Baby Benson

Baby Benson (fl. 1870s) was a celebrated child performer.

Biography
A product of the 19th interest in child actors, she was a "child phenomenon" from the USA, who made a name for herself, inter alia performing to some acclaim at the Adelphi Theatre in London in about 1877.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Having apparently gone on an international tour, she appeared in a production of Beauty and the Beast in The Athenaeum Theatre, Cape Town for a short season (22 April to 4 May 1878. Billed as the Baby Benson Pantomime, it was directed by Monsieur Frigerio, using a libretto in part written by St John Knight. The production was done in association with the local Dramatic Recital Society.

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