į
368
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Comet Prince Pal
Ten started. Time, 2 min. 8 sec. MERRIMAC Cup-14 mile.
Black Slipper Highlander Rosslyn
...
and the two raced together three lengths ahead | THE MEMENTO CUP-1 mile. of Holstomer and The Broker. At the three- quarter post the order was unchanged, except that Holstomer had a slight advantage over The Broker. Shortly afterwards, however. Pineapple led Ariel slightly, but the latter regained command before Probst's was reached, Holstomer lying third, last of all being Com- promise and Merrimac. At the Monument Shiney Villiam made a rush, and took com. mand, then following Ariel, Holstomer, Ken- neth, Blackberry and The Broker. The field rushed into the straight in this order and then ensued such a race as Shanghai has never seen before, between Holstomer, The Broker, and Blackberry, Ariel hanging just behind. Down the straight the three leaders rushed, whip and spur all brought into requisition, but not an inch could be gained by either pony and they all ran past the post at a dead beat, Ariel com- ing in a length behind them. Time, 2 mins. 39 3-5th secs.
Eleven started. Time, 2 min. 433 sec. BIG SWEEP CUP-11⁄2 mile.
*
1
The GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE; value, Tls. 150; second pony Tls. 50; for China ponies; weight for inches as per scale; non- winners allowed 7lbs; entrance, Tls, 5. Twice round a course selected by the Stewards. Mr. Toeg's. Clyde, 10st. 8lbs. (Mr. Jones) Mr. Fernando's Auctioneer, 11st. llb.
(Mr. Midwood) Mr. Sturgis's President, 10st. 8lbs.
(Mr. Davies) 3 Only five ponies entered. President got away at the start and showed the way to the first jump, but Brigand was the first over, and immediately began to run away, as his custom is. President followed, and Auctioneer was running third. At the hurdle Brigand was going like a cyclone, and just as the hurdle was reached one of Cox's stirrups broke and he fell. now assumed the lead, having headed President, Clyde lying in third place, William the Conqueror being last. This order continued till Probst's was reached, when Clyde ran into second place. The field passed the stand in the same order, and continued till at the three-quarter mile post Clyde began to draw on Auctioneer, who maintained his lead till the last jump had been negotiated, when he got on level terms with Auctioneer, and a magnificent race ensued home, Clyde winning by a short head; President third, and William the Conqueror last, Just as the post was passed Jones was seen to reel in his seat and a few yards further on he fell, happily escaping unhurt. He was assisted to rise, and mounting his pony again, he entered the enclosure amidst vociferous cheering.
Auctioneer
Promise Mayberry
Sans Doute
Ten started. Time, 3 min. 201 sec. WELCOME STEEPLECHASE CUP-1 mile.
Auctioneer Brigand President Four started.
MAFO08' RACE-11 mile.
Sans Douto Splash
Samazar
Twelve started. Time, 2 min. 37 sec.
~~~
183
3
THE RIFLE BRIGADE'S “FRA DIAVOLO."
The Rifle Brigade burlesque," Fra Diavolo," is one of the merriest and most entertaining plays produced in Hongkong for a long time past. We do not say that the piece deserves to occupy a very high position in the theatrical world, nor would the author, Mr. J. H. Thresher. claim for it that position, but it is an exceedingly neat, humorous. and highly diverting burlesque and thoroughly merits the huge success it has met with, there being much in it that one can store up as a happy and striking reminiscence of the soldier-histrion's abilities. Mr. Thresher has availed himself only in a very slight degree of Mr. Byron's original “Fra Diavolo" and has. in a large measure confined his efforts to purely local incidents, which he has very skilfully and humorously embodied in the book; indeed at times there is a decided Gi bertian vein in his writing.
Not only is the libretto excellent und satisfying, but the music, which was arranged by Mr. W. D. Peachey, the band. master, is most suitable, being light and very catchy and in every way adapted to the piece itself. Many of the songs are quite new to Hongkong, having been taken from the latest London successes.
With the exception of two ladies-Mrs. Wrottesley and Miss Coxon-the whole of the artists are connected with the Rifle Brigade. Why they should have postponed a display of their acting capabilities until the eve of their departure from the colony we do not know, but it is a fact which is much to be regretted, see- ing that there is so much indisputable talent in the battalion. The dramatis personæ were:—
Lord Allcash
The CONSOLATION CUP; value, Tls. 150; second pony, Tls. 50; third pony. Tls. 25; for ponies that have run at this meeting and not won a race, and have been entered otherwise than in the Shanghai Stakes; weight for inches as per scale; entrance, Tls. 5. Once round. Messrs. Kanuck & Oswald's Roitelet, 11st. lb.
(Mr. C. R. Burkill) } Mr. Buxey's Comet, 11st. llb.
Fra Diavolo (Mr. Wuilleumier) 2 Mr. John Feel's Tocsin, 11st. 4lbs.
(Mr. Master) 3 Matteo Fourteen started. There was a straggling Lorenzo start, of which Tristan had the best. Loongfei Tristan bad fallen back, and Pilly Reppo Winkey and Ironside were together at the head of the field. At Probst's the order was Pilly Winkey, Tristan, Roitelet, the latter pony running into second place. At the Widow's Monument he had a length's lead. with Tocsin in second position as the bushes were neared, Comet lying third. This was the order down the straight, Roitelet winning by many lengths, but Comet running in second by a length, Tocsin being third. Time, 2 mins..] Carbiniers.. 38 secs.
OFF-DAY, SATURDAY, 7TH NOVEMBER.
THE EWO CUP-1 mile
Beuares
蟹
Competitor
Highlander
Nine started. Time, 1 min. 347 sec.
DEAD HEAT CUP-14 mile.
Realisation
Protector ... Placid Joe
Ten started: Time, 2 min. 47 seo.
At
{(an English) Capt. R. G. T.
Noblenian)
(Chief of Mr. J. H. Thres- brigands) her.
{(Landlord of "Jolly } Cri
Brigands")
Sergt. Waight.
{(Officer of Car-) Mr. C. Y. N.
biniers)
...(a brigand). ..(a brigaud).
Percival.
Pie. Laing.
Giacomo
........Pie. Payce. Sergt. of Carbiniers..
...Sergt. Ryan. Corpl. of Carliniers
Pte. Newinan. Francisco.....(a young fara er)...Corpl. Meddiman. (No 1001 Z.) ..Pte Pinching.
Antonio
Zerlina................ Lady Allcash
Villagers
Erigande
Jolly { (Larmaid of ... Miss Cosou
Brigands")
Mrs. Alfred Wrottesley. ergts. James, Collins, Corpis. Brooke, Julian, Meikle, a/cpl edwell, Izard, Vicary, tes, Ashwell, Anderson, Bailey. Carter, Dewey, Fdwards, Mathews, Ralph, Wagland, Wheatley, Boys, Armand,, Colquhoun, Gilbert, McEvoy, W. Morrish, P. Morrish, Francis.
There was a packed house both on Friday and Saturday to give the artists a hearty reception, amongst those present on Saturday night being H.E. the Acting Governor, Major-General Black. Immediately after the rise of the curtain the large audience seemed to wed themselves to the piece which had a swinging and jolly'
November 11, 1896.
course up to nearly midnight, and the treme dons plaudits and numerous demands fo showed how much the artists efforts were ap preciated.
comes to
The story opens at the Itaalian inn The Jolly Brigands" and turns upon the doings of Fra Diavolo and his two worthies, Beppo and Giacomo There is a reward out for the cap- ture of Fra Diavolo for attacking Lord and Lady Allcash, and everybody, including the pretty barmaid at the inn, who is also in a ma- trimonial chase, is anxious to put hands upon the chief of the brigands. Не the village in the guise of a gentle- man, makes love to the barmaid and even to Lady Allcash herself, creates much jealously, and then, tired of such sport, dons the brigand's clothes again, because he feels most at home in them, and after various experiences is caught together with his two associates: The first local allusion directly concerns military interests and is introduced in a slight mis- understanding between Lord and Lady Allcash respecting the robbery of her Ladyship's jewels- Lord A..
Madam, drive me not, For if you do, I'll show you soon what's what; I'll make things fly, just like the late typhoon Smashed up the matsheds over at Kowloon And here, perhaps, I may be allowed to say Apropos of nothing in the play,
Those Kowloon matsheds are a perfect bane; They're hot and stuffy and let in the rain; And oh ! those musical and parched mosquitoes When they are hungry, don't they fairly
eat us.
The British soldier should have bricks and
mortar,
Our Aryan brother has them, then we ought'er,
Soon afterwards Giacomo and Beppo have a chance of sarcastically treating the soldier's life 8.9 and they say, in reply to an injunction to and enlist "You'll have extensive pay.” Giac.-And get boiled beef for dinner every day. A soldier's life ain't quite all beer and
skittles,
There's too much guard and not enough.o'
vittles.
Beppo.-Me be a soldier-not much. I couldn't
stick it.
What price the slow march in defaulters'
piquet,
Instruction drill and then fatigues,
though
i
We don't mind working for the good ola
P. and O.;
I rather fancy we should greatly like To see the coolies go again on strike. Beppo.-A dib a day, more beer than we can
carry
Is better than parade in the Happy Valley. If that were all they did I would enlist.. Of course the Sanitary Board could not be left alone and the following dialogue between Lord and Lady Allcash tickled the audience. immensely.
Lord A. Talking of boards, there's one-the
Sanitary. Lady A-What do they do? Lord A.-
A motion.
Lady A
Lord A.
Well, they sometimes carry
Is that all?
Well, not much more; Tho' lately, I've been told they went to
law-
Something about the moving of a cock-
loft;
But there they got their corners fairly
knocked-off.
Lady A.-Poor Mr. Cooper! what a knock-out
blow!
Towards the close Fra Diavolo, is pounced upon by all the villagers and this gives him an opportunity for thus expressing his surprise– Diav.-Well, landlord; may I beg an explana
tion
*
Of this great rising of the population P Perhaps another statue has been found After nine years a-lying underground That wants unveiling; is it the Duke,
Connaught?
I fear we cannot help him tho we ought. Has Chater found his long-lost CMG Or is the new club opened by the sea We must not forget to mention dialogue between Lord Alleash an reading from the newspapers, which the public is indebted to a popular
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