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| − | The [[Young Men’s Institute]] ([[YMI]]) was an organization founded in Cape Town in the 1860s.
| + | #REDIRECT [[Young Men's Institute]] |
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| − | = The club and venue =
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| − | They initially met in the [[Mutual Hall]], but in 1868 the Cape Town Institute and Club Limited opened their own new building, the [[Cape Town Institute and Club]] in Burg Street, where the '''[[Institute Assembly Hall]]''' could be used for performances.
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| − | = Theatrical activities and entertainments=
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| − | The [[Young Men’s Institute]] hosted a popular [[entertainments]] (mainly "Literary" and "Musical") in Cape Town from 1867 to 1870.
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| − | == [[Young Men’s Institute Amateur Christy’s]]==
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| − | During the heyday of the [[minstrelsy]] period in South Africa (circa 1860-1870), the [[YMI]] club hosted a very active amateur dramatic society which was informally known as the [[Amateur Christy's]] or '''[[Young Men’s Institute Amateur Christy’s]]'''. It was one of three [[Christy's]] companies active in the city at the time. They initially performed in the [[Mutual Hall]], but when the [[Cape Town Institute and Club]] Limited opened their own new building in Burg Street on 15 July, 1868, they shifted their activities and used that as their normal venue.
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| − | Among the people involved appears to have been a [[Mr Toogood]], possibly one of the leading figures, [[E. Clifton]], [[Mr Trevenen]], [[Mr Vincent]] and [[Mr Charlton]].
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| − | Their performances consisted of [[minstrelsy]] shows and so-called [[Ethiopian burlesque]]s or [[Negro farces]]. Among the presentations mentioned were:
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| − | The "[[negro farces]]" included ''[[The Returned Volunteer from Abessynia]]''; ''[[The Young Scamp]]'' (White) and ''[[The United States Mail]]''.
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| − | In November 1868 they did ''[[The Nervous Cures]]'' and ''[[The United States Mail]]'' as a benefit for the Oddfellows Library and Reading Room.
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| − | In 1869 they were active once more, a highlight being their involvement in the great ''[[Juvenile Fancy Fair and Grand Fête]]'' organized in the Cape Gardens on 25 February by the [[Cape Town Institute and Club]] in support of the victims of the great fires in Uitenhage and Knysna.
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| − | == The [[Young Men's Institute and Club Dramatic Company]] ([[YMI]]) ==
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| − | This appears to have been founded by Mr. [[T. Brazier]] as a progression from the [[Young Men’s Institute Amateur Christy’s]], as the interest in Christy's style performances seemed to be on the decline. It would become the major company active in the Cape in 1870, and according to [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] (1980) the most important amateur company, besides the [[Garrison Players]], for the entire period 1863-1873.
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| − | ===Origins===
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| − | The origins of the new company apparently lie in a unique event where "members of the Legislative Assembly" gave a performance on 30 March, 1870, "for the purpose of aiding in the establishment of a dramatic club in Cape Town" ([[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]], 1980: pp. 274-5). They performed ''[[As Mad as a Hatter]]'' and ''[[The Irish Tutor]]''. The Brass orchestra of the 11th Regiment also played.
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| − | It seems this occasional parliamentary group may even have done other performances in the year, including a benefit performance for the widow and children of Mr [[T. Brazier]] in July, 1871.
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| − | ===Performances of the Club===
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| − | Unless otherwise stated, the company normally performed in the [[Institute Assembly Hall]], Cape Town. The company seemed particularly fond of the farces of Thomas J. Williams (1824-1874)[http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Williams%2C%20Thomas%20J%2E%20%28Thomas%20John%29%2C%201824%2D1874].
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| − | '''In 1870:'''
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| − | 30 March: Founding performance of the YMI, done by "members of the Legislative Assembly". Performed were: ''[[As Mad as a Hatter]]'' and ''[[The Irish Tutor'', while the Brass orchestra of the 11th Regiment also played.
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| − | 4 May: ''[[Living Too Fast]]'' (), ''[[The Silent System]]'' (Williams).
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| − | 11 May: No mention of the plays performed.
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| − | 24 May: ''[[Time Tries All]]'' (Courtney) and ''[[Found in a Four-Wheeler]]'' (Williams).
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| − | 28 May: Repeat of the same programme
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| − | 14 June: ''[[A Bachelor of Arts]]'' (Hardwicke), ''[[The Slave Ship]]'' (by an unnamed member of the club), ''[[A Terrible Tinker]]'' (Williams).
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| − | 18 June: A programme that includes a speech from ''[[Hamlet]]'' by [[T. Brazier]].
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| − | 29 June: ''[[The Wilfull Ward]]'' (Wooler) and ''[[A Terrible Tinker]]''.
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| − | 5 July: ''[[All that Glitters is not Gold]]'' (Morton) and scenes from ''[[King John]]'' (Shakespeare) performed by the company in the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]], Cape Town. The main performers were Webster, Brazier, Devere, Leffler, and various women including Mrs Brazier, with [[Mr Yorke]] as guest performer.
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| − | 9 July: A scene from ''[[Henry VIII]]'' (Shakespeare) and parts of acts 3 and 5 of ''[[Hamlet]]'' (Shakespeare) performed by the company in the [[St Aloysius Hall]], Cape Town. Once more the leading actors were Webster, Brazier, Devere, Leffler, with [[Mr Yorke]] and Mr Davenport as guest performers.
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| − | 26 July: ''[[A Charming Pair]]'' (Williams) and ''[[My Dress Boots]]''(Williams)
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| − | 25 August: ''[[The Jeweller of St James]]'' (Suter/De St Georges and De Leuven) and ''[[Matchmaking]]'' (Poole/)
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| − | 2 September: ''[[The Scholar]]'' (Buckstone) and ''[[The Waterman]]'' (). A benefit evening for [[Miss De Courtney]].
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| − | Also planned for September was the first performance of a new, specially written "Three-Act Drama" called ''[[Lisnamoe]]'', by "a young lady of Cape Town". It was to have been a farewell benefit for Brazier, but was not done because of his illness.
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| − | 19 December: A "Sick Benefit" was held for Brazier, with performances of ''[[The Scholar]]'' (Buckstone) and ''[[A Terrible Tinker]]'' (Williams).
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| − | '''In 1871:'''
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| − | 28 July: The "members of the Legislative Assembly" (undoubtedly in association with members of the Club) presented a benefit performance for the widow and children of Mr [[T. Brazier]], who had died in January. The plays performed were ''[[A Charming Pair]]'' and ''[[To Paris and Back for £5]]''. The latter play was apparently repeated in August, 1871.
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| − | = Sources =
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| − | W.J. Mahar. 1999. ''Behind the Burnt Cork Mask: Early Blackface Minstrelsy and Antebellum American Popular Culture''. Volume 442 of ''Music in American life''. University of Illinois Press, 1999
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| − | [[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. 272-3,
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| − | [[P.J. du Toit]], 1988. ''Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika''. Pretoria: Academica
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| − | [[Jill Fletcher]]. 1994. ''The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930''. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.
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| − | [JH/TH]
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| − | = Return to =
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| − | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]
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| − | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
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| − | Return to [[Main Page]]
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