H. Booth

Mr H. Booth (**-**) A professional actor from the Theatre Royal in London who arrived in Cape Town in 1829 on his way to New South Wales. Apparently unrelated to any of the other famous Booths in England or the USA, but clearly experienced. He gathered the various amateur groups in Cape town around him in a new company, reviving the name All the World's a Stage. In 1829 he presented and played Rolla, Sheridan's Pizarro, Jerrold's Black-Eyed Susan, and Othello. Deciding to stay on, and between 1829 and 1833 he presented or was involved in plays such as The Castle Spectre, The Lying Valet, The Gambler's Fate by Thompson, The Miller's Maid by Saville, The Flying Dutchman by Fitzball, excerpts from Weber's opera Der Freischutz. He ended his stay in the Cape with excerpts from the Merchant of Venice. The critic for the Commercial Advertiser criticised Booth's acting, particularly in the more serious roles, such as Shakespeare, but he was popular, as a professional in a predominantly amateur society had a recognisable influence on English theatricals in Cape Town and evidently did well enough to retire to England in 1833 on the proceeds. [TH,JH]