Difference between revisions of "Edgar Perkins"

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[[Edgar Perkins]] was a theatre manager and director based in the Transvaal in the late 19th century.  
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[[Edgar Perkins]] was a theatre manager and director, originally based in the Transvaal in the late 19th century.  
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
In January 1890 Perkins took the [[Edgar Perkins Lyric Opera Company]] to Cape Town for the first time,  where they performed in the [[Exhibition Theatre]], Cape Town.
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Originally based in the Transvaal, Perkins founded [[The Edgar Perkins Lyric Opera Company]] (also referred to simply as [[The Edgar Perkins Opera Company]]) in 1888, and for a while performing only there. In 1890 however, he took his company to Cape Town for a season of light opera in the [[Exhibition Theatre]]. (''For the company and repertoires, see [[The Edgar Perkins Lyric Opera Company]].'')
  
The company was managed and directed by [[Edgar Perkins]] and the performers included [[R.S. Gregg]], [[E. le Hay]], [[Dennis Coyne]], [[Frank Wheeler]], [[Harry Miller]], [[Ada Bemister]], [[Carrie Nelson]], [[Harriet Wood]], and [[Ella Bankhardt]]. Musical direction was by [[James Hyde]]. The repertoire consisted of ''inter alia'' ''[[Dorothy]]'' (Cellier and Stephenson), ''[[Falka]]'' (Leterrier and Vanloo/Farnie), ''[[Pepita]]'' (Chivot and Durn), ''[[Erminie]]'' (Bellamy and Paulton), ''[[Yeoman of the Guard]]'' (Gilbert and Sullivan), ''[[The Mikado]]'' (Gilbert and Sullivan) and ''[[Patience]] (Gilbert and Sullivan).
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In 1893 Perkins joined forces with [[A. Bonamici]], the lessee of the newly built [[Opera House]] in Cape Town, renaming the company [[The Lyric Opera Company]] and once more undertaking an extensive programme of light comic opera as well as traditional operatic works. (''See the entry on [[The Lyric Opera Company]]''.)
  
[[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1980) mentions that the company's repertoire consisted entirely of light comic opera, and according to [[D.C. Boonzaier]] (1923), reporting on the 1890 Cape Town season, Perkins had "very artistic ideas in the direction of mise-en-scène" and his operas were staged "lavishly in regard to scenery and costume".
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According to [[D.C. Boonzaier]] (1923), reporting on the 1890 Cape Town season, Perkins had "very artistic ideas in the direction of mise-en-scène" and his operas were staged "lavishly in regard to scenery and costume".
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Author of an article on "[[Brett Bailey]]" in Middeke, Schnierer and Homann (2015).
 
[[Martin Middeke]], [[Peter Paul Schnierer]] and [[Greg Homann]] (editors). 2015. ''[[The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary South African Theatre]]''. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
 

Latest revision as of 07:08, 10 October 2019

Edgar Perkins was a theatre manager and director, originally based in the Transvaal in the late 19th century.

Biography

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

Originally based in the Transvaal, Perkins founded The Edgar Perkins Lyric Opera Company (also referred to simply as The Edgar Perkins Opera Company) in 1888, and for a while performing only there. In 1890 however, he took his company to Cape Town for a season of light opera in the Exhibition Theatre. (For the company and repertoires, see The Edgar Perkins Lyric Opera Company.)

In 1893 Perkins joined forces with A. Bonamici, the lessee of the newly built Opera House in Cape Town, renaming the company The Lyric Opera Company and once more undertaking an extensive programme of light comic opera as well as traditional operatic works. (See the entry on The Lyric Opera Company.)

According to D.C. Boonzaier (1923), reporting on the 1890 Cape Town season, Perkins had "very artistic ideas in the direction of mise-en-scène" and his operas were staged "lavishly in regard to scenery and costume".

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. 389-390

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