rhenish Band. Th: Astor House Hotel R: All professional artists performed without any government subsidies so they had every reason to look forward to as large an audience as possible. Signor GROSSI evidently was a freemason for the Commercial Record reported that "his masonic relations produced for him a full house" (SCR 8.3.1865). Freemasonry, which had been introduced in Shanghai in 1849, was rather widespread among the (male) foreign residents and the brethren who had turned up rewarded Sr GROSSI's "efforts to please by frequent bursts of applause" (NCH 25.2.1865). No details of the programme were given. 14.3.1865 (Tue) Concert in aid of the Shanghai Volunteer Club fund. Th: Shanghai Club R: RCH 18.3.1865 21.3.1865 (Tue) J. COURTNEY: "Time Tries All" (1848) T: Drama (2 acts) J.M. MORTON: "To Paris and back for $5" (1853) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps Th: Lyceum Theatre (1) N: First performance of the season R: Not unexpectedly the Herald thought it "needless to descant here upon the merits and talents of the Company" (NCH 25.3.1865). The same pieces had been given on May 15, 1860. 23.3.1865 (Thur) M. BARNETT: "The Serious Family" (1849) T: Comedy (3 acts) J.R. PLANCHE: "The Invisible Prince" (1846) T: Extravaganza (1 act) C: Lewis' Australian Drama Company Th: Lyceum Theatre R: Lewis' Australian Drama Company had come back to Shanghai in early March (NCH 11.3.1865) for a second season of farce and comedy, but owing to difficulties in reaching an agreement with the Lyceum Theatre about the rent that was to be paid, the first night took place only on March 23 (NCH 18.3.1865). For the members of the Company see Survey; most of them appeared on the first night in The Serious Family. According to the Commercial Record (25.3.1865) "the acting was very equal throughout and the admirable manner in which the different actors and actresses assisted one another contributed largely to their success" - which seems to be a rather meaningless comment. The Invisible Prince, too, was put on the stage effectively and the mise en scene was very good. 27.3.1865 (Mon) W.B. GILL: "Which is Which?" T: Farce L... ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h Richard III: W. Shakespeare; 26.4.1865. The Rivals: R.B. Sheridan; 28.9.1858, 23.11.1864. A Roarer: N.N.; 19.4.1865. Rob Roy; C.H. Hazlewood? W.H. Murray? 28.3.-5.4.1865. A Roland for an Oliver: T. Morton Sr; 23.2.1852. Roofscrambler: G.A.à Beckett; 12.12.1850. The Rose of Castille: A.G. Harris; 8.10.-14.10.1864. The Rough Diamond: J.B. Buckstone; 13.4.1865. The Serious Family: M. Barnett; 8.10.1857, 2.6.1859, 23.3.1865, 28.4.1865. Siamese Twins: G.A.à Beckett; 5.5.1853. A Silent Woman: T.H. Lacy; 29.6.1864. Sink or Swim: T. Morton Jr; 16.2.1857. Slasher and Crasher: J.M. Morton; 21.2.1856. Still Waters Run Deep: T. Taylor.; 23.4.1857, 15.3.1860. Sweethearts and Wives: J. Kenney; 11.4.1865. Take that girl away: L.S. Buckingham; 15.2.1860; 3.12.1864. Time tries all: J. Courtney; 5.5.1858, 10.5.1860, 21.3.1865. To Paris and back for £5: J.M. Morton; 10.5.1860, 21.3.1865. The Turned Head: G.A.à Beckett; 27.1.1853. Turn out!: J. Kenney; 10.11.1865, 20.11.1865. 'T Was I: J.H. Payne; 27.4.1865. The Two Bonny Castles: J.M. Morton; 22.3.1854, 8.5.1865. The Unfinished Gentleman: C. Selby; 17.6.1865. Urgent Private Affairs; J.S. Coyne; 5.5.1858. Used Up: D. Boucicault & C.J. Mathews; 26.1.1852, 27.1.1853, 18.2.1857. The Wandering Minstrel: H. Mayhew; 24.5.1865. Where There's a Will There's a Way: J.M. Morton; 26.3.1863. Which is which?: W.B. Gill; 27.3.1865. Whitebait at Greenwich: J.M. Morton; 23.1.1856, 16.2.1859, 26.5.1864. The White Horse of the Peppers; S. Lover; March 1863, 16.3.1863. A Wonder: H. Carey S. Centlivre?: 12.11.-18.11.1864, Woodcock's Little Game: J.M. Morton; 14.12.1865. The Young Widow: J.T.G. Rodwell; 27.4.1865, 243 Page 268 ================================================================================