Difference between revisions of "Olga Racster"

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Also known as the [[Baroness de Wagstaffe]] and [[Treble Violl]]. Writer and critic. She had studied at the Brussels Conservatoire, and had been a contributor to Grove’s ''Dictionary of Music''. Came to South Africa from London in 1910 for her health, and became the dramatic and music critic for The [[Cape Times]] under the nom de plume [[Treble Violl]].  Later moved to Johannesburg to review films for The [[Rand Daily Mail]]. In collaboration with [[Jessica Grove]] [[Jessica Grave]] she wrote two one-act plays. ''[[War]]'' was published by the Cape Times Limited in 1914, while ''[[From German West]]'' was written in 1916. She is best known for her history of drama in the Cape entitled ''Curtain Up!'' (Cape Town: Juta and Company, 1951) and the article on the ''Performing Arts in South Africa'' in the Department of Information’s South African Yearbook [**?].(Swan Press, 19**-19**)  
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(‑ 1955) Also known as the [[Baroness de Wagstaffe]] and using the pseudonym of [[Treble Violl]]. Novelist, playwright and journalist specializing in literary and musical criticism.
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Born in Russia to a father who had an estate on the Volga during the days of the Romanoff autocracy. She studied the violin in Brussels and Paris, toured America and England, and then turned to journalism in London,  specializing in music criticism. Came to South Africa from London in 1910 for her health, and became the dramatic and music critic for The [[Cape Times]] under the nom de plume [[Treble Violl]].  Later moved to Johannesburg to review films for The [[Rand Daily Mail]].
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besides having been a contributor to Grove’s ''Dictionary of Music'', her historical and biographical work includes  ''Sylphide: The Story of a Great Ballerina'' (1947), a study entitled ''Dr James Barry: Her Secret Story'' (1932), ''Curtain Up! The Story of Cape Theatre]'' (Cape Town: [[Juta and Company]], 1951) and the article on the ''Performing Arts in South Africa'' in the Department of Information’s ''South African Yearbook'' [**?].(Swan Press, 19**-19**)  
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Besides two novels (''The Phases of Felicity'' ,1916, with [[Jessica Grove]]; and ''The Heavenly Maid'', 1928), her creative work includes two one-act plays written in collaboration with [[Jessica Grove]] (''[[War]]'', published by the Cape Times Limited in 1914,  and ''[[From German West]]'',  1916). She also wrote two other plays - a biographical play called ''[[Dr James Barry]]'' and a cockney comedy entitled ''[[Poor 'em]]'', both of which were produced abroad. 
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As the [[Baroness de Wagstaffe]] she was one of the London Directors of the Mah Jongg,  and she and  [[Jessica Grove]] also helped restore the grave of Dr James Barry in Kensall Green, London.
  
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As the [[Baroness de Wagstaffe]] she and [[Jessica Grave]] also helped restore the grave of Dr James Barry in Kensall Green, London.
 
  
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(Russia ‑ 1955) (Baroness de Wagstaffe; pseudonym 'Treble Viol'). Novelist, playwright and journalist specializing in literary and musical criticism. Racster was a talented Russian-born musician and author whose father had an estate on the Volga during the days of the Romanoff autocracy. Racster studied the violin in Brussels and Paris. She toured America and England, before turning to journalism in London where she specialized in music criticism. She wrote reviews on drama and music in the Cape Times during the early years of the Twentieth Century. She is the co-author of a novel entitled The Phases of Felicity (1916, with Jessica Grove), as well as the author of a novel entitled The Heavenly Maid (1928). Racster also wrote Sylphide:Story of a Great Ballerina (1947), as well as a study entitled Dr James Barry: Her Secret Story (1932). Racster is the author of a play entitled Dr James Barry, as well as a cockney comedy entitled Poor 'em, both of which became overseas stage productions. She also published a historical study of Cape drama entitled Curtain Up! The Story of Cape Theatre (1951).
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Revision as of 08:12, 16 January 2013

(‑ 1955) Also known as the Baroness de Wagstaffe and using the pseudonym of Treble Violl. Novelist, playwright and journalist specializing in literary and musical criticism.

Born in Russia to a father who had an estate on the Volga during the days of the Romanoff autocracy. She studied the violin in Brussels and Paris, toured America and England, and then turned to journalism in London, specializing in music criticism. Came to South Africa from London in 1910 for her health, and became the dramatic and music critic for The Cape Times under the nom de plume Treble Violl. Later moved to Johannesburg to review films for The Rand Daily Mail.

besides having been a contributor to Grove’s Dictionary of Music, her historical and biographical work includes Sylphide: The Story of a Great Ballerina (1947), a study entitled Dr James Barry: Her Secret Story (1932), Curtain Up! The Story of Cape Theatre] (Cape Town: Juta and Company, 1951) and the article on the Performing Arts in South Africa in the Department of Information’s South African Yearbook [**?].(Swan Press, 19**-19**)

Besides two novels (The Phases of Felicity ,1916, with Jessica Grove; and The Heavenly Maid, 1928), her creative work includes two one-act plays written in collaboration with Jessica Grove (War, published by the Cape Times Limited in 1914, and From German West, 1916). She also wrote two other plays - a biographical play called Dr James Barry and a cockney comedy entitled Poor 'em, both of which were produced abroad.

As the Baroness de Wagstaffe she was one of the London Directors of the Mah Jongg, and she and Jessica Grove also helped restore the grave of Dr James Barry in Kensall Green, London.


Sources

Gosher, 1988;

Sowden, 1962;

Merrington, 2009

http://www.esaach.org.za/index.php?title=Racster,_Elizabeth_Olga

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