Dalle Case Company

The actor manager signor Dalle Case, who had arrived in Cape Town with an Italian circus run by himself and a colleague Signor Severo in November 1847, split from his partner and started his own professional French theatre company in February 1848 in Cape Town. Members of his company referred to as the French Dramatic Artistes and included L. Victor, C. Crosset, X. Hus, Madame Dalle Case, Madame Victor, Madame Crosset, Mademoiselle Gabrielle and Mademoiselle Emilia.

The company performed in the Hope Street Theatre (renamed to Sans Souci Theatre by Case) for two performances, after which three performances were held in the more comfortable Garrison Theatre. Programmes concentrated on pantomimes, vaudeville dance, ballet, and light farces, with various acts in between.

Their first performance on was 14 February 1835 and began with a "Grand Dramatic Presentation" which included a "Grootze Muzykale Interludium" ("Grand Musical Interlude"), with arias, dances and some scenes from the farce De Twee Savoyanen (Anon.). This followed by the farcical ballet called De Gelukkige Man, of De Ontmoeting in het Donker (Anon. Also called a "landelike stuk", a "rural play" by Bosman, 1928: p. 435).

On 24 February they opened with a "Comédie-vaudeville" by Scribe, which they called The Resources of Jonatha(s), or the Two Masters and one valet and a "Grand Pantomime" called Running Mad Through Love, in additions to songs and dances.

Of the next three performances we only have information on the third performance, on 13th March, 1848 in the Garrison Theatre. The play performed was The Art of Avoiding to do Military Duty (), followed by various vaudeville items, seven classical tableaus and a "laughable comic ballet" called A Visit to the Military Prison... (Anon.).

Their final performance under the leadership of Dalle Case took place in the Hope Street Theatre once more and consisted of the Vaudeville of The Lying Valet, or The Masters Deceived (Garrick), a grand intermezzo of dance and music, and a comic ballet entitled The Family of Pierrots.

This short-lived company broke up in March 1848 due to financial trouble, thoug three members, messrs L. Victor, X. Hus and C. Crosset, sought to continue the work under a different name Theatre de L'Union), though not with any more success.

(MN/TH)

Sources

Bosman, 1928;

Fletcher, 1994

Laidler, 1926

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