SCOUTS' SUCCESS.
COMING OF AGE CONCERT AT THEATRE ROYAL.

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   The Hongkong Boy Scouts Association can point to many achievements during their history of 21 years, but they recorded one of their biggest successes on Saturday night at the Theatre Royal, when they celebrated their coming of age with a concert and display.
   They delighted a large audience with a varied and pleasing programme, which also went to show, what a large amount of youthful talent exists in the Colony.
The programme opened with an enjoyable musical selection by the band of H.M.S. Cornwall, and then the 1st H.K. Sea Scouts took the footlights and put the audience in excellent humour with some particularly well sung Shanties. The Rev. N.V.Halward scored an individual success as the Shantyman. The Halliad Shanties, "Blow the man down" and "Boney was a warrior" were the first two numbers and were succeeded by Capstan Shanties, including "Shenandoah" and "Bound for the Rio Grande." Then entered four scouts to give a really creditable exhibition of the Hornpipe, and the troop sang a concerted number "Shiver my Timbers," which was made all the more realistic by some clever lighting effects.

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The Wolf Cubs.

   After this, the Wolf Cubs took the boards, and opened their display with the Grand Howl, which was done in such a business like manner that the audience was almost startled. The next scene was greeted with a very enthusiastic round of applause. "Jimmy," the little news vendor, walked on to the stage, closely followed by two suspicious looking characters. "How much money have you rot"?  asked one, and with that Jimmy was set upon and rather badly handled by his assailants. Speedy help, however, was at hand, for in bounded Four Wolf Cubs, quickly sized up the situation and literally flew at Jimmy's aggressors. Two succeeded in overmastering them, and the other cubs set to work to render first aid to Jimmy, whose head had suffered rather badly in the conflict. With surprising ease and dexterity, they bound up the wound, and then between them carried him away from the scene of the assault. In the meantime, the other Cubs had fairly subdued the young assailants, and after bringing them sharply to task for their behaviour asked, "Why don't you join the Wolf Cubs." "Excellent idea," was the reply, an expression which was heartily endorsed by the whole audience, and away were taken the young converts, to learn the first principles of brotherhood which form the basis of the Wolf Cub and Scout movements. This little scene was very cleverly portrayed, and was easily one of the best pieces of entertainment throughout the evening.
   Jungle dances (very weird and wonderful affairs) were succeeded by the making of the Union Jack, and then the audience were treated to one of the best laughs of the evening, when the Peak Pack staged a boxing content. Correctly introduced by the M.C., (he was the time keeper, referee and judge, rolled into one), young Bruiser Sheldon and Pete Morris, complete with business like gloves, faced each other in the ring to battle for the Mosquito weight title. Both scored prettily in the first two rounds, but in the third, they hit each other simultaneously, and both took the count, after a rousing contest, which kept the audience in roars of laughter.

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Japanese Fencing.

   Rather more serious, but none the less entertaining was the display of Japanese Fencing given by members of the Hongkong Japanese Boy Scouts Association. Incidentally, it was not a halfhearted affair, but the lads went for each other with bamboo rods as though it was a fight to the death, and each contestant took some blows on their head and body armour. It was an Interesting display and especially well staged.
   The 2nd Kowloon Company of Girl Guides, was responsible for presenting a pretty and realistic campfire scene, their effort being well received. Then followed a Boy Scout variety display, which opened with the Maori War Cry of welcome by the "Roving Fifth" troop, some clever folk dancing by the St. Andrew's troop, Indian Club swinging by A.S.M. C.Dragon, St. Joseph's College troop and a Chinese action song by the Wah Yan College troop.
One of the biggest "hits" of the evening, however, was the appearance of a "nigger" boy, impersonating the famous Al Jolson, as he appeared in the "Singing Fool," and he gave a truly remarkable imitation of the actor singing his popular number "Sonny Boy". The young scout succeeded in putting just that right inflection into his voice and he scored a great success.

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"Robin Hood."

   Nigger Minstrels followed and helped to maintain the high standard of excellence by entertaining the audience to several of the lastest American hits, and after the interval, the band of H.M.S. Cornwall gave a further selection, prior to the stage being set for the presentation of the costume play "Robin Hood."
   This story of the famous character of Old England is written by R.A.Davenport, and the scouts gave it admirable treatment. There was not a weak spot in the long list of characters, and particularly creditable were the performances of "Robin Hood" (E.Zimmern), Will Scarlet (W.C.Low), King Richard (N.V.Halward) and the three trusted members of Robin Hood's band of followers, Long Tom (Edward Hunt), Little John (J.E.Richardson) and Friar Tuck (D.Black).
   The audience showed their delight and appreciation of such a clever performance in no uncertain manner, and the scouts had to take repeated curtain calls.
   The proceeds of the entertainment are to be devoted to the Saiwan Bay Camp Fund, and it is to be hoped that the cause will benefit to some considerable extent.

   The complete cast of Robin Hood was as follows:- Robin Hood, leader of a band of Outlaws, E.Zimmern; Will Scarlet, His Lieutenant W.C.Low; Long Tom, Little John, Friar Tuck, Members of the Band, Edward Hunt, J.E.Richardson, D.Black; Allen a Dale, A young Saxon, dispossessed by the Normans, C.G.H.Christian; King Richard (In Act 1 disguised - The Stranger), N.V.Halward; Sir Hugh de Bracey, Sheriff of Nottingham, W.A.Mooney; The Abbolt of Newark, W.H.Smith; Martin, a treacherous member of the band of outlaws, W.J.Manuel; Edward Godwin, two young outlaws, C.Dragon, E.A.Harneik; An Old Man, A.Elms; An Old Woman, Chan Fook Hung; The Priest of St. Giles, Wong Wing Cheong; Two Judges, Tam Tak Leung, Lee Hau Kwong; Midland Champion, Francis Zimmern.
   Outlaws and Guards:- Ip Chee Chuen, Yeung Tsun Chung, A.Zimmern, F.Brown, Lam Yeung Hee, Chan Fook Hong, Tam Kam Pui, Li Kam Lim, J.Youngsaye, Yeung Tsung Luk, A.Hunt, H.Hunt, Nz Tsai Tak, Yu Wing Lun, Tsang Fook, D.Hunt.