Difference between revisions of "Shadow Pantomime"

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The ''[[Shadow Pantomime]]'' (or at times the ''[[Great Comic Shadow Pantomime]]'') is the name of a theatre performance known in South Africa through the performances by the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] in their 1866 and 1867 seasons.   
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The term '''[[shadow pantomime]]''' can refer to a '''<big>theatrical form</big>''', or to the name of a '''<big>specific production</big>'''.   
  
==The original text==
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=The [[Shadow pantomime]] as theatrical form=
 +
 
 +
==The form==
 +
 
 +
The [[Shadow pantomime]] is a particular version of [[Shadow theatre]], where live actors enact a [[pantomime]] (i.e. [[mime]] a story) by performing between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim, and the audience experience the [[performance]] on the screen.
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'''For more, see the entry on [[Shadow theatre]]'''
 +
 
 +
==Performances of [[shadow pantomime]]s in South Africa==
 +
 
 +
According to [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] (1980: p. 267-8), besides the [[Le Roy and Duret]] [[pantomime]] (see below), regular performances of [[shadow pantomime]]s and [[burlesque]]s also formed part of evening ''[[Promenade Concert]]s'' by the [[86th Regiment]]'s orchestra and the harpist and vocalist [[Signor Abecco]] between November 1872 and May 1873.
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=The ''[[Great Comic Shadow Pantomime]]'' of the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] =
  
According to [[William Groom|Groom]] (1928) and [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] (1980), the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] did the first performance in Cape Town of what they billed as a "''[[Great Comic Shadow Pantomime]]'', sensation from the Crystal Palace".  
+
Most often found simply as ''[[Shadow Pantomime]]'', this is the name of a theatre performance known in South Africa through presentations by the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] in their 1866 and 1867 seasons.
  
The latter statement is possibly a reference to something like the 1861 shadow pantomime put on by Nelson Lee in the Crystal Palace, London and reported on in the ''Evening Star and Dial'' of January 15, 1861[https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-star-and-dial-jan-15-1861-p-1/]). So what was seen in Cape Town was probably a piece of shadow theatre, devised and performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] itself for performance on tour in the 1860s.
+
==The original text==
  
==Translations and adaptations==
+
According to [[William Groom|Groom]] (1928) and [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] (1980), the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] did a performance in Cape Town of what they billed as a "''[[Great Comic Shadow Pantomime]]'', sensation from the Crystal Palace".
  
== Performance history in South Africa ==
+
The latter statement may be a reference to something like the 1861 shadow pantomime put on by Nelson Lee in the Crystal Palace, London and reported on in the ''Evening Star and Dial'' of January 15, 1861[https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-star-and-dial-jan-15-1861-p-1/]). What was seen in Cape Town was probably a similar piece of [[shadow theatre]], perhaps inspired by or even based on the Crystal Palace presentations, devised and performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret Company]] itself for performance on tour in the 1860s.
  
 +
== Performance history of the [[Le Roy and Duret]] version in South Africa ==
  
 
1866: Performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] theatre company in the [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town,  on 2nd August and billed as a "Great Comic ''[[Shadow Pantomime]]'', sensation from the Crystal Palace". Also performed were ''[[The Mutiny at the Nore]]'' (Jerrold) and ''[[On the Sly]]'' (Morton).   
 
1866: Performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] theatre company in the [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town,  on 2nd August and billed as a "Great Comic ''[[Shadow Pantomime]]'', sensation from the Crystal Palace". Also performed were ''[[The Mutiny at the Nore]]'' (Jerrold) and ''[[On the Sly]]'' (Morton).   
 +
 +
1866: Performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] theatre company in the [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town,  on 6th  August along with ''[[Lilian Gervais]]'' (Barnett), a comic dance called ''[[Gocum and Lisbeth]]'' (Jerrold) and ''[[On the Sly]]'' (Morton). 
  
 
1866: Performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] theatre company in the [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town, as ''[[Shadow Pantomime]]'' on the 25th of  August. This was part of a children's matinee, which also included ''[[On the Sly]]'', ''[[The Nervous Cures]]'' (Brown and Norton) and ''[[The Dancing Scotchman]]'' (Flexmore and Auriol?).
 
1866: Performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] theatre company in the [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town, as ''[[Shadow Pantomime]]'' on the 25th of  August. This was part of a children's matinee, which also included ''[[On the Sly]]'', ''[[The Nervous Cures]]'' (Brown and Norton) and ''[[The Dancing Scotchman]]'' (Flexmore and Auriol?).
  
== Sources ==
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1867: Performed by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] theatre company as part of the ''[[Great Promenade Concert]]'' held for charity in the [[Good Hope Lodge]] in the [[Good Hope Gardens]], Cape Town. Announced as "the celebrated [[Shadow Pantomime]] as lately produced at the [[Theatre Royal]]".
  
[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp.
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= Sources =
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Shadow play]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowgraphy_(performing_art) ]
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 +
[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. 211-212,215, 220, 259, 268.  
  
 
[[William Groom]]. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. ''Cape Illustrated Magazine'', 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.
 
[[William Groom]]. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. ''Cape Illustrated Magazine'', 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.
  
 
''Evening Star And Dial'', Tuesday, January 15, 1861[https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-star-and-dial-jan-15-1861-p-1/]
 
''Evening Star And Dial'', Tuesday, January 15, 1861[https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-star-and-dial-jan-15-1861-p-1/]
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 +
 +
= Return to =
 +
 +
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
 +
 +
Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
 +
 +
Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
 +
 +
Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants, carnivals and public performances]]
 +
 +
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
 +
 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 +
 +
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 09:17, 9 May 2021

The term shadow pantomime can refer to a theatrical form, or to the name of a specific production.

The Shadow pantomime as theatrical form

The form

The Shadow pantomime is a particular version of Shadow theatre, where live actors enact a pantomime (i.e. mime a story) by performing between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim, and the audience experience the performance on the screen.

For more, see the entry on Shadow theatre

Performances of shadow pantomimes in South Africa

According to Bosman (1980: p. 267-8), besides the Le Roy and Duret pantomime (see below), regular performances of shadow pantomimes and burlesques also formed part of evening Promenade Concerts by the 86th Regiment's orchestra and the harpist and vocalist Signor Abecco between November 1872 and May 1873.

The Great Comic Shadow Pantomime of the Le Roy and Duret Company

Most often found simply as Shadow Pantomime, this is the name of a theatre performance known in South Africa through presentations by the Le Roy and Duret Company in their 1866 and 1867 seasons.

The original text

According to Groom (1928) and Bosman (1980), the Le Roy and Duret Company did a performance in Cape Town of what they billed as a "Great Comic Shadow Pantomime, sensation from the Crystal Palace".

The latter statement may be a reference to something like the 1861 shadow pantomime put on by Nelson Lee in the Crystal Palace, London and reported on in the Evening Star and Dial of January 15, 1861[1]). What was seen in Cape Town was probably a similar piece of shadow theatre, perhaps inspired by or even based on the Crystal Palace presentations, devised and performed by the Le Roy and Duret Company itself for performance on tour in the 1860s.

Performance history of the Le Roy and Duret version in South Africa

1866: Performed by the Le Roy and Duret theatre company in the Theatre Royal in Harrington Street, Cape Town, on 2nd August and billed as a "Great Comic Shadow Pantomime, sensation from the Crystal Palace". Also performed were The Mutiny at the Nore (Jerrold) and On the Sly (Morton).

1866: Performed by the Le Roy and Duret theatre company in the Theatre Royal in Harrington Street, Cape Town, on 6th August along with Lilian Gervais (Barnett), a comic dance called Gocum and Lisbeth (Jerrold) and On the Sly (Morton).

1866: Performed by the Le Roy and Duret theatre company in the Theatre Royal in Harrington Street, Cape Town, as Shadow Pantomime on the 25th of August. This was part of a children's matinee, which also included On the Sly, The Nervous Cures (Brown and Norton) and The Dancing Scotchman (Flexmore and Auriol?).

1867: Performed by the Le Roy and Duret theatre company as part of the Great Promenade Concert held for charity in the Good Hope Lodge in the Good Hope Gardens, Cape Town. Announced as "the celebrated Shadow Pantomime as lately produced at the Theatre Royal".

Sources

Shadow play[2]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 211-212,215, 220, 259, 268.

William Groom. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. Cape Illustrated Magazine, 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.

Evening Star And Dial, Tuesday, January 15, 1861[3]

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants, carnivals and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page