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 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). ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 237 COYNE, Joseph Stirling (1803-1868) "Binks the Bagman" (13.12.1843). P: 8.10.1857 "Duck Hunting" (29.9.1862). P: 30.3.1864; 4.4.1865 "The Infanticidal Farce or Did you ever Send your Wife to Camberwell?" (16.3.1846). P: 21.2.1856 **Urgent Private Affairs** (7.1.1856). P: 5.5.1858 CROSS, John C (d 1810?) The Golden Farmer or Harlequin Ploughboy (28.6.1802). P: 8.10.1857 DANCE, Charles (1794-1863) **Delicate Ground or Paris in 1793** (27.11.1849). P: 13.2.1864 "The Dustman's Belle" (1.6.1846). P: 9.2.1858 DANVERS, Henry (??) **A Conjugal Lesson** (3.7.1856). P: 26.3.1857 DIBDIN, Thomas John (1771-1841) **The Birthday** (16.3.1799). P: 9.2.1858 DUMAS, Alexandre fils (1824-1895) "Camille" (English adaptation of 'La Dame aux Camélias') (1852; London: 1858). P: 27.3.1865 EDWARDS, Henry Sutherland (1828-1906) **The Goose with the Golden Eggs** (with A. Mayhew) (1.9.1859). P: 13.2.1863 FITZBALL, Edward (1792-1873) "The Daughter of the Regiment" (30.11.1843). P: 15.4.1865 GILL, W.B. **Aurora Floyd Burlesqued**. P: 19.4.1865 "Which is Which?". P: 27.3.1865 GORE, Catherine Grace Frances (1799-1861) **A Good Night's Rest or Two in the Morning** (19.8.1839). P: 21.2.1856 HALLIDAY, Andrew (1830-1877) "The Area Belle" (with W. Brough) (7.3.1864). P: 30.9.1865 HARDWICKE, Pelham: See C. Mathews HARRIS, Augustus Glossop (1826-1873) "The Rose of Castille" (Music by M.W. BALFE) (29.10.1857). P: 8.10.-14.10.1864 HAZLEWOOD, Colin Henry (1823-1875) ? "Aurora Floyd or the First and Second Marriage" (21.4.1863). P: 26.11.1864; 17.4.1865 ? "Lady Audley's Secret" (25.6.1863). 142 P: 28.12.1864 "Rob Roy" (19.6.1864). P: 28.3.-5.4.1865 JERROLD, Douglas William (1803-1857) "Black-eyed Susan or All in the Downs" (8.6.1829). P: 28.3-5.4.1865 JERROLD, M. William Blanchard (1826-1884) ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 238 "Cool as a Cucumber" (24.3.1851). P: 26.3.1857; 30.3.1864; 4.4.1864 JOHNSTONE, J.B. (1803-1891) ? "Aurora Floyd" (May 1863). P: 26.11.1864; 17.4.1865 KENNEY, James (1780?-1849) **Love, Law and Physic** (20.11.1812). P: 28.1.1851 "Raising the Wind" (5.11.1803).144 P: 9.2.1858; 30.3.1864; 4.4.1864 **Sweethearts and Wives** (7.7.1823). P: 11.4.1865 **Truth out!** (7.3.1812). P: 10.11.1865; 20.11.1865 KÖRNER, Theodor (1791-1813) "The Governess" (= "Die Gouvernante"). P: 28.3.1864 KOTZEBUE, August Friedrich Ferdinand von (1761-1819) "The Harvest at Home". P: 28.3.1864 LACY, Thomas Hailes (1810-1873) "A Silent Woman" (17.8.1835). P: 29.6.1864 LILLE, Hubert "As Like as Two Peas" (30.6.1854). P: 16.3.1858 LINLEY, William (1771-1835) ? "The Honeymoon" (7.1.1797). P: 15.4.-21.4.1865 LOVER, Samuel (1797-1868) **The White Horse of the Peppers** (26.5.1838). P: March 1863; 16.3.1863 LYTTON, Edward Bulwer (1803-1873) "The Lady of Lyons or Love and Pride" (15.2.1838). P: 10.2.1864; 22.10.-28.10.1864(?); 29.4.1865(?) MADDOX, John Medex (1789-1861) "A Fast Train! High Pressure!! Express!!!" (25.4.1853). P: 8.3.1854 MARSTON, John Westland (1819-1890) "A Hard Struggle" (1.2.1858). P: 12.11.-18.11.1864 MATHEWS, Charles James (1803-1878) "A Bachelor of Arts" (under pseudonym: Pelham Hardwicke) (23.11.1853). P: 10.2.1858; 8.5.1865 "Little Toddlekins" (15.12.1852). P: 26.5.1864 "Used Up" (with D. Boucicault) (1.6.1846). 138 P: 26.1.1852; 27.1.1853; 18.2.1857 MAYHEW, Augustus Septimus (1826-1875) "The Goose with the Golden Eggs" (with H.S. Edwards) (1.9.1859). P: 13.2.1863; 17.2.1863; 26.4.1865 MAYHEW, Edward (1813-1868) "Make your Wills" (16.7.1836). P: 23.1.1856 MAYHEW, Henry (1812-1887) "The Wandering Minstrel" (16.1.1834). P: 24.5.1865 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 241 Aurora Floyd Burlesqued: W.B. Gill; 19.4.1865. The Babes in the Wood: J.H. Byron; 17.4.1865. A Bachelor of Arts: P. Hardwicke; 10.2.1858, 8.5.1865. Betsey Baker; J.M. Morton; 23.3.1853. Binks the Bagman: J.S. Coyne; 8.10.1857. The Birthday: T.J. Dibdin; 9.2.1858. Black-eyed Susan: D.W. Jerrold; 28.3-5.4.1865. Bombastes Furioso: W.B. Rhodes; 28.1.1851, 5.5.1858. The Boots at the Swan: C. Selby; 14.12.1865. Box and Cox: J.M. Morton; 15.5.1854, 18.2.1857. The Bride of Abydos: H.J. Byron; 22.10.-28.10.1864. Bullrick at Kroll: N.N.; 28.3.1864. Camille: A. Dumas Jr; 27.3.1865. A Capital Match: J.M. Morton; 23.4.1857, 3.12.1864. Charles the Second: J.H. Payne; 16.3.1858. Cinderella: H.J. Byron? T. Taylor?; 12.11.-18.11.1864, 28.4.1865. The Colleen Bawn: D. Boucicault; 25.4.1865. A Conjugal Lesson: H. Danvers; 26.3.1857. Conrad and Medora: W. Brough; 12.E.-18.E.1864. Cool as a Cucumber: M.W.B. Jerrold; 26.3.1857, 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864. Crinoline: R.B. Brough; March 1863; 16.3.1863, 1.4.1864. The Daughter of the Regiment: E. Fitzball? 15.4.1865. A Dead Shot: J.B. Buckstone; 11.4.1865. The Debut: N.N.; 1.4.1864. Delicate Ground: C. Dance; 13.2.1864. Diamond cut Diamond: W.H. Murray; 12.12.1850. Done on both sides: J.M. Morton; 10.2.1858. The Dragon of Wantley: H. Carey & J.F. Lampe; 26.1.1852. Duck Hunting: J.S. Coyne; 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864, The Dustman's Belle: C. Dance; 9.2.1858. Faint Heart never won Fair Lady: J.R. Planché; 8.10.-14.10.1864, 14.12.1865. A Fast Train! High Pressure!! Express!!!: J.M. Maddox; 8.3.1854. A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials: C. Selby; 15.2.1860. Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall: J.M. Morton; 26.3.1863. The Flowers of the Forest: J.B. Buckstone; 28.3.-5.4.1865. Fra Diavolo: H.J. Byron; 15.10.-21.10.1864. The Frantic Husband: N.N.; 26.4.1865. The Golden Farmer: J.C. Cross? B. Webster? 8.10.1857, A Good Night's Rest: C.G.F. Gore; 21.2.1856. The Goose with the Golden Eggs: A. Mayhew & H. Sutherland; 13.2.1863, 17.2.1863, 26.4.1865 The Governess (Die Gouvernante): T. Körner; 28.3.1864. Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw: J.M. Morton: 2.6.1859. The 'Green' Bushes: H.J Byron: 30.9.1865. A Hard Struggle: J.W. Marston; 12.11.-18.11.1864. The Harvest Home: A.F.F. von Kotzebue; 28.3.1864. The Haunted Inn: R.B. Peake; 6.5.1852. The Heir at Law: G. Colman the Younger; 21.4.1851. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g 357 FRIENDS OF THE HKBRAS TRIP TO CORNWALL KIRSTY NORMAN In April 2002, 25 members of the Friends of the RAS Hong Kong Branch took part in the group's first Monday-Friday organised tour, thanks to the excellent teamwork and organisation of Anita Wilson, Rosemary Lee and Penny Byrne. The group visited six gardens in eastern Cornwall, in order to look specifically at oriental planting, and the connections between Cornwall and the early plant hunters. Given the county's place in the history of early oriental plant introductions, there are many gardens to choose from, but in this choice we were fortunate to have the help of the remarkable Maggie Campbell-Culver, author of the recently published and well received The Origin of Plants and previously in charge of the gardens at Mount Edgcumbe, and also her husband Michael Culver. Both had become close friends of Penny Byrne and her husband Tim Heald while neighbours in Fowey. Maggie's love of her subject, and her instinctive ability to strike a balance between educating us and allowing us to roam made her a very popular guide and companion. The group met in Fowey on the Monday, visited two gardens a day for three days, and dispersed on the Friday. The trip also included that essential of a Friends outing, good Chinese food, in the form of two fine dinners organised by Penny. Gardens visited were Trewithen, Pine Lodge, Tregrehan, Heligan, Caerhays, and also the Eden Project, though Eden is perhaps more of a phenomenon than a garden. The great Cornish gardens we now know were, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the testing grounds for what was to become a veritable torrent of newly discovered plant material, much of it being brought or sent back from China, Japan, Korea and the Himalayas. The way was paved by men like Major General Thomas Hardwicke (1755-1835) of the Bengal Artillery, who brought the first Himalayan rhododendron to Britain in the early 19th century. Discoveries were made by missionaries such as Père Armand David and Père Jean Delavay in the late 19th century, but it was in the early 20th century when professional explorer-collectors such as Ernest Wilson, George Forrest, Frank Kingdom Ward, and Reginald Farrer began systematic ================================================================================