Gaiety Company
The name Gaiety Company was often used for theatre companies performing in South Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Contents
The notion of "Gaiety" performances
"Gaiety" theatre
Gaiety companies in South Africa
Frank de Jongh's companies
The name Gaiety Company was most notable in the case of theatrical companies brought to Cape Town by Frank de Jongh, lessee of the Cape Town Opera House from 1896-1937. These companies consisted of well-known overseas performers and artistes, including Zena Dare, Matheson Lang, Sybil Thorndike, Lewis Casson, Irene Vanbrugh and Kate Vaughan in a variety of plays, operas and ballets.
The Edward Sass Gaiety Company
In 1895 a Gaiety Company, led by Edward Sass, performed a number of plays in the Opera House, Cape Town, under the auspices of Ben and Frank Wheeler. Other company members included James Nelson, J.H. Darnley, J.B. Gordon, Emma Glynne and Ada Logan. Their repertoire included The New Woman (Grundy), Doctor Bill (Carré /Aidé), The Case of Rebellious Susan (Jones), Liberty Hall (Dibdin), The Solicitor (Darnley), The Masqueraders (Jones), The Second Mrs Tanqueray (Pinero) and The Bauble Shop (Jones).
A Gaiety Company also used the Good Hope Theatre in Cape Town in 1902 to perform pieces such as The Geisha and Kitty Grey. **
Sources
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