Difference between revisions of "Captain Frazer"
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
== His performances == | == His performances == | ||
| − | As a performer he tended to specialize in the older female roles, and some of | + | As a performer he tended to specialize in the older female roles, appearing in most of the productions by the Garrison Players between 1807 and and some of those specifically mentioned are listed here. |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | 1807: His first appearance was as "Mrs Hardcastle" in Goldsmith's ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' and "Lady Pentweasle" in Foote's ''[[Taste]]'',on 20 June 1807. | ||
Revision as of 08:10, 28 December 2015
Possibly Captain W. Frazer (??). Soldier, actor and author.
A British officer, an assistant to the Deputy Barrack-Master General's department, he was apparently a Scot of about fifty, with a love for theatre, who arrived in Cape Town in 1806. He was an active and leading member of the amateur group the Officers of the Garrison and would became instrumental in forming the group All the World's a Stage, thus ensuring the start of an immensely active English theatrical life in Cape Town with one flamboyant season. Not only was he one of the leading actors , but he also wrote a number of prologues for the Cape Town Garrison Theatre and the local English amateurs at the beginning of the 19th century.
His performances
As a performer he tended to specialize in the older female roles, appearing in most of the productions by the Garrison Players between 1807 and and some of those specifically mentioned are listed here.
1807: His first appearance was as "Mrs Hardcastle" in Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer and "Lady Pentweasle" in Foote's Taste,on 20 June 1807.
His last recorded appearance is on 10 October 1807 as "Sir Benjamin Dove" in Cumberland's The Brothers and "Kitty" in Townley's High Life Below the Stairs.
His writing
Captain Frazer was clearly an avid author of additional theatrical material. F.C.L. Bosman, 1928[1]: pp. 70-78) mentions and at times partially quotes a number of prologues, songs and epilogues written and/or spoken by Captain Frazer during his theatrical career in Cape Town.
The first of his prologues and, according to Bosman, possibly the oldest extant European theatre piece created in South Africa, was read by Mr Morgan on 20 June 1807 (before a performance of She Stoops to Conquer). During the same evening, Frazer also sang a self-made song in the role of "Lady Pentweasle" in Foote's Taste.
Sources
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928[2]
Jill Fletcher, 1994
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities F
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
