The Call

‘It will be noted from advertisement on front page that the Lenzie Bohemian Club are to give a dramatic and musical entertainment in the Public Halls on Friday, 27th November, in aid of the War Relief Funds. “The Call,” an original play in one act by Kennedy Lorimer, is the principal feature. The play is to be produced for the first time on any stage. A farce in one act – “Freezing a mother-in law,” by T. Edgar Pemberton, will also be performed. There will also be songs and recitations and orchestral selections. The entertainment promises to be first rate, and tickets ought to be procured as early as possible’ (Kirkintilloch Herald, 18 November 1914). ‘“The Call” is rather a clever piece of work, being a play in one act by Kennedy Lorimer, and was presented for the first time on any stage. The story is simple but true to life, and the incidents and scenes portrayed are such as might happen in many homes in humble life at the present time. The kernel of the piece displayed how a young man of idle and intemperate habits was convinced that the life he was leading did not do himself, or those belonging to him, credit, and renouncing his former ways and associates he pays a visit to the recruiting sergeants and joins the colours. The play was produced by Mr. W. Ralph Parnell. The time was an evening in October, 1914, and the scene the living room of a working-class house. The acting throughout was considerably above the level of the ordinary amateur dramatic club performance. At the same time, the working-class dialect was not used to best advantage by the majority of the payers, and more than one member of the audience was also of the opinion that a less frequent of the big “D” would have improved the piece to a great extent. These, then, were the faults as they appeared to us, but to give them their due, the various characters did their parts admirably, and the audience was not slow in showing their appreciation. Miss Minnie Ross, as “Nancy Fraser,” cleverly enacted the role allotted to her, while Miss Polly White, after a long preliminary silence, as “Elizabeth Short,” the mother of the household, gave a good account of herself. Miss Millie Wilson had the part of “Ann Aitchison,” the neighbour, who, on a visit to “Elizabeth Short,” received intimation brought [sic – through?] the newspapers that her husband had been killed at the front. The gossip between the two women was scarcely spirited enough, and there might have been more life imparted into the hysterical part. Mr. Hugh Miller, as “Jim Short,” was perhaps the best of all. He understood what was wanted of him and did it well, while Mr. Henry Allan, with the light part of “Cully Smythe,” impersonated the “keeley”(?) to a nicety. The play was followed with interest, and the general opinion was that “it was very good”‘ (Kirkintilloch Herald, 2 December 1914).