The Love Child

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

[...] Softening of the heart of a rich mine-owner, who has threatened to close down his pit rather than grant the legitimate demands of his workpeople. The strike-leader suddenly reveals himself as the son of the employer and his dead wife, born before their marriage, and left to shift for himself with foster-parents. [...] The mine-owner relents and grants increase of wages demanded. Crude but inoffensive and recommended for license. Ernest A. Bendall

Researcher's Summary:

“The Love Child” was performed from 1915, before the license by the Lord Chamberlain was granted. The sketch was part of the repertory of Mr Wilson’s Company well into the 1920s and mostly performed at small town theatres and cinemas. In the 'Stage' on 3 January 1918, Mr Wilson said they had performed it for 50 weeks in 1917. Unfortunately, evidence for alll of these performances is hard to find.

Licensed On: 19 Jan 1916

License Number: 22

British Library Reference: LCP1916/1

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66122 V

Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
12 Jul 1915	Alpha Theatre, Brynamman	Professional	Read Narrative Sketches included "And The Woman Told", "Her Rosary" and Fred Wilson's "latest production, "The Love Child". Advertised in "The Stage", 15 July 1915.
19 Jul 1915	Palace Theatre, Llanbradach	Professional	Read Narrative "The Love Child", the sketch of the moment." Advertisement by Fred Wilson and His Company in "The Stage" 22, July 1915
26 Jul 1915	Vivian Hall, Resolven	Professional
2 Aug 1915	?, Cardiff	Professional	Read Narrative Other sketches on the programme were "And The Woman Told" and "Her Rosary" "The Stage" 5 August 1915.
9 Aug 1915	Vic, Hirwain	Professional
16 Aug 1915	King's Hall, Waterfoot	Professional	Read Narrative Advertised alongside other sketches, "Her Rosary" and "And The Woman Told" "The Stage", 19, August 1915.
30 Aug 1915	Olympia Theatre, Bulwell, Nottingham	Professional	Read Narrative Advertised for theatres in "The Stage", 2 September 1915.
6 Sep 1915	Tredegar Hall, Newport	Professional	Read Narrative "The Stage", 2 September 1915
13 Sep 1915	Empire, Abercynon	Professional	Read Narrative Return visit to the Empire, Abercynon. "The Stage", 16 September 1915.
20 Sep 1915	Temperance Hall, Merthyr Tydfil	Professional	Read Narrative A return visit for Fred Wilson and his Company to the Temperance Hall, Merthyr Tydfil. "The Stage", 16 September 1915.
27 Sep 1915	Hippodrome, Ashton in Makerfield	Professional	Read Narrative An advert placed by Fred Wilson and his Company states: "The Love Child" "the sketch of the moment, has eclipsed all my previous productions. An episode of Real Life. Master and Man. Capital and Labour. It will make your town talk. "The Stage", 23 September 1915.
7 Oct 1915	Palace Theatre, Derby	Professional	Read Narrative Advertised in the Derbyshire Advertiser, as "Twice nightly" performances, "7 & 9". Derbyshire Advertiser, 1 October 1915.
11 Oct 1915	Hippodrome, Holyhead	Professional
18 Oct 1915	Royal Electric Theatre, Cradley Heath	Professional	Read Narrative Advertisement placed by Fred Wilson and His Company in "The Stage" on 21 October 1915. Other sketches performed by the company include "And The Woman Told" and"Her Rosary".
25 Oct 1915	Corn Exchange Picturedrome, Theatre of Varietes, Banbury	Professional	Read Narrative '"The Love Child", the author of which is Corporal McNevin of the 5th Welsh Regiment, was performed before a very appreciative "house". Mr. Fred Wilson took the title role, and gave a fine impersonation of the coal miner in his interview with the mine owner." "Not only is the Company an exceptionally good one, but the manner in which the play was staged was all that could be desired; the appointments were both tasteful and attractive, and the lighting effects excellent." Reviewed by the "Banbury Advertiser", 28 October 1915.
1 Nov 1915	Vint's Palace, Neath, Glamorgan	Professional
8 Nov 1915	Palace, Prescot	Professional
15 Nov 1915	Hippodrome, Bolton	Professional
22 Nov 1915	Hippodrome, Tipton	Professional
29 Nov 1915	Empire, Garston	Professional
6 Dec 1915	Hippodrome, Ellesmere Port	Professional	Read Narrative Advert placed by Fred Wilson describes the "The Love Child", as "the sketch of the moment" "The Stage", 9 December 1915
13 Dec 1915	Empire, Carmarthen	Professional
20 Dec 1915	Palace Theatre, Dinnington	Professional
29 Dec 1915	Empire, Worksop	Professional
3 Jan 1916	Palace, Halesowen	Professional	Read Narrative Performed alongside "And The Woman Told" and "Her Rosary". "The Stage", 6 January 1916
10 Jan 1916	Grand Theatre, Padiham, Lancashire	Professional
17 Jan 1916	Hippodrome, Darwen	Professional
24 Jan 1916	Palace Theatre, Bradford	Unknown	Licensed Performance
31 Jan 1916	Hippodrome, Connah's Quay	Professional	Read Narrative In an advert placed in "The Stage", Mr Wilson quoted a review from the "Darwen Advertiser" in January 1916. "The Star turn is that provided by Mr. Fred Wilson and the members of his very clever company. They appear in the playlet, entitled "The Love Child", which deals with a problem the question of capital and Labour. It has a fine plot. There is fine acting, and Mr. Wilson's creation in the part of "the Miner" is quite the best performance we have seen for many long day." "The Stage", 27 January 1916.
14 Feb 1916	Palace, Barry Dock	Professional	Read Narrative Advert in "The Stage" notes that "The Love Child", is "fully licensed by the Lord Chamberlain". "The Stage", 17 February 1916
28 Feb 1916	Grand Theatre, Aberavon	Professional
6 Mar 1916	Hippodrome, Hemsworth	Professional
13 Mar 1916	Palace, Eckington, Sheffield	Professional
27 Mar 1916	New Theatre, Cambridge	Professional
3 Apr 1916	Hippodrome, St Helens	Professional	Read Narrative Fred Wilson and His Company continue to perform the "The Love Child" alongside "And The Woman Told" and "Her Rosary". "The Stage", 30 March 1916.
10 Apr 1916	Hippodrome, Darwen	Professional	Read Narrative A return to the Hippodrome, Darwen.
24 Apr 1916	Palace, Caerphilly	Professional
8 May 1916	Grand, Aberaman	Professional
29 May 1916	Comedy Theatre, North Shields, Tyne and Wear	Professional	Read Narrative The other acts on the bill at the Comedy Theatre of Varieties were: "The Deldees, Jack Cavall, Wally & Bert, Arthur Cannworth, Happy Attwood" Advertised in the "Shields Daily News", 31 May 1916
13 Jun 1916	Empire, Blaydon-Upon-Tyne	Professional
19 Jun 1916	Palace, High Shields	Professional
26 Jun 1916	Alhambra, Leith	Professional	Read Narrative "Mr Wilson and his No. 1 London company present with success the popular sketch, "The Love Child", Mr Wilson being very effective in the role of the Miner." Reviewed in "The Scotsman" on 27 June 1916. Also on the bill were the following performers: "Madge Velma and Her Ruffles", "The Yelson Trio", "Mclean and Mao", "Miller and Denla", "Musical Lento", "Charlie Kemble", "Jack Kanday". Listed in "The Scotsman" on 27 June 1916.
28 Aug 1916	Bo'ness Town Hall Cinema, Bo'ness, Linlithgow	Professional	Read Narrative "the play presented by Mr Fred. Wilson and his No. 1 Company of London artistes. The play, which is entitled "The Love Child", had the undivided attention of a most appreciative audience." "Linlithgowshire Gazette, 1 September 1916.
22 Jan 1917	Palace, Norton, Yorkshire	Professional	Read Narrative "The Love Child' continues to be presented by Fred Wilson and his company alongside "And The Woman Told" and "Her Rosary". An advert in "The Stage" notes that this is the "third week in Norton within twelve weeks". "The Stage" 15 January 1917.
29 Jan 1917	Empire, Crumlin	Professional
5 Feb 1917	Theatre Royal, Pontypool	Professional
12 Feb 1917	Pavillion, Barnsley	Professional
12 Mar 1917	Pavillion, Girvan	Professional	Read Narrative Mr Fred Wilson and his Company perform "The Love Child" alongside "The Ace of Hearts", "And The Woman Told" and "Her Rosary". "The Stage", 12 March 1917
26 Mar 1917	Pavillion, Stranraer	Professional
9 Apr 1917	Empire, Alexandria	Professional
16 Apr 1917	Mechanics' Hall, Dumfries	Professional
4 Jun 1917	Gaiety, Methil	Professional
11 Jun 1917	Temperance Hall, Merthyr Tydfil	Professional	Read Narrative Third time Mr Wilson and his Company had performed at the Temperance Hall in Merthyr Tydfil. "The Stage", 7 June 1917.
18 Jun 1917	Grand, Aberaman	Professional
25 Jun 1917	Dooner's, Brynmawr	Professional
2 Jul 1917	Olympia, Tredegar	Professional
8 Oct 1917	Elite Theatre, Bordesley Green, Birmingham	Professional
15 Oct 1917	Tivoli, Manchester	Professional
22 Oct 1917	Palace, Bathgate	Professional
10 Dec 1917	West End Cinema Theatre, Edinburgh	Professional
31 Dec 1917	Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham	Professional	Read Narrative "Fred Wilson and His Company in the Strongest Sketch Repertoire Touring." Sketches performed "The Ace of Hearts", "The Love Child", "And The Woman Told" and "Her Rosary". "The Stage, 3 January 1918
7 Jan 1918	Grand Theatre, Old Hill, Staffordshire	Professional
14 Jan 1918	Playhouse, Hitchin, Herts	Professional
18 Feb 1918	Empire, Mansfield	Professional	Read Narrative Also on the bill: "Lottie Collins, Gerald Cyril, Madge Osmond, F.V. St. Clair, Miller & Mohamed". "Mansfield Reporter", 15 February 1918.
13 Jan 1919	Bijou Theatre, Isleworth, London	Professional	Read Narrative "Fred Wilson and His Company". Sketches performed, "The Ace of Hearts, The Love Child, And The Woman Told, Her Rosary, The Great Calamity, The Great Surrender". "The Stage", 16 January 1919
20 Jan 1919	King's Theatre, Holbeck, Leeds	Professional
27 Jan 1919	Picturedrome, Bradford	Professional
17 Feb 1919	Grand Theatre, Walsall	Professional
31 Mar 1919	Palace Theatre, Bradford	Professional
16 Oct 1919	Reid Hall Cinema, Forfar	Professional	Read Narrative "The Love Child" performed on Wednesday 16th and Saturday 18th October 1919. "Forfar Dispatch", 16 October 1919.
17 Nov 1919	Variety Theatre, Denny	Professional
24 Nov 1919	Coliseum, Goole	Professional
22 Mar 1920	Reid Hall Cinema, Forfar	Professional	Read Narrative "Special Return Engagement of Mr. Fred Wilson including Miss Sonia Carthew and Mr Fred Repworth who will play selections from the following High-class Playlets - 'The Ace of Hearts', 'The Love Child', 'And The Woman Told', 'Her Rosary' and 'The Great Calamity'". 'Forfar Dispatch, 181 March 1920
29 Nov 1920	The Musketeers' Theatre, Cupar	Professional	Read Narrative 'Fred Wilson's No. 1 London Sketch Company in (a) "The Love Child" , (b) "The Rotters"'. "St Andrews Citizen", 27 November 1927.
17 Jan 1921	Empire, Cowdenbeath	Professional

The Love Child

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Performances