Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The first scene of this play is rather good in its way. Harry Sheldrake, coming home, as his father the general and his family believe, on leave, has to tell them that he gave way to a moment of fear at the front and has been cashiered. The general turns him out, making the villain Vernon, his younger brother, the heir; his fiancée Rosa, throws him over; the governess and heroine Esther, proclaims her love and belief in him; he swears that he will make good. The rest of the play, however, is silly melodrama, full of impossible incidents. Harry marries Esther and of course does make good - in the French foreign legion. Vernon marries Rosa. Harry returns dub but he recovers his speech on seeing a vision of Vernon and rose trying to poison the general. He arrives in time to repent this and after various criminal efforts by the villains Vernon is blinded and the good people are happy. It is all inoffensive. Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Researcher's Summary:

A ‘man who made good’ in the war was a popular story in newspapers. For example, in the Bayswater Chronicle, 7 April 1917, and several other newspapers: ‘"Man Who Made Good. At Kingston Police-court it was stated that a young man placed under the care of the probation officer some time ago had joined the Army and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the French Legion of Honour, and the Belgian Cross’. Playwrights saw in the war an opportunity for characters to earn redemption. In Emma Litchfield’s ‘Home Once More’ (1915) Eric Lorraine joins the Flying Corps to redeem himself after admitting the theft of a necklace. In Gladys Hastings Walton’s ‘The Black Sheep of the Family’ (1916) the wayward hero finds a purpose in life by enlisting and going to France to fight for his country, returning wounded having won a medal for bravery. Both plays are in this database. ‘The Man Who Made Good’ was advertised in The Stage, 2 August 1917 (‘Production Autumn’) and 9 August 1917 (‘Production shortly’). The performance at Blackburn envisaged at the time of the licence application did not take place (The Stage, 25 October 1917, listed ‘The Unmarried Mother’ by C. Vernon Proctor, also in this database, as On Tour from 22 October at the Prince’s, Blackburn). The play was first staged in Glasgow in January 1918 by Oswald Cray’s company which toured it during the rest of the year and was also performing ‘The Unmarried Mother’. Subsequently it was played by the Theatre Royal, Bristol's own company in 1919 and by an unidentified group in Swanage in 1920.

Licensed On: 11 Oct 1917

License Number: 1184

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British Library Reference: LCP1917/20

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66175 N

Performances

Date Theatre Type
24 Oct 1917 Prince's Theatre, Blackburn Unknown Licensed Performance
21 Jan 1918 Metropole Theatre, Glasgow Professional
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The Era, 23 January 1918, reviewed The Man Who Made Good, ‘Drama, in three acts, founded on facts, by C. Vernon Proctor, Produced for the first time at the Metropole Theatre, Glasgow, on Monday, Jan. 21, 1918’. The cast was: General John Sheldrake, Conrad Clerke; Harry Sheldrake, Frank V. Fenn; Vernon Sheldrake, Cyril Grier; Betty Sheldrake, Florrie MacInnes; Alice Sheldrake, Edna Lester; Esther Bastion, Laurie Adair; Bartlett, Archie Grant; Rose Giller, Dora Weber; Mark Tapley Topper, Allan Carruthers; Martha Topper, Amy Wood. Also reviewed in The Stage, 24 January 1918: ‘Mr. Oswald Cray’s latest production is an up-to-date version of a very old theme. It is a capital melodrama, with situations of telling dramatic effect, which are worked up to an interesting and absorbing climax. It received a most enthusiastic send-off on Monday'. Allso: ‘The final week of Mr Oswald Cray’s stay at the Metropole is being filled in with the presentation of an entirely new play, by name, “The Man Who Made Good.” The story has its foundation on facts, and is admirably written by Mr C. Vernon Proctor. All week large audiences have patronised the play, which is intensely interesting from start to finish' (Glasgow Observer and Catholic Herald, 26 January 1918).
18 Feb 1918 Palace Theatre, Bordesley Professional
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‘“The Man Who Made Good,” an up-to-date drama by Mr. Oswald Gray [sic – Cray], in which the author’s gift of character delineation is revealed at its best, was much appreciated by two well-filled houses at the Bordesley Palace Theatre last night. The company includes Frank V. Fenn and Laura Adair’ (Birmingham Daily Gazette, 19 February 1918). Also Noted in The Stage, 21 February 1918: ‘a spirited drama, which deals effectively with matters very much to the fore just now’.
25 Feb 1918 Grand, Halifax Professional
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‘Mr. Oswald Cray’s Co. made a good impression at the Grand last night when they appeared in the new drama “The man who made good” … By special request on Friday night a problem play on a topical question, “The Unmarried Mother,” will be given. This is by the same author as “The man who made good,” viz., C. Vernon Proctor’. Halifax Evening Courier, 26 February 1918.
4 Mar 1918 Hippodrome, Huddersfield Professional
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he Huddersfield Examiner, 4 March 1918, advertised The Man Who Made Good at the Hippodrome all that week except Friday when The Unmarried Mother would be played.
18 Mar 1918 Theatre Royal, Smethwick Professional
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Advertised in the Birmingham Daily Gazette, 18 March 1918.
25 Mar 1918 Theatre Royal, Aston Professional
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‘“The Man Who Made Good” is the title of an up-to-date drama at the Aston Theatre Royal this week. It is by Mr. G. [sic – C.] Vernon Proctor, and presented last night to well-filled houses the play was well received. The principal parts are well portrayed by Messrs. Frank V. Fenn, Cyril Grier, and the Misses Laurie Adair, Dora Weber, and Florrie Maclnnes’ (Birmingham Mail, 26 March 1918). Also noted in The Stage, 28 March 1918, as ‘a strong attraction’.
15 Apr 1918 Elephant and Castle Theatre, London Professional
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The Era, 17 April 1918, reviewed The Man Who Made Good, ‘Drama, in Six Scenes, by G. [sic – C.] Vernon Proctor, Produced at the Elephant and Castle Theatre, Monday, April 15’. The cast was: Vernon Sheldrake, H. A. Langlois; Esther Bastion, Laurie Adair; Betty Sheldrake, Florrie MacInnes; Bartlett, Archie Grant; General John Sheldrake, Conrad Clerke; Alice Sheldrake, Edna Lester; Harry Sheldrake, Frank V. Fenn; Rose Giller, Dora Weber; Mark Tapley Topper, Allan Carruthers; Martha Topper, Amy Wood. Also reviewed in The Stage, 18 April 1918, ‘from the always thoughtful and stimulating pen of C. Vernon Proctor … an interesting and in most respects plausible drama’.
29 Apr 1918 Prince's Theatre, Bradford Professional
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The Era, 1 May 1918, noted ‘Mr. Oswald Cray’s company in “The Man Who Made Good”‘ at the Prince’s, Bradford.
13 May 1918 Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton Professional
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Noted in The Era, 15 May 1918.
20 May 1918 New Hall, Bargoed Professional
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The Era, 22 May 1918, listed The Man Who Made Good as On The Road from 20 May at the N.H., Bargoed.
27 May 1918 Grand Theatre, Aberavon Professional
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The Era, 22 and 29 May 1918, listed The Man Who Made Good as On The Road from 27 May at the G., Aberavon.
3 Jun 1918 ?, Brixton, London Professional
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The Era, 29 May 1918, listed The Man Who Made Good as On The Road from 3 June at Brixton.
10 Jun 1918 Queen's Theatre, Poplar Professional
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The Era, 12 June 1918, listed The Man Who Made Good as On The Road from 10 June at the Q., Poplar.
17 Jun 1918 Theatre Royal, Leeds Professional
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‘At the Theatre Royal the attraction is an up-to-date drama, entitled “The Man Who Made Good,” presented by Mr. Oswald Cray’s Company’. Leeds Mercury, 18June 1918. Also noted in The Stage, 20 June 1918: ‘drawing good business’.
24 Jun 1918 Prince's Theatre, Bradford Professional
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The Era, 19 June 1918, listed The Man Who Made Good as On The Road from 24 June at the Pns., Bradford.
8 Jul 1918 Grand Theatre, Plymouth Professional
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‘Yet another of Mr. C. Vernon Proctor’s powerful dramas will be staged the Grand Theatre, Plymouth, next week. This time it is “The Man Who Made Good,” a play founded on facts, and considered by many to be this popular author’s best work. A novel plot, trenchant and forcible dialogue, and telling situations go to make up the drama’. Western Morning News, 8-13 July 1918.
2 Sep 1918 Hippodrome, Dover Professional
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Noted in The Era, 4 September 1918.
30 Sep 1918 Theatre Royal, Stratford Professional
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The Stage, 26 September 1918, listed The Man Who Made Good as On Tour from 30 September at the R., Stratford.
18 Nov 1918 Garrick Theatre, Edinburgh Professional
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Advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News, 16 November 1918: ‘Next week Oswald Clay’s [sic – Cray’s] Company presents the Up-to-Date Drama, “The Man Who Made Good”‘.
2 Dec 1918 Gaiety, Denbeath Professional
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‘For the first three nights of the week, the Gaiety audiences were delighted with the dramatic fare presented in “The Man Who Made Good,” a stirring war yarn. Pathos and comedy were excellently blended, the artistes touching a high level of histrionic excellence in the portrayal of their respective parts. For the rest of the week. district play-goers will have an opportunity of passing their verdict on “The Plaything of an Hour,” another of these problem plays which are rapidly becoming a feature of the British stage'. Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette, Thursday 5 December 1918.
20 Dec 1918 Pavilion, Hawick Professional
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‘With the exception of an instalment of the serial, the usual picture programme at the Pavilion has been substituted by drama. Mr Oswald Cray’s great problem play, “The Unmarried Mother” is being presented nightly … The company are presenting an up-to-date drama, founded on facts, and entitled “The Man who made Good.” This play will be staged to-night and to-morrow night, and, judged by what they have seen of the artistes during the week, patrons will welcome this further opportunity of witnessing their dramatic abilities’. Hawick Express, Friday 20 December 1918.
28 Apr 1919 Prince's Theatre, Portsmouth Professional
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Advertised in the Hampshire Telegraph, 25 April 1919.
22 Sep 1919 Theatre Royal, Bristol Professional
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‘The series of plays which have recently engaged the efforts of the repertory company at the Theatre Royal has been broken into this week by the introduction of a drama of particular interest. “The Man Who Made Good” was written during the war by C. Vernon Proctor, and is based on incidents that actually occurred ... It is a well-written play, well acted. Mr Arthur C. Goff in the leading rôle, plays convincingly throughout, and is supported thoroughly by the other members of the company. Messrs Stephen Stormont (General Sheldrake), George Steel (Vernon Sheldrake), Matt Wilkinson (in a popular character as a greengrocer), Ernest St. John (Bartlett), Miss Sophie Fane (the General’s wife), Miss Eileen Leoville (the hero’s sister), Miss Cynthia M Marshall (the false fiancée), Miss Florrie Hall [Ball?) (the governess). The play is being produced twice nightly under the direction of Mr Hamilton Baines, and last night the week’s performances led off with large and appreciative audiences’. Western Daily Press, 23 September 1919.
12 Aug 1920 Gilbert Hall, Swanage Unknown
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Advertised in the Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 12 August 1920, as ‘the Thrilling Drama’ by C. Vernon Proctor ‘as Played in all the leading Dramatic Theatres’