Madge Fabian

(b. London, 16/08/1880 – d.) British actress. Madge Fabian (family name Wilks?) originally studied at the drama school founded by Henry Neville and began her professional career by touring in such plays as Lord and Lady Algy (1900) and Sherlock Holmes (1902). She joined Lily Langtry on a tour to the United States and her first leading part was in The breed of the Treshams (1907). After that she appeared in numerous plays and was engaged for five years running for the autumn season at Drury Lane. In May 1914, J.C. Williamson brought her to South Africa to feature on the local theatrical circuit and seems to have been such a success that she stayed for two years, performing in Cape Town and Johannesburg. In March 1916 she departed for Australia to embark on another tour and in September of that year the Sydney Morning Herald reported that she would be returning “to her home in Johannesburg” in November. At this stage it is uncertain whether she then stayed on in South Africa or went back to England, but towards the end of 1918 she made the film Fallen Leaves (1919) for African Film Productions, directed by Dick Cruikshanks, who also played her father. Also, in 1921 she was apparently still in South Africa, as an African Mirror of that time reports on a benefit performance by Madge Fabian and Company of “Twelfth night” for the Children’s Hospital. Curiously, a 1921 magazine of the Jeppe High School for Boys makes mention of a Madge Fabian Cup being awarded to the winner of a two miles open steeplechase. Finally, according to Thelma Gutsche, Madge Fabian played Mrs. Retief in the English language version of Die Bou van ‘n Nasie/Building a nation (Joseph Albrecht & Andries A. Pienaar, 1938). Under the circumstances it seems quite possible that she stayed on permanently. [ Freddy Ogterop ]