Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The only objection to this melodrama is that it deals with sailors and the battle of Jutland and therefore offends one’s sense of proportion: there is of course no bad intention and the objection, except in one instance, is only one of taste. The story is of a usual type. Before the play begins Admiral Hardy was led falsely to believe that his wife was faithless and had become the mistress of one Beaumont, in reality a German spy. The admiral kept their daughter, his wife their son. Starkey, another scoundrel, wants to marry the daughter, Rose. Beaumont and he lured her to Beaumont’s house on promise of meeting her mother, with the object of forcing the admiral, when he follows her, to betray the movements of the Fleet by threatening to kill Rose. That plot is defeated and Beaumont gets into the Admiral’s ship, having got a defaulting sailor’s uniform, and when the battle of Jutland begins places a bomb, which is rendered harmless by the Admiral’s son Jack, joined as first class boy under a different name. Beaumont is shot, first confessing the falseness of his charges. The ship is afterwards saved by the heroism of Jack and all ends happily. The comic relief includes a sailor, but though he is absurd he is made a good fellow and there is no harm intended. More serious is the introduction of another sailor in a hopelessly drunken state- Part II p.p.45-47 - and I think that should be cut out. There is a caustic reference (p.61) to the Admiralty’s first report of the battle, but that is merely a reflection of a pretty general opinion. Apart from the drunken sailor I do not think there is anything in the play which can be cut out, though, as I have suggested, the introduction of the Jutland battle and its heroism into a tawdry melodrama annoys one. Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Researcher's Summary:

This play had no author listed when it was submitted for licence. Volunteer research has shown however that the author was Frank Price.

Licensed On: 2 Sep 1916

License Number: 438

Author(s):

Genre(s):

Keyword(s):

British Library Reference: LCP1916/21

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66142 G

Performances

Date Theatre Type
11 Sep 1916 Hippodrome, Salford Professional Licensed Performance
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"an interesting story, which appeared to give much pleasure to a large and enthusiastic audience", The Era. Performers: Dot Stephens (Rose Hardy), Muriel Marsden (Jack Dunstone), Dora Wynne (Beatrice Dunstone), H Cooper (Rear Admiral Sir J Hardy), V Gamon (Lieut Hampton), George Hazlehurst (Montague Beaumont), James Macintosh (Graham Starkey), Charles Buxton (Bob Crumpet), John Errol (Ben Diggle), G Vickers (Polly Cooksey)
18 Sep 1916 Royal Osborne Theatre, Manchester Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company
2 Oct 1916 Theatre Royal, Liverpool Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company
9 Oct 1916 Junction Theatre, Manchester Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company
16 Oct 1916 Prince's Theatre, Portsmouth Professional
23 Oct 1916 Corporation Theatre, Chesterfield Professional
30 Oct 1916 Palace Theatre, Derby Professional
6 Nov 1916 Empire Theatre, Ripley Professional
13 Nov 1916 Palace Theatre, Gloucester Professional
1 Jan 1917 Palace Theatre, Belper Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company Other acts on bill: "Should They Marry"
5 Feb 1917 Hippodrome, Batley Professional
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Performers: Dot and Company Other acts on bill: "Should They Marry"
26 Mar 1917 Grand Theatre, Falkirk Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company Other acts on bill: Shall They Marry
2 Apr 1917 Metropole Theatre, Glasgow Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co Other acts on bill: Should They Marry On Friday 6th Dot Stephens played Jo, the crossing sweeper in "Bleak House" in a special benefit.,
16 Apr 1917 Metropole Theatre, Glasgow Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company
7 May 1917 Grand, Hartlepool Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
21 May 1917 Theatre Royal, Jarrow Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
11 Jun 1917 Palace, Newcastle Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
18 Jun 1917 Hippodrome, Huddersfield Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
25 Jun 1917 Theatre Royal, Sheffield Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
3 Sep 1917 Grand Theatre, Plymouth Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
10 Sep 1917 Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
24 Sep 1917 Theatre Royal, Sunderland Professional
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Performers: Albert Sember's Company
8 Oct 1917 New Theatre Royal, Castleford Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
29 Oct 1917 Alexandra Theatre, Hull Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
8 Nov 1917 Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
19 Nov 1917 Her Majesty's Theatre, Walsall Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
10 Dec 1917 Prince's Theatre, Bradford Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
12 Mar 1918 Hippodrome, Hamilton Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Company Other acts on bill: Should They Marry
20 Apr 1918 Hippodrome, Hamilton Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
22 Apr 1918 Garrick Theatre, Edinburgh Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
27 May 1918 Theatre Royal, Bury Professional
10 Jun 1918 Grand Theatre, Halifax Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
1 Jul 1918 Theatre Royal, North Shields Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
29 Jul 1918 Opera House, Coventry Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
5 Aug 1918 Royalty Theatre, Chester Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
5 Aug 1918 Royalty Theatre, Chester Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
9 Sep 1918 Alexandra Theatre, Hull Professional
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Performers: Watson Mill Stock Repertory Company
30 Sep 1918 Shodfriar's Hall, Boston Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co
1 Apr 1921 Her Majesty's Theatre, Walsall Professional
11 Jul 1921 Grand, Lancaster Professional
10 Aug 1921 Theatre Royal, Dewsbury Professional
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Performers: Dot Stephens Co