A Mother's Prayer
Examiner of Plays' Summary:
An extremely crude and amateurish domestic Melodrama dealing with the persecution of his wife and son by a scoundrel who on coming out of prison on a ticket of leave, attempts to blackmail the mother by his threat to injure the career of his child- now a midshipman- by announcing the [...] paternity which she has studiously kept a secret [...]
Researcher's Summary:
The play changed its name in spring 1917 to the 'more stirringly topical title of "The Middy V.C. Comes Home," under which style it is being played, twice nightly, and the Elephant this week. Originally presented in four acts, of eight scenes, it is now given in five scenes ...' ('The Stage', 19 July 1917)
Licensed On: 11 Dec 1916
License Number: 632
Genre(s):
Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1916/30
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66151 H
Performances
Date | Theatre | Type | |
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23 Dec 1916 | Marine Theatre, Lowestoft | Unknown | Licensed Performance |
1 Jan 1917 | Theatre Royal, Lincoln | Professional |
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Twice nightly
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8 Jan 1917 | Theatre Royal, Stratford | Unknown | |
5 Feb 1917 | Public Hall, Runcorn | Professional | |
9 Mar 1917 | Alexandra Theatre, Hull | Professional |
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Twice nightly. ' ... a capital healthy and stirring drama of the sea, which should attract the particular attention of the naval man on holiday and his friends. It is well written, and played with vigour and discrimination by a talented company.' ('Hull Daily Mail', 10 April 1917, p. 2)
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12 Mar 1917 | Grand Theatre, Nottingham | Professional | |
19 Mar 1917 | Hippodrome, Huddersfield | Professional | |
16 Apr 1917 | Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham | Professional |
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Twice nightly. '... a strong domestic drama based on a story of a naval hero'. ('Birmingham Daily Gazette', 17 April 1917)
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30 Apr 1917 | Theatre Royal, South Shields | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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7 May 1917 | Theatre Royal, Jarrow | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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28 May 1917 | Grand Theatre, Stockton | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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4 Jun 1917 | Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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11 Jun 1917 | Theatre Royal, Sunderland | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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9 Jul 1917 | Theatre Royal, Chatham | Professional |
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Two performances per night plus matinee on Wednesday. Performed as The Middy V.C. Comes Home
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16 Jul 1917 | Elephant and Castle Theatre, London | Professional |
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[The play] 'had its name changed in the course of the spring to the more stirringly topical title of "The Middy V.C. Comes Home," under which style it is being played, twice nightly, and the Elephant this week. Originally presented in four acts, of eight scenes, it is now given in five scenes ...' ('The Stage', 19 July 1917, p. 14)
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23 Jul 1917 | Theatre Royal, Smethwick | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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30 Jul 1917 | Theatre Royal, Aston Cross | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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20 Aug 1917 | Theatre Royal, Sheffield | Professional |
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'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' is a highly sensational melodrama with a mildly topical flavour, played with the fervour necessary to enable such theatrical fare to make a quick appeal to a thrill-loving audience. ('Sheffield Independent', 21 August 1917, p. 3)
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27 Aug 1917 | Palace, Newcastle | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' Twice nightly
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3 Sep 1917 | Grand, Hartlepool | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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10 Sep 1917 | Theatre Royal, North Shields | Unknown |
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Every true British heart thrills with pride in the achievements of our gallant navy. The lads in blue face hardship and danger with a courage that nothing can daunt. They are the boys who do and dare, and it is around this theme that Miss Eva Elwes, the gifted young dramatist has woven her latest play, "The Middy V.C. Comes Home". ('Shields Daily News', 8 September 1917, . 4)
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17 Sep 1917 | Metropole Theatre, Gateshead | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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1 Oct 1917 | Globe Theatre, Consett | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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15 Oct 1917 | Metropole Theatre, Glasgow | Professional | |
29 Oct 1917 | Alexandra Theatre, Pontefract | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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5 Nov 1917 | Theatre Royal, Dewsbury | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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12 Nov 1917 | Palace Theatre, Bordesley | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' 'The plot reveals a thrilling story of the war with a good sprinkling of genuine humour.' ('Birmingham Daily Gazette', 13 November 1917, p. 3)
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19 Nov 1917 | Theatre Royal, Worcester | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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26 Nov 1917 | Theatre Royal, Barry | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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3 Dec 1917 | Grand Theatre, Pentre | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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17 Dec 1917 | Opera House, Coventry | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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24 Dec 1917 | Grand Theatre, Luton | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' Twice nightly. Performed Monday 24 December and during the week (Xmas Day excepted). Matinee on Boxing Day. ('Luton Reporter', 18 December 1917)
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30 Jan 1918 | Hippodrome, Queen's Park, Manchester | Professional |
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Performed on 30 January and 2 February. Twice nightly Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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6 Feb 1918 | Grand Junction Theatre, Hulme | Professional |
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Performed 6 and 9 February. Twice nightly. Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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11 Feb 1918 | Hippodrome, Salford | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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4 Mar 1918 | Theatre Royal, Yarmouth | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. 'The truth of the saying that laughter is akin to tears will be found exemplified in the unfolding of this play. The lighter side of Naval life is blended with its stern reality in a natural and convincing fashion. The scenes are laid in leafy Devon and upon the quarter deck of H.M.S. Neptune.' (Yarmouth Independent', 2 March 1918, p. 3)
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15 Mar 1918 | Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'. Twice nightly. '... a thrilling drama atune with the spirit of the times ... the play abounds in exciting situations and is remarkable for the wealth of incident that can be compressed into a twice-nightly production.' ('Birmingham Mail', 16 April 1918, p. 4)
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18 Mar 1918 | Grand Theatre, Nottingham | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
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29 Apr 1918 | Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' Twice nightly
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6 May 1918 | Theatre Royal, Stanley | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
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13 May 1918 | Theatre Royal, Jarrow | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday
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20 May 1918 | Theatre Royal, South Shields | Professional |
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Twice nightly. Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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20 May 1918 | Theatre Royal, Bristol | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' Played by the repertory company ('Western Daily Press', 21 May 1918, p. 2)
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3 Jun 1918 | Grand Theatre, Stockton | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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10 Jun 1918 | Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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10 Jun 1918 | Grand Theatre, Croydon | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' Once nightly and matinee on Thursday.
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17 Jun 1918 | Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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24 Jun 1918 | Empire Theatre, Edmonton | Unknown |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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8 Jul 1918 | Theatre Royal, Sheffield | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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15 Jul 1918 | Her Majesty's Theatre, Walsall | Professional |
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Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'
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