Difference between revisions of "H. Booth"

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Mr H. Booth (**-**) A professional actor from the Theatre Royal in London who arrived in Cape Town in 1829 on his way to New South Wales. Apparently unrelated to any of the other famous Booths in England or the USA, but clearly experienced. He gathered the various amateur groups in Cape town around him in a new company, reviving the name [[All the World's a Stage]]. In 1829 he presented and played ''[[Rolla]]'',  Sheridan's ''[[Pizarro]]'', Jerrold's ''[[Black-Eyed Susan]]'', and ''[[Othello]]''. Deciding to stay on, and between 1829 and 1833 he presented or was involved in plays such as ''[[The Castle Spectre]]'', ''[[The Lying Valet]]'', ''[[The Gambler's Fate]]'' by Thompson, ''[[The Miller's Maid]]'' by Saville, ''[[ The Flying Dutchman]]'' by Fitzball, excerpts from Weber's opera ''[[Der Freischutz]]''. He ended his stay in the Cape with excerpts from the ''[[Merchant of Venice]]''. The critic for the [[Commercial Advertiser]] criticised Booth's acting, particularly in the more serious roles, such as Shakespeare, but he was popular, as a professional in a predominantly amateur society had a recognisable influence on English theatricals in  Cape Town and evidently did well enough to retire to England in 1833 on the proceeds. [TH,JH]
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(**-**) Often referred to merely as [[Mr Booth]]. A professional actor from the Theatre Royal in London. Apparently unrelated to any of the other famous Booths in England or the USA, but clearly experienced.  
 +
 
 +
He arrived in Cape Town in 1829 on his way to New South Wales and soon gathered the various amateur groups in Cape town around him in a new company, reviving the name [[All the World's a Stage]].  
 +
 
 +
In 1829 he presented and played ''[[Rolla]]'',  Sheridan's ''[[Pizarro]]'', Jerrold's ''[[Black-Eyed Susan]]'', and ''[[Othello]]''. Deciding to stay on, and between 1829 and 1833 he presented or was involved in plays such as ''[[The Castle Spectre]]'', ''[[The Lying Valet]]'', ''[[The Gambler's Fate]]'' by Thompson, ''[[The Miller's Maid]]'' by Saville, ''[[ The Flying Dutchman]]'' by Fitzball, excerpts from Weber's opera ''[[Der Freischutz]]''. He ended his stay in the Cape with excerpts from the ''[[Merchant of Venice]]''. The critic for the [[Commercial Advertiser]] criticised Booth's acting, particularly in the more serious roles, such as Shakespeare, but he was popular, as a professional in a predominantly amateur society had a recognisable influence on English theatricals in  Cape Town and evidently did well enough to retire to England in 1833 on the proceeds. [TH,JH]
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
Bosman 1928; Fletcher, 1994; Du Toit, 1988
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Bosman 1928;  
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Fletcher, 1994;  
 +
 
 +
Du Toit, 1988
  
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

Revision as of 06:05, 23 May 2014

(**-**) Often referred to merely as Mr Booth. A professional actor from the Theatre Royal in London. Apparently unrelated to any of the other famous Booths in England or the USA, but clearly experienced.

He arrived in Cape Town in 1829 on his way to New South Wales and soon gathered the various amateur groups in Cape town around him in a new company, reviving the name All the World's a Stage.

In 1829 he presented and played Rolla, Sheridan's Pizarro, Jerrold's Black-Eyed Susan, and Othello. Deciding to stay on, and between 1829 and 1833 he presented or was involved in plays such as The Castle Spectre, The Lying Valet, The Gambler's Fate by Thompson, The Miller's Maid by Saville, The Flying Dutchman by Fitzball, excerpts from Weber's opera Der Freischutz. He ended his stay in the Cape with excerpts from the Merchant of Venice. The critic for the Commercial Advertiser criticised Booth's acting, particularly in the more serious roles, such as Shakespeare, but he was popular, as a professional in a predominantly amateur society had a recognisable influence on English theatricals in Cape Town and evidently did well enough to retire to England in 1833 on the proceeds. [TH,JH]

Sources

Bosman 1928;

Fletcher, 1994;

Du Toit, 1988

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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