Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a well conceived and cleverly written comedy on the theme of "caste', as affected by the social upheavals due to the present war. It's hero is the leading tailor in a country town where in 1911 he is doing good work as a captain in the newly formed Territorials. In that capacity he comes across the daughter of one of his customers, a Baronet who, like his wife and son, is soaked in the prejudices of Tory "country" society. The girl, an impulsive radical at heart, utterly out of sympathy with the snobbish traditions of her family, falls in love with the tradesman who though he returns her affection is too generous to take advantage of it, though she practically offers to sacrifice for his sake all that her relations hold most sacred in life. The comedy of the first act, with the tailor's professional call on the Baronet and the contrast between their views, is followed by General Post which has been started in 1914 with the outbreak of war, with the magnificent work of the Territorials and with the levelling of social classes in the new army. Smith the tailor is now colonel of a regiment which the baronet's son has joined, and the humours of the situation, its surprises and difficulties, are elaborated with delightfully natural effect. Another interval of years is supposed to see the war ended victoriously for the Allies, the tailor turned into Brigadier General Smith VC, and the Baronet's family only too anxious to welcome him as a suitor for the heroine's hand. The girl's character has changed, as has that of her relations, and for a time it seems as though mutual misunderstandings must keep the lovers separated. In the end however, all is settled happily: and the fortunate blend of realism and romance will doubtless afford much innocent delight if its rendering is as natural as are its easy dialogue and neat action [...]

Researcher's Summary:

In January 1920 the play was being filmed at the Ideal company's studios in Elstree. Thomas Bentley was the producer. Lilian Braithwaite was the only original member of the company from Birmingham. She starred alongside Henderson Bland in the play which was being seen by audiences by June 1920. In 1920 Percy Hutchison also took the play to Canada, where he concluded his season at His Majesty's, Montreal at the end of July 1922. In December 1926 the play was adapted and broadcast on the radio by Gordon McConnel.

Licensed On: 9 Feb 1917

License Number: 789

Author(s):

Genre(s):

British Library Reference: LCP1917/3

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66158 X

Performances

Date Theatre Type
26 Feb 1917 Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne Unknown Licensed Performance
13 Jan 1919 ?, Reading Professional
20 Jan 1919 Prince of Wales Theatre, Grimsby Professional
27 Jan 1919 Opera House, Northampton Professional
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Presented by Percy Hutchison and Herbert Jay
3 Feb 1919 ?, Hammersmith Professional
10 Feb 1919 ?, Wimbledon, London Professional
17 Feb 1919 Lyceum, Taunton Professional
7 Apr 1919 Grand Theatre, Croydon Professional
14 Apr 1919 Grand Theatre, Derby Professional
21 Apr 1919 ?, Brixton, London Professional
28 Apr 1919 ?, Westcliff Professional
12 May 1919 Dalston Theatre, London Professional
26 May 1919 Theatre Royal, York Professional
29 May 1919 Theatre Royal, Bath Professional
2 Jun 1919 Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool Professional
18 Aug 1919 Hippodrome, Golders Green, London Professional
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Cast including Arthur Pitt, Amy Ravenscroft, Geoffrey Webe, Grace Sweeting, Chas. J. Barber, Vernon Sylvaine, and Fred De Vere.
11 Sep 1919 Wellington Pier, Yarmouth Professional
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Presented by Percy Hutchinson and Herbert Jay's Principal London Company.
6 Oct 1919 Worthing Theatre, Worthing Professional
20 Oct 1919 Grand, Lancaster Professional
27 Oct 1919 Her Majesty's Theatre, Carlisle Professional
3 Nov 1919 Gaiety, Ayr Professional
10 Nov 1919 Grand Theatre, Falkirk Professional
17 Nov 1919 Theatre Royal, Dunfermline Professional
24 Nov 1919 ?, Perth Professional
1 Dec 1919 King's Theatre, Greenock Professional
8 Dec 1919 Theatre Royal, Aldershot Professional
19 Jan 1920 Shodfriar's Hall, Boston Professional
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Performed Monday-Wednesday.
2 Feb 1920 County Theatre, Bedford Professional
8 Mar 1920 Prince of Wales Theatre, Grimsby Professional
15 Mar 1920 Empire Theatre, Preston Professional
22 Mar 1920 Opera House, Wakefield Professional
1 Apr 1920 Unknown Theatre, Scarborough Professional
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Performed for three nights.
5 Apr 1920 Grand Theatre, Wellington Professional
12 Apr 1920 Brixton Theatre, Brixton Professional
19 Apr 1920 Theatre and Opera House, Cheltenham Professional
26 Apr 1920 ?, Port Talbot Professional
3 May 1920 Theatre Royal and Opera House, Torquay Professional
10 May 1920 Theatre Royal, Exeter Professional
17 May 1920 Lyceum Theatre, Newport Professional
16 Aug 1920 New Theatre, Cardiff Professional
23 Aug 1920 Hippodrome, Sheerness Professional
11 Oct 1920 Palace Theatre, Gloucester Professional
17 Jan 1921 Victoria Hall, Sudbury Professional
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For two nights only, 17 and 18 January. Performed by Percy Hutchison and Herbert Jay's company.
19 Jan 1921 Institute Hall, Braintree Professional
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For one night only.
5 Dec 1921 Hippodrome, Todmorden Amateur
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For three nights only, presented by the Todmorden Amateur Players.
18 Dec 1922 Hippodrome, Golders Green, London Professional
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Performed twice nightly. Mr Gerald Alexander presents his West-End Company.
8 Jan 1923 West Pier Theatre, Brighton Professional
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Presented by Gerald Anderson.
15 Jan 1923 South Parade Pier, Portsmouth Professional
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Presented by Gerald Alexander's West End Company
29 Jan 1923 Pier Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth Professional
6 Feb 1923 Avenue Hall, Southampton Amateur
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Performed by the South Hants Amateur Dramatic Club for two nights, in aid of the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital.
13 Feb 1923 Vista Cinema, Westbury Professional
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Performed for two nights by Gerald Alexander's company.
22 Feb 1923 Theatre Royal, Norwich Professional
26 Feb 1923 Theatre Royal, Pontypool Professional
5 Mar 1923 ?, Monmouth Professional
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Three nights only.
8 Mar 1923 Theatre Royal, Grantham Professional
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Performed Thursday-Saturday.
12 Mar 1923 Theatre Royal, King's Lynn Professional
19 Mar 1923 Theatre Royal, Yarmouth Professional
26 Mar 1923 Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Professional
9 Apr 1923 Opera House, Macclesfield Professional
30 Apr 1923 Pier Theatre, Eastbourne Professional
27 Aug 1923 Ambassadors, Southend Professional
27 Oct 1923 Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds Professional
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One night only, presented by special request by Dudley Stuart and Gerald Alexander.
4 Apr 1924 King Edward Hall, Finchley Amateur
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Presented on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 by the Old Finchleians' Dramatic Society.
4 Aug 1924 Ambassadors, Southend Professional
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Revived by the Repertory Company.
10 Dec 1924 Jesmond Pavilion, Newcastle Professional
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Performed by the Newcastle Repertory Theatre under the direction of Gordon Lea.
11 Oct 1926 Queen's Theatre, Dundee Professional
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Produced by Jack Fortescue's Repertory Company.
25 Jul 1927 County Theatre, Truro Unknown
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Performed during the week, alongside other plays, by the Morris Players.
30 Apr 1928 West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate Professional
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Produced by the Grant Anderson Repertory Company.
25 Jun 1928 Victoria Theatre, Burnley Professional
14 Jan 1929 West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate Professional
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Produced for the week, with matinees Thursday and Saturday, and starring John Fortescue, Marian Victor and plays from the principal British Repertory Theatres.
9 Jun 1930 Repertory Theatre, Plymouth Professional
14 Sep 1931 Theatre Royal, South Shields Professional
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Performed by the South Shields Repertory Company
19 Mar 1940 Pier Theatre, Hastings Professional
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Performed by the Court Players.
29 Apr 1940 Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne Professional
31 Aug 1942 Theatre Royal, Exeter Professional
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Adapted to the context of the Second World War by Hamilton Deane from the original play and staged for the first time. Produced by and starring Percy Hutchison.