Captain Frazer

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, and some of them are listed here.

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, singing a self-made song in the latter role. He also wrote a prologue for the occasion, as he was to do for many plays in future.

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.