C. Bland

Mr C. Bland (fl. 1860s) was an actor and stage manager

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

He was the stage manager for Sefton Parry's first full professional company in 1861-1862, as well as being something of an intellectual, for example giving lectures for the Mechanic's Institute (among them a lecture on Theodore Hook's play Trial by Jury on 11 May 1861 and one on 1 May 1862 on the "Origin of Lawyers and Courts of Justice").

As an actor he is specifically mentioned as playing "Friday" in the pantomime of Robinson Crusoe, or The King of the Caribbee Islands

At the end of the first 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 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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