The decision of the Amateur Dramatic Club to give an additional performance of their very successful production "Lilac Time" is a wise one, for though all the performances last week were played to practically full houses, there must be still many people in Shanghai who will [be anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing probably the greatest A.D.C. success in a couple of decades. Only one other production is comparable with it, and that- is "Tovarisch." Much of the success of the show wag due to the excellent production of Mr. Valin, the well-known Russian actor, who is to be congratulated on the manner in which, he handled a large cast and chorus and the very fine training he gave them, the very efficient dressing by Mrs. K. E. Newman, and the stage settings of Messrs. C. S. Speyer and Domracheff, though not a little credit must go to the actors and actresses who so faithfully followed the wishes of the producer. The decision of the committee of the A.D.C. to stage a musical play was a wise one, and it is to be hoped that they will not hesitate to do so again when the occasion seems propitious. Such productions form a welcome change from the ordinary fare which is generally produced. They are, it is apparent, much more expensive to put on, and the return must consequently be considerably less, but the yearly programmes of the A.D.C. can never be fully rounded out without the inclusion of at least one musical production each season, There is still a number of delightful musical comedies and light operas which the A.D.C. has never attempted, and other which they have, and "which are well worth reproduction. The Club which in years past has suffered from a paucity of musical talent would seem {o be entering upon another of those cycles in which it is rather more plentiful, and it would seem to be a wise policy to avail of it to the fullest. The passing years have clearly shown that the menace to the legitimate stage, which it was believed existed in the "talkies," has proved to be nothing more than a bogey which has failed to materialize. If anything, the stage is stronger now than ever before. It has proved to be the case in London and New York, and is certainly proving the same thing in Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.