RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1979 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2801w5938 The Maryknoll Mission, Hong Kong 1941-46 57 we saw a number of flower pots, a pile of lumps of clay, a few boards, a couple of ramshackle old beds which had long outlived their usefulness, a couple of large water jars and odds and ends of debris, together with a small portion of the family (or was it the gardener's) wash still hanging on a line. One window gave us a little light, but no air, the only air coming in through the crack between the door and the wall. Into this space, say sixteen by eighteen (a generous estimate) we, some thirty-four prisoners of war, were thrust, the door closed and a guard on duty outside. Taking further stock of our new quarters in the gathering dusk, for by now the sun had sunk behind our hill, we found we were on a concrete floor, at least that part which was not covered with debris. Kicking some of this aside we began to see if we could find enough space in which at least to lie down for the night, as it was now rapidly getting dark. We were still tied up and were given to understand that if we got loose, we would be shot, so we tried to sit or lie down on the concrete floor, but tied as we were, with our hands behind our backs and two and three and four tied together on one rope, it was almost impossible to maintain any position for more than a few minutes. If one of a group sat down, the rest perforce had to follow suit. For a time we tried sitting back to back in order to get some rest, but even that was too tiring. As remarked above, Father Szeliga and Michael were not tied, and they did yeoman service for us in picking up the debris and piling it in corners and under the two rickety beds. Every once in a while the guard would pass by and peek in through the crack. When he did so everyone was as quiet as a mouse for we were also given to understand that we were to make no noise. Just before dark our door opened a little and a sentry called for three of us to come out. The ones nearest the door were Fathers Tackney, Knotek and O'Connell. At first we thought our time had come, but when the purpose was revealed, namely, to carry a few sand bags, we breathed easier. Finally we lay or sat down in order to try to get some sleep. Outside by this time there was almost an unnatural stillness, the booming of guns had stopped and we wondered what was happening. However, stretched out on the floor in almost every conceivable pose, we could not get to sleep, and in desperation we sought means to get loose from our bonds, come what may. One had already succeeded in loosening his own hands ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 231 music, a dazzling transformation scene, and a rollicking harlequinade." It enlisted a great many people for the leads, chorus and orchestra. Not everyone in Hong Kong was happy about pantomimes. In 1891 in the "Beauty and the Beast" "the indiscreet censure lately passed by the Bishop upon the Pantomime was noticed in a verse or so--and a comical but somewhat misplaced representative of his Lordship appeared in the Harlequinade". The A.D.C. tried its hand at light opera in 1894 with the performance of Gilbert and Clay's "Princess Toto". It was described, however, as "vapid and unattractive". The Choral Society had for some years been presenting light operas and had already given "Iolanthe" and "The Gondoliers". In subsequent years the A.D.C. did "Trial by Jury", "Yeomen of the Guard", "His Excellency", and "The Gondoliers". During this same period, along with the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, other currently popular musical plays were staged. THE GENIUS OF MR. SINCLAIR With more frequent visits of professional companies, the A.D.C. increasingly found it difficult to sustain interest and attendance. This resulted in financial losses and threatened the future of the Amateurs. A new era arrived when Mr. Walter Sinclair assumed direction of A.D.C. productions in 1912. Sinclair was imaginative and venturesome and mounted productions that were different from those presented by the travelling companies. The A.D.C. took on new life. Among Sinclair's innovations was his introduction to Hong Kong of the playwright Lord Dunsany. In 1921 he presented an evening's programme of four Dunsany plays. One of these was "The Compromise of the King of the Golden Isle". It was the play's world premiere. The setting was Chinese. During the interval preceding it, to set the mood, a group of Chinese amateur musicians played Chinese music. It was particularly noted that the music "was not unpleasing, for people who have heard only the cymbals and tom-toms may find music in the sweetness of some of the native banjos and fiddles". ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 1892/93 ― 1893/94 247 "Honour Bound" (W. S. Gilbert and Sydney Grundy, 1880) 12, 15 Nov. 1892 "On Bail" a farce (W. S. Gilbert, 1877) 26, 28, 30 Dec. 1893, 3, 6, 9, 16, 24 Jan. 1894 "Princess Toto" (W. S. Gilbert and Clay, 1876) 1894/95 30 Jan. 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 18, 23 Feb. 1895 "Robinson Crusoe" Pantomime: 17, 20, 24 Apr. 1895 "The Magistrate" (A. W. Pinero, 1885) 1895/96 26, 28 Dec. 1895 "Dandy Dick" (A. W. Pinero, 1887) 8, 10, 20 Feb. 1896 1888) 1896/97 "Trial by Jury” (Gilbert and Sullivan, 1888) 19, 21 Dec. 1896 — “Cups and Saucers" (G. Grossmith, 1878) given in 1886. "Charley's Aunt" (Brandon Thomas, 1892) 25 Feb. 1897 — "Les Cloches de Carneville" (H. B. Farnie and R. Reece, 1878) 1897/98 19 Nov. 1897 1890) F 1898/99 19, 21 Feb. 1898 — "A Pair of Spectacles" (Sidney Grundy, 1890) "The Duchess of Bayswater and Co." comedietta (A. M. Heathcote, 1888) "A Pantomime Rehearsal" (C. Clay, 1891) 17, 19 Nov. 1898 — “Our Bitterest Foe" (G. C. Herbst, 1874) "Sugar and Cream" comedietta (J. P. Hurst, 1883) "The Steeple Chase" (J. M. Morton, 1865) given in 1874. ― 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 18 Jan., 1, 3 Feb. 1899 pantomime "The Yellow Dwarf, or Harlequin the Knave of Hearts" 1899/1900 4, 6 Nov. 1899 "The Magistrate" (A. W. Pinero, 1885) given in 1895. 12, 13 Dec. 1899 "The Mother In Law" farcical comedy (G. R. Sims, 1881) JL 12, 15, 17, 24, 26 Feb. 1900 "Yeoman of the Guard" (Gilbert and Sullivan, 1888) 1900/01 24 Nov. 3 Dec. 1900— 1901/02 1902/03 — ― "Our Flat" (Mrs. M. Musgrove, 1889) 15, 19 Nov. 1901 “Trying It On” farce (W. Brough) "Plantation Revels" minstrel variety 13, 14, 15 Nov. 1902 "Liberty Hall" drama (R. C. Carton, 1892) ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g 222 APPENDIX - THE LAST-NIGHT PARTY IN PARO Programme: 1. Introduction and limericks - Robert Nield 2. Extract from 'HMS Pinafore' - Jenny Wu and Rupert McCowan 3. Some Welsh songs - Ian and Jean Wilson 4. Amazing conjuring tricks - Charles Slater 5. Extract from 'The Yeomen of the Guard' - Jenny Wu and Robert Nield 6. Some songs from Old Jamaica - Ian Wilson 7. 'McPherson's Lament' - Chris Coghlan 8. 'The Wild Rover' - Ian Edwards 9. Another extract from 'HMS Pinafore' - Jenny Wu and Rupert McCowan 10. 'Albert and the Lion' - Robert Nield 11. Some North Country culture - Marlene Courbert 12. The Police Song - Russell Harding ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g 226 What, always? Yes, always! What, always?? Well, not very often! Then give three cheers ... 3 FROM "THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD" (with more apologies to G&S) I have a song to sing-o Sing me your song-o 27 of us going by minibus to see the sights of Bhutan We arrived by a little plane in Paro Got into the buses and off we go What we're going to see we did not know But that didn't seem to matter Bhutan, Bhutan. How we love thee, lovely country Until we return our hearts will burn And we'll sigh for the love of this country I have a song to sing-o Sing me your song-o I tried to photograph, just for a laugh, all the sights of Bhutan I've got a camera, filters, film and all And trying them all I was having a ball But throughout this trip there has been a doubt I fear that none of them will come out And so I will come to you, cap in hand And ask you if you'll be willing to lend The shots that you were going to send To all your friends and relations Bhutan, Bhutan... ================================================================================