It's A Long Way To Tipperary

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A melodrama on a model which is becoming conventional: the first part at home with the beginning of German spy work, the middle at the front with the spy work in full blast and the last part at home again with everything coming right for the good people and wrong for the bad. Nothing much happens in the first two acts except the engagements of the soldier hero and heroine and the mildly comic second hero with an American heiress and the first attempts of the (German army) villain and (Germany spy) villainess frustrated by the American heiress. The 3rd set is in an improvised hospital at the front. The business of wounded soldiers is painful but well-meant. The heroes distinguish themselves as soldiers and heroines as nurses, and a dastardly attempt of the villain, now a German officer, and the villainess, now a sham nurse, is again frustrated by the American. One part of this is objectionable; of this later. Act IV finds the heroine's father, a priest, presumably protestant, in Tipperary on the point of having his house sold. The villain returns disguised and bids for it because it contains a secret document of his but is overbid by a good (!) German professor: the latter brings on the hero whom he has looked after and who has lost his memory after being wounded: he recovers his memory and all ends happily after the villain has once more been discomforted by the American heiress. The objectionable part referred to in Act III is the attempted inoculation with 'scarlet fever germs' of the British wounded by the German officer. It is announced on p23 of Act III and referred to on pp25 and 27 and it is not advisable that falsehoods - the truth is bad enough - should be told of the enemy, even on the stage. I think it should come out. The rest of the act is free from outrages and the play with this exception is Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Licensed On: 24 Nov 1914

License Number: 3037

British Library Reference: LCP1914/34

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66082 F

Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
28 Nov 1914	Grand Theatre, Stockton On Tees	Unknown	Licensed Performance
21 Dec 1914	New Theatre Royal, Castleford	Professional	Read Narrative 'new domestic and military drama [...] The authors have given us a play which decidedly calls for favourable criticism. It is well written and ably constructed, and has been staged by Mr. Lodge-Percy with most praiseworthy care, liberality, and attention to detail. The authors having selected the subject, have treated it with considerable skill, firmness, and resource. While not relying upon any ultra-sensationalisms for its attractions, It's a Long Way to Tipperary holds its own by a well-sustained movement, capable characterisation, and its fairly strong central theme, which is adhered to throughout with admirable concentration of purpose. There is abundance of comedy, and the dialogue is good, while the incidents contain plenty of opportunities for forcible and effective acting. Aided as it is by good staging, capital printing, and a strong company, whom, we understand, Miss Schrier and Mr. Lodge-Percy have succeeded in retaining, the play ought to have a successful career before it. The incidental music has been composed and arranged by R.S. James and Feldman and Co. The scenery is by James Cooke. [...]The parts are brightly acted all round. A dainty Hatty is Miss Henrietta Schrier, who makes a most amusing and charming American girl. The Hugh of Mr. Lodge-Percy is a distinctly funny performance. Under the tutelage of Mr. Fred W. Freeman Dollman loses none of his execrable traits. In Lieut. Dennis Mr. Harold Dayne has a part to which he is well adapted. Cynthia is represented efficiently by Miss Claire Huntley, and Miss Molly Hayden works with much zeal as Cerise McLeod. Mr. J. E. Wildash's portrayal of the Rev. Patrick O'Brian is excellent. Miss Mabel Hall sings charmingly and plays prettily as Lavender. Mr. J. E. Wilkinson causes much laughter as Sergy. Wilks. Tom Tressider as in the careful hands of Mr. Timon Massey, and Mr. Wm. Hayward makes a capital spy. The remaining parts are in good hands.' (The Stage - Thursday 31 December 1914)
8 Feb 1915	Prince's Theatre, Portsmouth	Professional	Read Narrative Three Companies of Equal Strength "A" Company Including Miss Henrietta Schrier, Frederick W. Freeman, and J.W. Wilkinson "B" Company Including Miss Florrie Kelsey, Walter Clarke, and Norman A. Overton "C" Company in process of formation
18 Feb 1915	Grand Theatre, Luton	Professional	Read Narrative "B" Company
22 Feb 1915	Theatre Royal, Stratford	Professional	Read Narrative Nightly at 7.30, Matinee Monday at 2.30
1 Mar 1915	Palace Theatre, Rochdale	Professional
8 Mar 1915	Theatre Royal, Leeds	Professional	Read Narrative "A" Company
8 Mar 1915	Palace Theatre, Bordesley	Professional	Read Narrative "B" Company
16 Mar 1915	Prince's Theatre, Bradford	Professional	Read Narrative "A" Company
16 Mar 1915	Elephant and Castle Theatre, London	Professional	Read Narrative "B" Company Refer Sidney Barnard Esq. Elephant Theatre where a triumphant success was scored last week. Nearly a thousand people turned away on Saturday. (The Stage - Thursday 25 March 1915)
25 Mar 1915	Grand, Halifax	Professional
1 Apr 1915	Grand Theatre, Douglas	Professional
6 Apr 1915	Hippodrome, Huddersfield	Professional
13 Apr 1915	Queen's Theatre, Longton	Professional
26 Apr 1915	Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton	Professional
3 May 1915	Empire Theatre, Edmonton	Professional
10 May 1915	Victoria Theatre, Walthamstow	Professional
31 May 1915	New Cross Broadway, London	Professional	Read Narrative Opened to a splendid house at Broadway, New Cross. Magnificent Reception.
31 May 1915	[No Theatre Listed],	Professional	Read Narrative New Theatre (Maesteg) not listed.
7 Jun 1915	Imperial Theatre, Canning Town	Professional
7 Jun 1915	Grand Theatre, Pentre, Rhondda valley	Professional	Read Narrative Fred Litttle's Productions Limited have acquired the Sole Rights for Scotland and Wales, and all English Towns under 30,000 population. (The Stage - Thursday 17 June 1915)
14 Jun 1915	[No Theatre Listed],	Professional
14 Jun 1915	Empire Theatre, Tonypandy	Professional
21 Jun 1915	Pavilion Theatre, Pontnewyndd	Professional
21 Jun 1915	Theatre Royal, Chatham	Professional
12 Jul 1915	[No Theatre Listed],	Professional
26 Jul 1915	Grand Opera House, Belfast	Professional	Read Narrative Twice Nightly 6.50pm and 9 pm.
26 Jul 1915	Metropole Theatre, Manchester	Professional
2 Aug 1915	Opera House, St Helens	Professional
9 Aug 1915	Pavilion, Wolverhampton	Professional
15 Aug 1915	New Theatre, Crewe	Professional
16 Aug 1915	Grand, Swansea	Professional	Read Narrative "A" Company
16 Aug 1915	Grand Theatre, Hull	Professional	Read Narrative "B" Company
23 Aug 1915	Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham	Professional	Read Narrative Twice nightly at 6.50 and 9 pm. Matinee every Wednesday at 2.30. "A" Company
23 Aug 1915	Theatre Royal, Jarrow	Professional	Read Narrative "B" Company
13 Sep 1915	Scala Theatre, Seacombe	Professional	Read Narrative "A" Company
13 Sep 1915	Grand Theatre, Nottingham	Professional	Read Narrative "B" Company
20 Sep 1915	Theatre Royal, Sheffield	Professional
22 Oct 1915	Junction Theatre, Manchester	Professional
1 Nov 1915	Theatre Royal, North Shields	Professional	Read Narrative First time in North Shields of this most Successful Domestic and Military Drama. Twice Nightly.
30 Nov 1915	Theatre Royal, Smethwick	Professional	Read Narrative Twice nightly 6.45 and 9 pm
13 Dec 1915	Prince's Theatre, Portsmouth	Professional	Read Narrative Twice nightly at 7 and 9
10 Jan 1916	Theatre Royal, Chorley	Professional
18 Jan 1916	Theatre Royal, Hyde	Professional
24 Jan 1916	?, Buxton	Professional
21 Feb 1916	Unknown Theatre, St Albans	Professional
28 Feb 1916	Unknown Theatre, Harrogate	Professional
28 Feb 1916	Unknown Theatre, Scarborough	Professional
6 Mar 1916	Royal Court Theatre, Wigan	Professional
28 Mar 1916	Palace Theatre, Manchester	Professional	Read Narrative 7th visit to Manchester.
12 Jun 1916	Theatre Royal, Leeds	Professional
17 Jul 1916	Prince's Theatre, Bradford	Professional

It's A Long Way To Tipperary

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

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Performances