Musical Melange is the name often given to an evening of mixed musical entertainment.

In at least one case it is the name given to a specific act in an evening of entertainment.

The term

A Musical Melange, Cape Town, 1866

Described as a "Musical Melange", this particular act was created and performed by the Darkie Serenaders and "Mr Percy Howard", probably as an occasion specific item, when they participated in a benefit performance for the actor manager J.H. le Roy.

Performed by the Le Roy-Duret Company on 25 October, 1866, aided by "A Host of Amateur Voluntary Aid", in the Harrington Street Theatre, Cape Town, as part of a benefit for Le Roy. Also on offer were Who Killed Cock Robin? (Matthews), an "(a)musing sketch, arranged for the occasion", Left the Stage, or Thornton Worrying Le Roy, a dance ("La Cachuca") by Mrs Brazier and Mrs Luin, and a farewell address by Mrs Duret.

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 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

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