# Castor Watt

Castor Watt or P. Castor Watt (born Paul Burwig; March 7, 1858 in Potsdam – August 6, 1932 in Berlin-Köpenick) was a German actor, humorist, imitator and internationally known quick-change artist.

## Life

Paul Burwig was born in Potsdam in 1858 as the son of Helene and Karl Friedrich Burwig, a master tailor. All life long Berlin was his home, where he lived for many years in the district of Friedrichshagen.
In 1880 he married Clara. Both knew each other from early childhood. As an actor, Burwig worked at the Kroll Opera in Berlin. In the mid-1880s he turned to the art of quick-change, using the pseudonym Castor Watt. His performance venues were established variety shows, theatres and music halls in metropolises and capitals all over Europe.
In January 1896, Burwig traveled to the United States. There, on January 27, 1896, his American stage debut took place in New York in the Hammerstein's Olympia Theatre, which had opened a few months earlier. In the same year, Burwig returned to Europe. He continued his work as a variety artist Castor Watt until at least 1910. In later years of his life, he became an innkeeper and also worked as a real estate agent.
Paul Burwig died on August 6, 1932 at the age of 74 in the hospital in Köpenick.

## Castor Watts Quick-Change Show

Castor Watt's quick-change show consisted of imitating different characters and celebrities in corresponding costumes in a matter of seconds.
In contrast to many similar performances, he did not use any concealing aids. He didn't throw off any clothes, didn't take any, didn't leave the stage for the change. His "transformation" took place on an open stage, right in front of the audience.
Typical characters of the performance were "Ship Captain", "Sailor", "Grandpa", "Nurse with Child", "Tyrolean", "Old Maid", "Cadet", the actress "Sarah Bernhardt" and himself, "Castor Watt in a ball suit". At times, 20 transformations were offered.
In press articles and announcements, Castor Watt was not only called "Quick-Change Artist", but also "Chameleon Man", "Transformation Artist" and "The Living Metamorphosis".

## Press Reviews (Selection)

   "This […] program brings a sensational novelty: Castor Watt, the truly famous, unrivaled original transformation artist, in his 10 lightning transformations on an open scene, in front of the audience. Without leaving the stage! Without throwing off the costumes! Without taking them into account!"
   – Dortmunder Zeitung (translation)
   "A transformation artist par excellence is Castor Watt. He performs transformations on the open stage and a slight tightening on a string, or a short unbuttoning is enough to stand in a new outfit again in a period of a few seconds."
   – Münchener Ratsch-Kathl (translation)
   "The 'chameleon man' P. Castor Watt offers something surprising with eight transformations in front of the eyes of the audience. Lightning-fast metamorphoses show him as captain, old man, Wendish nurse, Tyrolean, old maid and Sarah Bernhardt."
   – Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten (translation)
   "As a quick-change artist, Castor Watt surprised with his portrayal of characteristic figures and as a mimic artist with his presentation of historical personalities."
   – Saale-Zeitung (translation)

## Venues

* Amsterdam, Theater Carré, 1901, 1909.
* Antwerp, Scala, 1905.
* Berlin, Concordia-Palast-Theater, 1891; Apollo-Theater, 1893; Wintergarten, 1893, 1904; Belle-Alliance-Theater, 1894.
* Belfast, Empire Theatre, 1896.
* Bristol, The People`s Palace, 1896.
* Brno, Bruenské Varieté, 1910.
* Brussels, Palais d´Eté, 1905.
* Christiania, Tivoli, 1892.
* Cologne, Reichshallentheater, 1890; Scala-Theater, 1898.
* Copenhagen, National, 1886, 1902; Cirkus Variété, 1890, 1891.
* The Hague, Scala-Theater, 1909.
* Dortmund, Olympia-Theater, 1904.
* Dublin, The Star Theatre, 1896.
* Dresden, Central-Theater, 1901; Victoria-Salon, 1903; Königshof, 1908.
* Essen, Colosseum, 1902.
* Frankfurt, Hippodrom, 1904.
* Gdańsk, Wilhelm-Theater, 1891; Freundschaftlicher Garten, 1895.
* Graz, Grazer Orpheum, 1908.
* Groningen, De Harmonie, 1893.
* Haarlem, Sociëteit Vereeniging, 1901.
* Halle, Walhalla-Theater, 1889.
* Hamburg, Elb-Pavillon, 1886; Hansa-Saal (später: Hansa-Theater), 1893; Hornhardt`s Konzertgarten, 1895; Hansa-Theater, 1897.
* Hanover, Mellini-Theater, 1891, 1892.
* Helsinki, Brunnshusteatern, 1909.
* Krakau, Teatr Rozmaitosci, 1908.
* Leipzig, Trietschler, 1889; Krystall-Palast, 1910.
* London, Empire Theatre, 1910.
* Middelburg, Schuttershof, 1896.
* Munic, Kolosseum, 1895, 1906.
* Paris, Olympia, 1898.
* Posen, Victoria-Theater, 1889.
* Prague, Théâtre Variété, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1910.
* Reims, Le Casino, 1897.
* Reval, Varieté auf den Schmiedepfortenanlagen, 1909.
* Rome, Grand`Orfeo, 1888.
* Rotterdam, Circus-Varieté, 1897; Casino Variete, 1904, 1905.
* Stockholm, Sveasalen Varieté, 1890.
* Strasbourg, Varieté-Theater, 1888.
* Szczecin, Centralhallen, 1902.
* Teplice, Varieté Schwan, 1902.
* Trondheim, Hjorten Revue- und Varietétheater, 1907/1908.
* Turin, Caffè Romano, 1891.
* Utrecht, Tivoli, 1893.
* Vienna, Danzers Orpheum, 1890, 1893; Etablissement Ronacher, 1894; Venedig in Wien, 1897.
* Wroclaw, Victoria-Theater/Simmenauer Garten, 1887; Zeltgarten, 1891.

## Miscellaneous

* The french Folk-Band „La Lune A Tics“ published a song called Castor Watt (CD …Et Tac! ).
* An article in the Italian series La Commedia Umana refers to Agostino Depretis and the Trasformismo. In this context the author uses Castor Watts performance in Rome for a pun: The „quick-change artist“ becomes a „transformist" and the main character in a political satire – even with a caricature.