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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and although we cannot but regret this, we were glad to find, from the specimens we listened to, that they have been superseded by not unworthy successors.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).
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h
231

attitude to such interpolations, 13.2.1863). The qualities of most players have already been touched upon; others were JOHN EDOUIN, “a capital dancer"; his sister ROSE EDOUIN who, in burlesques, was "not to be overlooked; there is a style about her which commands and her gesture is sufficiently theatrical to impose upon her audience where a little less or a little more demonstration might have failed." Mr. W.B. GILL whose acting was not "thoroughly under command", nevertheless had "his place marked out for him and we hope some day to see him take up a leading position as a low comedian". On the other hand Mr. ANDREWS was a useful actor who is careful in his parts does not do more than he needs to do". The Company had had tolerably good houses and their departure was regretted for it was felt that Shanghailanders had seen "perhaps the best company East of the Cape". It went on to Foochow, Amoy and other southern ports. (SCR 5.5.1865).

6.5.-12.5.1865

Two concerts by Mr. and Mme Simonsen (violin and singing resp.)

TH N.N.

R: For the first time since August 1863 Martin SIMONSEN came to the port, with his wife who was a singer, after recitals in Hong Kong. Rather disappointingly the first two concerts “did not draw very large houses", but "they were warmly applauded by all who listened to the spirit-stirring sounds of Mr. SIMONSEN's violin and the melting tones of Mme SIMONSEN's voice", (NCH 13.5.1865).

8.5, 1865 (Mon)

PELHAM HARDWICKE: (= C. MATHEWS) "A Bachelor of Arts" (1853) T: Comic drama (2 acts)

J.M. MORTON: "The Two Bonny Castles" (1851)

T: Farce (1 act)

C: Amateurs of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps

Th: Lyceum Theatre (1)

R: According to both the Herald and the Record the pieces went off successfully (NCH 13.5.1865; SCR 22.5.1865).

17.5.1865 (Wedn)

Concert by Mr. and Mme Simonsen

Th: Lyceum Theatre (1)

R: In order to draw more people the admission charge at the Lyceum Theatre had been reduced to $3 with the result that a "full audience was present” (NCH 20.5.1865). No programmes of these concerts were published.

20.5.1865 (Sat)

Concert by Mr. and Mme Simonsen, with the Band of the 67th Regiment.

Programme:

"Kathleen Mavourneen" (song), **No not I** (song), C.A. de BERIOT: “Air varié”, N. PAGANINI: "Carnival of Venice", C.M. von WEBER: "Aufforderung zum Tanz”, 

'Monastery Bells", "Valse de concert" (song).

Th: Lyceum Theatre (1)

R: This was the last concert given by the SIMONSENS in Shanghai. According to the Shanghai Commercial Record it was a great success. Mme SIMONSEN sung the song "Kathleen Mavourneen" which "literally “brought down the house" (this must have been an exaggeration), after which she gave with great effect a very charming little skittish song “No not I'". Her husband repeated some of the pieces he had performed seven years earlier (October 1858); Paganini's "Carnival of Venice" (with which the critic was "not so much pleased") and the variations by De Bériot. In addition "he introduced one or two movements [into the Carnival of Venice? – JH] which we have
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989
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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)
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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
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