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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG AMATEUR DRAMATIC | Lord Beauclere...
CLUB.-
PERFORMANCE AT THE THEATRE ROYAL,
A
On Saturday evening, 19th Feb., the Amateur Dramatic Club presented a double bill at the Theatre Royal, the opening piece being "The Du- chess of Bayswater and Co.," and the second Pantomime Rehearsal." There was a very full house and the large audience was kept in a state of almost incessant laughter throughout the whole evening. The Club in both pieces scored a distinct success and all who participated in any way in the production are entitled to hearty congratulations.
"The Duchess of Bayswater and Co." is a comedietta in one act, and the cast was as follows:-
Sir Jeremy Joles
Caryl Stubbs
Duke of Bayswater
Jenkyus
Kathleen Joles...
Duchess of Bayswater
Mr. V. A. Cæsar-
Hawkins.
Lient. Bagnall
Wild, R. E. Mr. G. Balloch. Mr. H. W. Looker.
Mrs. Bagnall
Wild.
Mrs. V. A. Cesar.
Hawkins. Sir Jeremy Joles is a confirmed and petulent valetudinarian with a lovely daughter, Kathleen Joles. An attachment exists between this young lady and Caryl Stubbs, the son of a man who had made a large fortune in tinued meats. The aristocratic prejudices of Sir Jeremy constitute an obstacle to a union between his daughter and a man whose fortune was derived from trade. But in the health resort where they are staying the young Duke of Bayswater and his mother, the Duchess, make their appear ance. The Duchess, having been left by the late Duke in straightened. circumstances with a young family to provide for, has devoted her attention to trade and brought up her family in the same pursuit, for which the young Duke has developed a special aptitude. Here then is a chance for Miss Joles and young Stubbs. Let Sir Jeremy be introduced to the Duke and Duchess and convinced that trade is
quite aristocratic and it is anticipated that his objections to the tinned meat man may be overcome. The scheme is carried into execution with complete success. The old gentleman accepts the introduction effusively, but his nerves are soon racked by the boisterous energy with which the Duke presses on his attention the sanitary clothing of the firm, their improved springs for his Bath chair, and their improved everything, and in the end he is content to accept Caryl Stubbs as his son-in-law, in pre- ference to the Duke, who had made love to Kathleen in a strictly business like way and pro- posed a "partnership."
Mrs. Bagnall-Wild gave a charming re- presentation of the character of Kathleen Joles,
and Mrs. Cæsar-Hawkins looked and acted the
part of the Duchess to the life. Mr. V. A. Caesar Hawkins was completely successful as Sir Jeremy Joles, a part which calls for genuine acting. Lieut. Baguall- Wild, R.E., gave a good representation of the lover, Caryl Stubbs, and never allowed the part to become insipid, as lovers' parts so often do. Mr. G. Balloch played the part of the Duke of Bayswater with the necessary energy and rattled off the recom- mendations of his firm's wares volubility. Mr. Looker was also satisfactory with great in the small part of Jenkyns, Sir Jeremy's attendant. The piece was excellently staged, the acting uniformly good, and the audience testified its appreciation by hearty applause.
It
The second piece, "A Pantomine Rehearsal, is almost sufficiently explained by its name. is pure fun from beginning to end, relieved by one or two delightful dances, arranged, it is -hardly necessary to say, by Mr. G. A. Caldwell.
The cast was as follows:- Jack Deedes
Sir Charles Grandison Lord Arthur Pomeroy
Capt. Tom Robinson
•
Mr. Deville, Q. C. ...
Mr. Geo. Ivories The O'Opersootik
Mr. C. H. Grace Mr. G. Balloch
Mr. G. A. Cald-
well
Surg. Capt. Wat-
A.M.S.
son,
Lieut. Nicholas,
R.N.
Mr. G. Grimble Mr. C. Lewis-Man-
ning, R. N.
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Mr. St. John Plaice Mr. Power Fuller
Tomkims
Hon. Plunkett Gapp.. Lady Victoria Gapp...
Lady Margie Zine Gapp...
Miss Violet Eaton-Belgrave Miss Lily Eaton-Belgrave Miss May Russell Portman Miss Rose Russell Portman
Mr. P. Brewitt Mr. E. Deacon Mr. R. W. Edwards
R.N.
Mr. G. F. Noble Mr. H. W. Bird Miss d'Almada
e Castro Miss d'Almada dos
Remedios
Mrs. Grace Miss Murray Bain
Miss d'Arcy An. Mrs. Francis Clark
derson Miss Evelyn Russell-Portman Mrs. Geo. Grimble Miss Bowen Robinson Miss Mabel Seth Miss Bonham Caine... Miss Aitken Lady Muriel Beauclerc Mrs. Brewitt
[February 26, 1898. there was a marked improvement in both pieses on the repetition.
The orchestra of the Hongkong Philharmonic Society, under the leadership of Mr. G. P. Lam- mort, played solections during the intervals.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held at the offices on Thursday afternoon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical Officer) pre- May (Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. F. sided and there were also present Hon., F.. H.
Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. N. J. Ede, Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
Tho minutes of the last meeting were read and comfirmed.
THE MILK SUPPLY OF THE COLONY,
The following report by the Colonial Veterin ary Surgeon was laid on the table :
Government Offices.
31st January Board that I should furnish them with a report Sir, In accordance with the request of the upon the milk supply of the colony “and more particularly as regards what becomes of the milk which is collected in the cow sheds owned by Chinese and Indians," I have the bonour to forward the following:
Jack Deedes having been requested to write a pantomime for performance by an amateur Company has selected- The Babes in the Wood as the subject, and the piece is under rehearsal, the anthor being driven almost frantic by the absurd inep titude of most of the actors. The dialogue is bright and witty and the Races and recent law cases have suggested numerous topical allusions. The parts of the Robbers are allotted to Lord Arthur Pomeroy and Capt. Tom Robinson, and the appearance of these gentlemen on the stage, particularly Mr. Caldwell, was invariably the
The information which I supply to the Board signal for an outburst of merriment. Mr. G. F. has been carefully gathered during the current Noble made
month and afterwards checked and I think an imposing looking footman. Sir Charles Grandison was the scene. painter,
be relied upon. (See list attached), who wanted also to be an actor, and Mr. Ivories presided at the piano with his customary ability. The other male characters appeared only in the chorus or as
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supers.
The musical items were as follows:-. OpeningChorus, from "The Circus(¡irl" (introduced) Duet,
Demons Chorus
"Tweedledum and Tweedledee" (intro Duet,... the "i iplomatic Fairies" Miss Violet and duced) Miss Lily and Lord Arthur
Song,... "A Simple Piece of String" (introduced)
Miss May
Duet, "Doddle Oddle," Miss Violet and Miss Evelyn Lady Muriel Song, "The Hoo Poo Bird".
Miss Lily Chorus and Solo, "Grand Soldiers' March," from "Erminie" (introduced) Amongst the ladies we have to welcome the appearance of Mrs. Grace, who will prove a valu- able addition to the uenibership of the Amateur Dramatic Club, possessing as she does marked ability as an actress and a pleasing. voice. The duet between Mrs. Grace and Mrs. Grimble was evening and secured a very pressing encore, one of the specially successful items of the but a repetition was not vouchsafed. Another great success was Mrs. Brewitt's song "A simple piece of string," which was of course encored, as were also the dust and dance “ Tweedledum and and the solo by Miss Bain, which Tweedledee" by Miss Bain and Mr. Caldwell rendered with great sweetness. by Mrs. Clark and
Mrs. Grace
Was
The dust was also
pleasingly rendered. Miss Aitken, Miss Mabel Seth, Miss d'Almada e Castro, and Miss limelight effects, which was applauded to the d'Almada dos Remedios gave a skirt dance with echo and had to be repeated, and at a later stage the same young ladies gave what was termed a colours, and which also had to be repeated. It folly dance," in which they appeared in racing would be impossible to praise too highly the grace and skill displayed iu these dances, and the young ladies and Mr. Caldwell are to be given by Miss d'Arcy Anderson. The piece heartily congratulated. A skirt dance was also
the solo being taken by Mr. Balloch. was brought to a close by the Soldier's March,
It is not often that the Theatre Royal re- sounds with more hearty laughter than that evoked by "a Pautomime Rehearsal," and the interest was well sustained to the end, but it must be admitted that here and there were little bits of "business" intended to be comic which failed to "catch on "aud rather detracted from than added to the general sprightliness of the production. Where the general level of excel- lence was so high it would be angracions. to draw special attention to the few weak points, The performance was repeated on Monday and, excellent as was the first representation
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may
collected I should say it would be very unwise to use any of it unless previously boiled, and
From the inanner in which all this milk is
even then I should hesitate to do so because of the risk to health that might arise from the consumption of such fluid.
It was at first my intention when submit- ting this report to also attach a list of the bacteriological (not chemical) analysis of the European and native, but as this would involve sample of milk taken from each place, both
a considerable amount of time and trouble I have now decided to send this in at once and to later date. try to work out the bacteriological analysis at a
Upon reference to the attached list it will be buying milk from these native cow-sheds, one seen that all three of the dairy farms have been
of them being indirectly supplied with milk from Canton and in future their customers would do well if in protection of their own interests they were to insist upon a guarantee from the dairy supplying them that they had altogether ceused from purchasing any milk whatever from outside sources.
Should any consumer of milk hare doubts as to the purity of their supply an application to me through you would receive strict attention and investigation. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
C. VIVIAN LADDS, The Secretary, Sanitary Board. [The list referred to in the letter gave the names of the native milk sellers and their prin- cipal customers.]
The following minutes were attached to the report:-
tion is to caution the public against using all
Mr. EDE-I take it that the object of publica
milk, and I suggest that the Board should siderable quantity of unwholesome milk is being forthwith make it publicly known that a con- sold and that consumers having doubts as to the purity of their supply may apply to the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, who will investi- itself. I do not think we can write to the three gate. The public can itself take steps to protect
dairy farms only without leaving ourselves open to an accusation of partiality. When the information is made known as I suggest above the dairy farms can if they please apply to the Sanitary Board for anything they wish to know as to the supply from native sources. I see no objections to informing the naval and military authorities confidentially of the state of things.
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH-I
think the best course would be for the secretary to write to the dairy companies in the sense of the President's minute of the 3rd inst. and also to the naval and military authorities, and if after an interval of a month the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon reports that no change has been made
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