W. Frazer

FRAZER, Captain W. (??) One of the leading actors and a writer of prologues for the Cape Town Garrison Theatre and the local English amateurs at the beginning of the 19th century. An assistant to the Deputy Barrack-Master General's department, he was apparently a Scot of about fifty with a love for theatre and instrumental in forming the group All the World's a Stage and ensuring the start of an immensely active English theatrical life in Cape Town with one flamboyant season. As a performer he tended to specialize in the older female roles. His first appearance was as "Mrs Hardcastle" in Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer on 20 June 1807. He also wrote a prologue for the occasion, as he was to do for many plays in future. His last recorded appearance is on 10 October 1807 as "Sir Benjamin Dove" in Cumberland's The Brothers and "Kitty" in Townley's High Life Below the Stairs. (See Bosman, 1928; Fletcher, 1994)

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