The Loftus Troupe are being generously supported, and there has probably never been @ company in Shanghai that has deserved it more. On Wednesday evening theLycoum Theatre was crowded from stalls to gallery, and the performance was of an excellence to justify in the fullest manner the applause that was accorded to it. The *Pirates' is a piece of extravagance to which it would be doing an injustice to say that it has a plot, Indeed there is barely sufficient idea running through it to hold it together at all, and judging it simply libretto it must be acknowledged that the situations and the dialogue often overpass the boundary which divides fun from folly. There is a point beyond which fun ceases to be fun; and one cannot deny that in many instances the fun of 'Pirates' is too far-fetched to be fanny. But few pieces could be adapted for bringing out the talents of the clever company now performing at the Lyceum Theatre. Itis a pleasure to listen the singing, and the Trompe are for-possessing members with the and powerful tenor of Mr. Oakland and the fine of Mr. Maas. The former gentleman is a very accomplished is excellent taste. His ady possesses a particularly soft out,
and pleasing contralto voice, and in other respects sings very creditably. Mr. Maas made a splendid Pirate King, and sang with excellent effect. The Major-General of Mr. C. J. Barber was a very clever piece of acting, though we predict that Mr. Barber's name will be more closely as-
The 12th regatta of the m was sailed on Saturday, the course being up river round a stake-boat moored half way up the seven miles reach, ing it on. the port hand in round return, finishing which was an imaginary one betwoon the Yuen: fah and the Pootung Church Spire. The weather was fine with a good breeze blowing from north, and when the flag was hauled down at 1.35 p.m., and a gun gave the signal to atart, the five yachts entered crossed the line as follows hm Undine scratch at 1 36 45 Fairy allowed 10min., 1 36 50 Louise scratch " 2 87 13 Ariadne allowed 16 4, y, 1 37 27 Thistle 4, oom 2 37 88 With the wind right aft, and a strong flood tide in their favour, the yachts, with balloon jibs boomed out, and sheots eased off to their full extent, sped rapidly through the shipping, and just above the jun) wore all ina cluster, the narrowness of the channel making it rather difficult to keep the projecting booms from fouling. Off Tung-ka-doo Dock, the Louise ran into first place, and kept it through the Arsenal Reach, but on entering the Pagoda Reach, the Undine passed her and led the fest, The Major was absent from his usual post, but his place was well filled by a yachts-mau of portly form, and genial presence, whose order, frequently given, to splice the main sheet, was obeyed with:
jacrity. Of the Arsenal, the Ariadne carried away her bowsprit, which. disabled. hor for a time, and spoiled her chance of winning the race, but she mall jib and kept on. With a fair wind, all the way to the stake boat, tha other yachta kept close together, until.the seven milo reach was entered, jibing and shifting over balloon jibs as occasion required, the Fairy with two jibs set, performing the manceuvre in a nissterly manner. "in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.