C. Bland
Mr C. Bland (fl. 1860s) was an actor and stage manager
Though listed as C. Bland by F.C.L. Bosman, it seems this may be a reference to a well-known British stage manager referred to as Shuter Bland in some sources.
Contents
Biography
A Mr C. Bland, his wife and presumably their daughter, Louisa Bland, came to South Africa with a company of British actors recruited by Sefton Parry in 1861.
He was a well-known British stage manager, who was part of the Sefton Parry company in 1861-2, participating in 50 productions between May and November of 1861, and possibly the tour to Port Elizabeth in 1862. There were also a Mr W. Bland, Mrs W. Bland and Miss L. Bland in the company.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He and his wife were members of Sefton Parry's first full professional company in 1861-1862, Bland himself largely in the capacity of the stage manager, which is said to have done most competently. As an actor he is specifically mentioned as playing "Friday" in the pantomime of Robinson Crusoe, or The King of the Caribbee Islands
In addition to his work for Parry, he also gave lectures for the Mechanic's Institute (among them one on Theodore Hook's play Trial by Jury on 11 May 1861 and another on 1 May 1862 on the "Origin of Lawyers and Courts of Justice").
At the end of the first Parry season, on 14 November 1861, the company did a special benefit performance for him, with performances of The Momentous Question (Fitzball) and Dominique the Deserter, or The Gentleman in Black (Murray), with a dance by Miss Powell and a performance by the band of the Cape Royal Rifles.
Another benefit, this time a farewell one for both Mr and Mrs Bland, was held on 11 April, 1862, with performances of All is not Gold that Glitters (Chettle and Rowley) and The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance (Anon.)
Sources
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 1923. (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. 100, 102, 108-113.
William Groom. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. Cape Illustrated Magazine, 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.
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