Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A comic melodrama in little with the spy motif. The spy is 'Sir William Schondhorst', a naturalized German, outwardly the friend and inwardly the bitter foe of Lady Martrem and her son Reginald. In the first scene Reginald has lost the inevitable despatches, of vital importance, and is delirious. It is clear that Schondhorst has stolen them and drugged him. Business of Black, the detective, with another (comic) detective, fingerprints, a bomb and so on. Scene II is in Piccadilly and Lady Martrem, working with the detective has disguised herself as what is called 'a Piccadilly Tottie' and in that character finds out Schondhorst's plan for kidnapping her son. Scene III is on the East Coast. Schondhorst has brought Reginald, kidnapped, to his house. He rants like the usual villain about his vengeance and how he will enable Germany to conquer England by his devices - wireless, a kite, and other things, this part being very confused. Lady Martrem is now disguised as an old Irish nurse, and she with Blake defeat the machinations of Schondhorst - who is finally shot. I paused over the 'Piccadilly Tottie' business, as this is obviously a euphemism for a prostitute: pages 14, seq: The point may deserve consideration, but as there is nothing indecent in the dialogue and the character is not meant seriously I do not think it need be censored. Otherwise the play is an ordinary compound of foolishly imagine spy business and comic relief. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street.

Licensed On: 1 Jan 1915

License Number: 3121

British Library Reference: LCP1915/1

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66087 D

Performances

Date Theatre Type
4 Jan 1915 Brixton Theatre, Brixton Unknown Licensed Performance
21 Jan 1915 Palace Theatre, London Professional
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Performers: Carlotta De Yonson (Actress), Chas Gulliver (Booked on production)
25 Jan 1915 Hippodrome, London Professional
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Performers: Carlotta De Yonson (Actress), Chas Gulliver (Booked on production). Reviews:"proving very successful on the Gulliver Circuit with their latest sketch of the Sexton Blake series", "another ten weeks to follow", The Era