The Cottage Girl

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The cottage girl is Jennie, the daughter of an honest ploughman, and the victim of the plots of the Squire's wicked wife, Lilah Lady Peel, and of her paramour the Squire's nephew. The brazen pair find out that Grey the gamekeeper to whom Jennie is betrothed is no other than the Squire's rightful heir, stolen at birth; and round this discovery they build an elaborate plot in which there figure attempts at swindling, at abduction, and at all sorts of other crimes. There is very little sense in any of their proceedings, which are no less preposterous than evil-disposed, and are of course doomed to easy defeat. They may, however, serve to interest quite innocently those able to enjoy primitive domestic melodrama; and the crude little play may safely be Recommended for Licence. Ernest A. Bendall. [In red ink below] In the manuscript I think the name Lady Peel needs change. There is certainly one going about well known and I think two. [In black ink below] 21/12/16 Characters will be referred to as Squire and Squire's Lady.

Licensed On: 23 Dec 1916

License Number: 657

British Library Reference: LCP1916/31

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66152 K

Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
15 Jun 1916	Palace Theatre, Brierley Hill	Professional	Read Narrative Twice nightly (Dudley Chronicle 10 June 1916)
21 Dec 1916	Hippodrome, Nuneaton	Unknown	Licensed Performance
1 Jan 1917	Metropole Theatre, Abertillery	Professional
1 Jan 1917	Metropole Theatre, Abertillery	Professional
8 Jan 1917	New Empire, Aberdare	Professional	Read Narrative Miss Eva Elwes presents her powerful Company in the new Play of English Country Life. Cast included Eva Elwes and L.E. Eykyn. ('Aberdare Leader', 5 February 1917)
8 Jan 1917	Empire, Mountain Ash	Professional
12 Jan 1917	Grand Theatre, Pentre	Professional
15 Jan 1917	Empire, Porth	Professional
20 Jan 1917	Olympia, Tredegar	Professional
29 Jan 1917	Theatre Royal, Middlesbrough	Professional
5 Feb 1917	Empire, Mountain Ash	Professional
22 Feb 1917	Alexandra Theatre, Hull	Professional	Read Narrative 'There is more simplicity and less strain in the play which is at this house this week than has been usual for some time past. Moreover, there is no allusion to the war and its problems, and no really deep-dyed villainy in the domestic circle. It is an English rural story, in which figure the red coats of the hunt, the squire, the villagers, and so forth.' ('Hull Daily Mail', 20 February, 1917 p. 3).
26 Feb 1917	Palace, Newcastle	Professional	Read Narrative 'A new play, dealing with English country life, entitled, "The Cottage Girl," by Eva Elwes, is the attraction at the Palace Theatre, and in the seven scenes through which the story runs humour and pathos are admirably blended. The authoress appears in the character of Ada Stack, the outcast ...' ('Newcastle Journal, 27 February 1917) Two performances per night
5 Mar 1917	Theatre Royal, Leeds	Professional	Read Narrative Eva Elwes's company performed with Elwes playing the role of Ada Stack achieving 'something of a triumph in a rather difficult part'. ('The Stage', 8 March 1917) Two performances per night and matinee on Tuesday
12 Mar 1917	Prince's Theatre, Bradford	Professional
20 Mar 1917	Theatre Royal, Crook	Professional
26 Mar 1917	Gaiety Theatre, Houghton-Le-Spring	Professional	Read Narrative Miss Eva Elwes' Co. ('The Stage', 29 March 1917)
2 Apr 1917	Theatre Royal, South Shields	Professional	Read Narrative Miss Eva Elwes and Company in the new play of English country life. Two performances on Good Friday. ('Shields Daily News, 5 April 1917, p. 1)
11 Apr 1917	New Hippodrome, Spennymoor	Professional	Read Narrative 'Miss Eva Elwes presents her powerful company in "The Cottage Girl" ' (Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 11 April 1917)
16 Apr 1917	Her Majesty's Theatre, Walsall	Professional	Read Narrative Her Majesty's Repertory Company of Talented Players. Twice nightly. ('Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle', 14 April 1917, p.4)
23 Apr 1917	Theatre Royal, Sheffield	Professional
2 May 1917	New Theatre Royal, Castleford	Professional
8 May 1917	Palace Theatre, Bordesley	Professional
16 May 1917	Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton	Professional
28 May 1917	Theatre Royal, Sunderland	Professional	Read Narrative Performed twice nightly ('Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette', 30 May 1917, p. 1)
11 Jun 1917	Palace Theatre, Gloucester	Professional	Read Narrative The 'Gloucester Journal' (16 June, 1917) notes 'taking the play as a whole, there is nothing novel in it, but it contains most of those thrilling incidents which go to make and interesting production.'
25 Jun 1917	Palace Theatre, Rochdale	Professional
9 Jul 1917	Hippodrome, Huddersfield	Professional
18 Jul 1917	Grand Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees	Professional	Read Narrative 'Miss Eva Elwes, actress-authoress, is here in her new country drama, "The Cottage Girl".' ('The Era', 18 July 1917)
26 Jul 1917	King's Theatre, Gateshead	Professional
20 Aug 1917	Metropole Theatre, Glasgow	Professional	Read Narrative 'It is a new play dealing with country life, from the pen of Miss Eva Elwes, who also heads the list of players. The piece is one of a specially attractive nature, and among the scenes that of the Hunt Wedding affords good opportunity for spectacular effect. The interest never lags, and the story is cleverly presented.' ('Daily Record', 21 August, 1917)
27 Aug 1917	Star Theatre, Armadale	Professional
3 Sep 1917	Theatre Royal, Coatbridge	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Miss Eva Elwes Company. In the first act there is 'a patriotic song entitled "The Boys of the H.L.I.".' ('Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser', 8 September 1917, p.4)
24 Sep 1917	Grand Theatre, Nottingham	Professional	Read Narrative 'Miss Eva Elwes, the authoress of the play, takes the principal role herself, and is supported by a talented company of players. The action takes place amid rural scenery, and some of the settings are of great beauty.' ('Nottingham Evening Post', 25 September 1917, p. 3)
1 Oct 1917	Elephant and Castle Theatre, London	Professional
15 Oct 1917	Theatre Royal, Smethwick	Professional	Read Narrative Two performances per night plus Wednesday matinee ('Birmingham Daily Gazette', 18 October 1917, p. 4)
23 Oct 1917	Theatre Royal, Aston	Professional
31 Oct 1917	Hippodrome, Bilston	Professional
12 Nov 1917	Palace, Derby	Professional	Read Narrative A review in the 'Derby Daily Telegraph' (13 November 1917) notes that 'Miss Eva Elwes, the authoress ... is herself appearing at this theatre this week in another of her own productions, "The Cottage Girl".' Elwes plays the part of Ada Stack, the Cottage Girl's mother.
17 Dec 1917	Palace Theatre, Redditch	Professional
24 Dec 1917	Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham	Professional
31 Dec 1917	Palace Theatre, Barnoldswick	Professional
7 Jan 1918	Theatre Royal, Leicester	Professional
14 Jan 1918	Victoria Theatre, Lye	Professional
18 Feb 1918	Royal Palace, Liverpool	Professional
25 Feb 1918	Grand Theatre, Falkirk	Professional	Read Narrative Elwes played the part of Ada Stack, the outcast, and Mr L.E. Eykyn played the part of the squire. "There was a large audience at the first performance of the week, and the company then showed considerable talent within the scope of a play like 'The Cottage Girl', in which emotions and characteristics are painted with a broad brush." (Falkirk Herald, 27 February 1918)
25 Feb 1918	Theatre Royal, Bristol	Professional
1 Oct 1923	Prince's Theatre, Blackburn	Professional	Read Narrative Howard and Stewart's repertory company ('The Stage', 4 October 1923, p. 4)
6 Feb 1924	Palace Theatre, Polesworth	Professional
24 Jun 1926	Theatre Royal, Oldham	Professional
21 Nov 1927	Theatre Royal, West Bromwich	Professional
28 Nov 1927	Opera House, Dudley	Professional
15 Aug 1929	Olympia Theatre, Bulwell, Nottingham	Professional
24 Jan 1938	Hippodrome, Preston	Professional

The Cottage Girl

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

Author(s):

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Performances