Boscawen Amateurs

The Boscawen Amateurs was the name given to an amateur theatre company, active in Simons Town 1857-1859.

Made up of officers from H.M.S. Boscawen, stationed in Simonstown, they are first heard of when they presented The Somnabulist (Montcrieff) and Who Speaks First as a benefit evening for the Indian Sufferers Relief Fund in Simonstown on 28 December, 1857.

They next performed Don Caesar de Bazan (with a Mr. Jeffries listed as the Don) and Box and Cox on 29 June, 1858 in Simons Town, this in aid of Free Schools. The production was followed by another on 7 June, now with the same main play and Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw as afterpiece.

In February, 1859, the Boscawen was anchored in Table Bay, Cape town, and the amateurs gave a third performance of Don Caesar de Bazan, with The Rose of Amiens, or Our Wife (Morton) in the Cape Town Theatre. The company was supported by three ladies (Mrs. Delmaine, Miss Delmaine, Miss Rowlands) and a number of other local amateurs, and the males in the cast are given as R. Wells, W.R. Jeffreys, C.B. Sevecke, J.R.F. Fullarton, T.A. de Waal, C.T. Layton, C.R. Smith, W.S. Brown, W.H. Maxwell and J.C. Plow. The performance had been scheduled for 7 February, but due to a nasty Southeaster wind, was postponed to 11 February.

The company was last heard of when they formed part of the farewll balls held in Simonstown and Cape Town in April and May of 1859. After this they disappeared off the stage, it is not clear why, although according to Laidler, they apparently did make a few comebacks from time to time.

After its final breakup Miss Rowlands went on to form her own temporary company.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

P.W. Laidler. 1926. The Annals of the Cape Stage. Edinburgh: William Bryce: p. 73.

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