Surrogation, Mediatization, and Black Representation On- and Offstage: When Ira Aldridge, the African Roscius, Visited Pest-Buda in 1853

Abstract

Writing in 1853, Gábor Egressy, one of the leading actor-directors of the Hungarian-speaking National Theatre in Pest-Buda (Budapest), observed that representatives of different nations were appearing in increasing number on and off the stages of the major cities of Eastern Europe: Today not only ideas fly on lightning wings, but humankind as well. Quick and easy as well as cheap travel has mobilized humankind and created worldwide and constant migration. Now, we do not have to leave our place to see the people of the faraway world of whom, so far, we have had merely vague ideas through rumors and fairy tales: rather these people visit us in our home. From every part of the world, fantastically colorful groups proceed from time to time before our eyes. Whatever is pleasant, great, and fine on Earth, all visit us. Groups of Italians, French, Negroes, and English are coming here and offering the divine products of their homelands.Egressy shared this observation with readers when the black, British-American actor Ira Aldridge visited the National Theatre in 1853. Aldridge and his English company received a warm welcome from Hungarian audiences and leading intellectuals. At the same time, however, he was under surveillance by the Habsburg secret police, and was later politely asked to leave the city. In my article, I investigate Aldridge's visit to Pest-Buda using the concepts of surrogation (Joseph Roach) and mediatization (Christopher B. Balme), and pay close attention to the way the actor's contemporaries interpreted his visit.