J.P. Burnett
J.P. Burnett ()[] was a British actor and playwright.
Contents
Biography
Born John Pringle Burnett
He was married to the singer, actress and dancer Jenny Lee and wrote the melodrama Jo, based on Bleak House, as a vehicle for her. It opened on at the Globe Theatre in Newcastle Street, on 22 February 1876, with Lee as "Jo" and Burnett in the role of "Inspector Bucket", and would become a great success for the couple.
Lee and Burnett would perform in Britain for many years and undertake at least four tours of the colonies as well, including a visit to South Africa in 1894.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
According to Boonzaier (1923), Jennie Lee and J.P. Burnett visited South Africa 1894, appearing in the Opera House, Cape Town, under the auspices of Arturo Bonamici in a season that included Jo (with her husband probably in the role of "Inspector Bucket"), as well as in Caste ( Robertson) and Run Wild ()[]. .
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennie_Lee_(British_actress)
D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities L
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
