California Arts and Architecture, October 1938
Chinese music-dramatists from Shanghai present “An Evening in Cathay” in public and private performances in southern California at various times during the month. This group of eleven young Orientals have modern ideas of internationalism in art. The musicians are professors of the Ta-Tung National Music Research Institute and the Shao Chao Institute. They play on instruments used in the time of Confucius.North-China Herald, October 26, 1938
Tong Troupe Makes U.S. Debut with AcclaimThe New York Times, December 3, 1938, “Chinese Group Here to Give War Benefit; Bring 40 Trunks Full of Old Costumes”; photograph of Mrs. Ernest S. H. Tong, Virginia Chang and Ethel Chun in costume
Los Angeles, Oct. 20.
The Chinese group of society girls and expert musicians under the leadership of Mrs. Ernest Tong, wife of the secretary to General Wu Teh-chen, Governor of Kwangtung Province, presented their first American performance tonight in the fashionable Wilshire-Bell Theatre.
Their presentation, entitled, “An Evening in Cathay,” was well received by both the audience and press rites. The critics praised the Chinese girls and men for their fine dancing and music played on age-old Chinese instruments, many of which were viewed by Americans for the first time.
The performance was attended by a capacity crowd. The cream of local society was present, while Chinese representatives of the local Chinese community were also on hand to see the debut of this trouble of their countrymen and women.
The Tong group is staging performances for raising funds for war relief work in China.—United Press.
ABMAC Bulletin, January 1939
Projects and Activities of the Medical BureauBrooklyn Eagle (New York), January 22, 1939, “Chinese Artists to Give Entertainment for Refugees”
... B. The Chinese Cultural Theatrical Group will give a series of performances [“An Evening in Cathay”] at the Mercury Theatre in New York, February 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5th. The Premiere night is being sponsored by the China Society of America. The itinerary throughout the rest of the country will be sent to the various agencies when it is ready. The proceeds will be used for medical relief; 60% for the National Relief Commission, 20% for Madame Chiang’s War Orphan Relief and 20% for relief work in the Kwangtung Province.
Brooklyn Eagle (New York), January 29, 1939, “Chinese Players to Do Scene from ‘Lady Precious Stream’”
The New York Times, January 29, 1939
The New York February program is here.
Brooklyn Eagle (New York), February 2, 1939, review of “An Evening in Cathay”
The New York Times, February 2, 1939, Brooks Atkinson’s review of “An Evening in Cathy” plus photograph of Virginia Chang
North-China Herald, February 8, 1939
China Theatre Group Popular in U.S.Variety, February 8, 1939, review of “An Evening in Cathay”
New York, Feb. 1.
Seats at the Mercury Theatre were completely sold out for tonight’s opening of “An Evening in Cathay" which is being presented by a Chinese cultural theatre group from Shanghai to raise funds for Chinese war refugees and for medical aid in China.
Among the members of the group from Shanghai are Mrs. Ernest Tong, director, and Miss Ethel Chun and Miss Virginia Chang, assistant directors. Miss Chang’s mother, Mrs. L. M. Chang, chaperones the group. The musicians have been billed as concert artists or professors.
The performances, which will be held here every night for the remainder of the week, are being sponsored by the American Bureau of Medical Aid to China and the United Council for Civilian Relief in China. The China Society is acting as special sponsor for tonight’s opening performance.
After closing here on Sunday night, the group will tour the entire country. They have already given a number of performances on the west coast.—United Press.
The China Weekly Review, February 11, 1939
A Chinese musical production entitled, “An Evening in Cathay,” which was arranged by Mrs. Ernest Tong of Shanghai, is now playing at the Majestic Theater in New York. The performance was favorably reviewed by New York Newspaper critics. The cast is made up entirely of Shanghai artists and was enthusiastically received by a full house on the opening night, according to reports from New York.Life, February 20, 1939, “Golden Age of Chinese Drama Revived to Aid War-Stricken China of Today”; illustrated with four photographs of Chow Tse-ping, Kwan Hung-ping, Virginia Chang, Ethel Chun and Mrs. Ernest S. H. Tong
Ward-Belmont Hyphen (Nashville, Tennessee), February 22, 1939
Chinese Aristocrats Help War RefugeesMusical America, February 25, 1939
The Chinese Theatre Group, ten young men and women of the Chinese aristocracy, presented “An Evening in Cathay” Monday evening at the Shrine Temple. These artists are giving their time and paying their own expenses on this American tour to raise money to aid Chinese war refugees.
The artists, who have a name in China for interest in keeping alive the best of Chinese ancient arts, charmed their audience with their ancient musical instruments and their wide repertoire of solo and orchestral numbers. The “Devil Dance” was presented by one of the men of the cast; this was supposed to represent the King of the Ten Hells on the way to a festival. Mrs. Ernest Tong, the leader of the group, presented a scarf dance using a lovely old scarf fourteen yards long. Last on the program was the last act of “Lady Precious Stream,” a drama some two thousand years old.
The entire performance was marked by rich satins and brocades used in costumes and in settings. So completely was the genuine Chinese motive followed that the audience felt as though they had truly spent “An Evening in Cathay.”
The Clark University Fine Arts Course offered an extra program on Feb. 7, ‘An Evening in Cathay’, given tor the benefit of Chinese war sufferers, which brought forward a company of a dozen dancers and musicians, many ex-professors in Chinese colleges, whose work and equipment were wiped out by the bombardments. The exquisite costumes, Eastern subtleties of pantomime, and the strange music of the Classical Orchestra, were all most charming.Vogue, March 1, 1939, “An Evening in Cathay” performers, Mrs. Ernest Tong, Virginia Chang and Ethel Chun, photographed in color by Edward Steichen; article on page 115.
ABMAC Bulletin, March 6, 1939
AcknowledgementBrooklyn Eagle (New York), March 12, 1939, “Chinese Group Brings Classic Dances to the Academy of Music”
Miss Laura Jee of the Bank of China for her outstanding performance as narrator during the New York run of “An Evening in Cathay.”
Brooklyn Eagle (New York), March 15, 1939, “Chinese Cultural Theatre Group Presents ‘An Evening in Cathay’ for ‘Music and Dance’ Series”
The China Weekly Review, March 25, 1939, “China Drama Group Makes Broadway Hit” and photograph
The Newton Graphic (Massachusetts), April 14, 1939
Chinese Theatre Group at Jordan Hall This EveningThe China Weekly Review, October 14, 1939
At Jordan Hall this evening the Chinese Cultural Theatre Group will present “An Evening in Cathay” in the only Boston performance of this Chinese cast, the eleven members of which are members of the Chinese Social Register. The presentation, for the benefit of Chinese Relief, is sponsored by the Museum Aid Committee of the Children’s Museum of Jamaica Plain. The play is coached by the famous Mei Lan-fang, greatest of China’s actors, who made a sensational tour of the United States a few years ago. The cast offers a rare opportunity to indulge in the magnificence and fantastic lore of the Orient. ...
(Next post on Wednesday: A Few Details About James Zee-min Lee / Li Shimin 李時敏)
