Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is the best of the War plays produced at this music hall, though the others I have read were well done: it is well written and very dramatic. The scene is laid in the reception room of a convent on the highest coast, looking onto the sea. The mother superior is visited by her brother, a lieutenant in the navy. It appears from their conversation that his ship has found a submarine base, that a transport from Ireland is missing that night and that letters from him to her have been intercepted. While they talk a German submarine is seen at sea. She takes him to show him a speedy path back to his ship. Then a convent retainer, supposed to be dumb and really a spy, introduces the captain of the submarine. The upshot of the plot, to relate which in detail would take as much space as the play itself, is that the mother superior outwits the plotters - (after the German has uttered horrid threats against her and she is thought to be locked in her room) by both signalling to the submarine to go away and by cutting the rope by which the German is getting down to his launch, so saving the thousands of men on the transport. I do not think any catholic could object to a mother superior doing this with the object in view. The scene might just as well be an ordinary country house as a convent but I do not think any requisition to that effect is necessary. There is no ritual or anything of that sort. The scenic effects of the play, with the submarine, search-lights etc., should be impressive. Recommended for license, G. S. Street

Licensed On: 3 Feb 1916

License Number: 38

Author(s):

Genre(s):

British Library Reference: LCP1916/2

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66123 J

Performances

Date Theatre Type
7 Feb 1916 Collins' Music Hall, Islington, London Professional Licensed Performance
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
21 Feb 1916 Hippodrome, Coventry Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
28 Feb 1916 Hippodrome, Aston Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
27 Mar 1916 Empire Theatre, Newport Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
17 Apr 1916 Empire, Wood Green Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
24 Apr 1916 Empire, Liverpool Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
8 May 1916 Palace Theatre, Southampton Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
15 May 1916 Palace Theatre, Halifax Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
5 Jun 1916 Empire Theatre, Sunderland Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
12 Jun 1916 Palace Theatre, South Shields Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
19 Jun 1916 Royal Hippodrome, Belfast Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
31 Jul 1916 Royal Hippodrome, Belfast Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
7 Aug 1916 Hippodrome, Richmond Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
4 Sep 1916 Hippodrome, Woolwich Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
11 Sep 1916 Hippodrome, Bristol Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
25 Sep 1916 Hippodrome, Derby Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
13 Nov 1916 Palace Theatre, Burnley Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
27 Nov 1916 Hippodrome, Devonport Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
18 Dec 1916 ?, Carlisle Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
22 Jan 1917 Hippodrome, Rochdale Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
5 Feb 1917 Palace, Bath Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
19 Feb 1917 Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
23 Apr 1917 Palace Theatre, Southampton Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
14 May 1917 Palace, Hammersmith Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
21 May 1917 Hippodrome, Aldershot Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
18 Jun 1917 Empire Theatre, Kingston Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
16 Jul 1917 Coliseum, Burslem Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
23 Jul 1917 Palace Theatre, Chelsea, London Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
31 Jul 1917 Palace, Hammersmith Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
1 Oct 1917 Hippodrome and Palace, Warrington Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.
15 Oct 1917 Palace Theatre, Plymouth Professional
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Performed by Miss Beaumont Collins.