Difference between revisions of "W.F.H. Parker"
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| − | + | A puppeteer, magician and impresario from England. | |
== Performances in Cape Town == | == Performances in Cape Town == | ||
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| − | By 1848 [[Automata]] | + | == The [[Automata]] == |
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| + | In 1837 he impressed Cape Town audiences with his huge, life-size [[Automaton]] figures - his presentations described as "Mechanical and Picturesque Theatre of Arts" (Bosman, 1828: p. 231). It “worked automatically through wires, ropes, steam” or someone inside the huge puppets. It was one of the first recorded puppet displays in Cape Town (a [[M. Decanis]] preceded Parker, showing only one Automoton figure in June 1837). | ||
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| + | The first performance by the [[Automata]] was on 5 December 1837 and consisted of ''[[Polander]]'' , ''[[The Enchanted Turk]]'', ''[[Children in the Wood]]'' and ''[[Trip to Brentford]]''. | ||
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| + | In 1838 the company took their show to Stellenbosch, Worcester, Swellendam, George and Uitenhage, in 1839 they were in Grahamstown. | ||
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| + | By 1848 Parker's [[Automata]] were back in Cape Town, but their run ended there. | ||
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| + | == Cape Town career as impressario == | ||
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| + | In 1848 Parker leased the [[Drury Lane Theatre]] for one season as manager, intending to present the [[New English Theatrical Company]] (also referred to as [[Parker's Company]] in some sources) in a season of light dramas and operas. However, they only performed ''[[Luke the Labourer]]'' in January 1849 before harsh critique by [[Sam Sly]] caused the company to close down. In 1850 they performed at the [[Victoria Theatre]] ([[Hope Street Theatre]]) and the year after they were back at [[Drury Lane Theatre]], after which they seemed to disappear from the scene. [TH, JH] | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 06:50, 29 October 2013
A puppeteer, magician and impresario from England.
Contents
Performances in Cape Town
The Automata
In 1837 he impressed Cape Town audiences with his huge, life-size Automaton figures - his presentations described as "Mechanical and Picturesque Theatre of Arts" (Bosman, 1828: p. 231). It “worked automatically through wires, ropes, steam” or someone inside the huge puppets. It was one of the first recorded puppet displays in Cape Town (a M. Decanis preceded Parker, showing only one Automoton figure in June 1837).
The first performance by the Automata was on 5 December 1837 and consisted of Polander , The Enchanted Turk, Children in the Wood and Trip to Brentford.
In 1838 the company took their show to Stellenbosch, Worcester, Swellendam, George and Uitenhage, in 1839 they were in Grahamstown.
By 1848 Parker's Automata were back in Cape Town, but their run ended there.
Cape Town career as impressario
In 1848 Parker leased the Drury Lane Theatre for one season as manager, intending to present the New English Theatrical Company (also referred to as Parker's Company in some sources) in a season of light dramas and operas. However, they only performed Luke the Labourer in January 1849 before harsh critique by Sam Sly caused the company to close down. In 1850 they performed at the Victoria Theatre (Hope Street Theatre) and the year after they were back at Drury Lane Theatre, after which they seemed to disappear from the scene. [TH, JH]
Sources
See Bosman, 1928;
Du Toit, 1988;
Fletcher, 1994
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