Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a violent and almost incredibly silly melodrama ridiculous in plot and illiterate in execution. 'Her soldier boy' is the hero whom the youthful heroine jilts when her father, an M.P. compels her to marry an old scoundrel in whose power he is. This rascal of 75 knows, it seems, the secret of the politician's past - his trick in kidnapping the opposing candidate in order to win her seat! Having married the unfortunate girl the wicked old man ill-treats her, sells her to her lover - who oddly enough consents to the bargain - gets her back again for further torture, and finally compels her - happily not in sight of the audience - to ride round the village a la Godiva in order to save her child's life. Other threads of the crazy story are provided in the discovery that the hero's fallen sister is the real wife and base accomplice of the venerable villain, and also in the employment of the latter by the 'Kaiser' for some treacherous business in connection with an Aviation company. For gross ineptitude this dramatic effort could not easily be surpassed; but in spite of its ignorant offensiveness it must, I suppose be, Recommended for License. Ernest A. Bendall.

Researcher's Summary:

Bowman's ‘Her Soldier Boy’ was not performed at Kelly’s Theatre, Liverpool, on 12 January 1915 (a Tuesday) as expected at the time of licensing: the Moody-Manners Opera company was performing there that week and in the preceding and following weeks. Charles Locke advertised in The Stage, 21 January 1915, seeking theatres for various autumn dates for ‘Her Soldier Boy, or The Woman Who Dared’. At the time he was touring ‘Bonnie Mary’ and ‘A Blind Girl’s Love’ and in August 1915 he opened ‘A Motherless Mite’. It was not until Friday, 20 July 1917 that Charles Locke’s company performed Bowman’s play, under its alternative title ‘The Woman Who Dared’, at the Theatre Royal, Bury. (Frederick Bowman wrote that ‘The Woman Who Dared’ was first produced at the Theatre Royal, Bury on 20 July 1917 in an autobiographical essay in ‘Saucy and Serious … a readable volume of wit and wisdom for casual readers, especially those interested in the stage and the cinema’ (1931).) A review of the play in The Era, 25 July 1917, shows similarities with the Examiner of Plays’ summary of the plot of ‘Her Soldier Boy’, although the review does not give full details. By now Charles Locke was also touring Dorothy Lloyd Townrow’s ‘For Motherland’ (originally entitled ‘Within Our Gates’) which is also in the Great War Theatre database. He advertised both plays in The Era, 25 July 1917: ‘Can play both plays in one week or play two weeks’. In the event the greater popularity of ‘For Motherland’ confined performances of ‘The Woman Who Dared’ to the occasional Friday in July and August 1917. Thereafter Charles Locke advertised only ‘For Motherland’. Although the Hull Daily Mail, 29 September 1917, advertised ‘The Woman Who Dared’ at the Alexandra Theatre in the week beginning 1 October, the newspaper reported on 2 October that E. Vivian Edmonds’ ‘The Third Man’ was being presented at the Alexandra Theatre that week.

Licensed On: 9 Jan 1915

License Number: 3146

Author(s):

Genre(s):

British Library Reference: LCP1915/1

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66087 S

Performances

Date Theatre Type
12 Jan 1915 Kelly's Theatre, Liverpool Unknown Licensed Performance
20 Jul 1917 Theatre Royal, Bury Professional
Read Narrative
The Era, 25 July 1917, reviewed The Woman Who Dared, a drama in five acts by Frederick H. U. Bowman, ‘produced for the first time on any stage at the Theatre Royal, Bury, on Friday, July 20’. The cast was: Clifford Carlton, Villiers Stanley; Vincent Stacey, Frank Hertie; Sir Waldemar Russel, M.P., and Edmund Kerrigan, C. Elton Morgan; Archie Dean, Charles Locke; Mollie Benson, Muriel Kavanagh; Blanche Leroy, Flo Norman; Evelyn, Clare O’Sullivan. ‘The opening scene introduces Archie Dean. He is valet to Clifford Carlton, a wealthy young newspaper proprietor, and is sent by him with a message to Evelyn, daughter of Sir Waldemar Russell, M.P., who has coerced her into marrying Vincent Stacey, a man sixty years her senior. Archie learns from Mollie, the maidservant at Stacey’s, that Evelyn is ill-treated by her senile bridegroom. The message tells Evelyn that Clifford, whom she secretly loves, has accepted her invitation to afternoon tea. A series of sensational incidents follow, in which, of course, the hero and heroine of the story play prominent parts. The moral which the author desires to convey is the evil results of marriages between vicious old men and innocent young girls. Mr. Charles Locke, who has produced the play in masterly style, appears in the rôle of Archie, the valet, with a serio-comic penchant for inventions, and, in conjunction with Miss Muriel Kavanagh, a most promising young comedienne, as Mollie, not only helps materially to carry the story forward, but also infuses some bright humour into the lighter passages. Miss Clare Sullivan is a dainty Evelyn, and not only looks pretty, but speaks her lines with discretion and refinement. Mr. Frank Hertie carries a heavy burden on his shoulders by his clever impersonation of the vicious old husband, Vincent Stacey. The dual rôle of Edmund Kerrigan and Sir Waldemar Russell must have presented many difficulties to Mr. C. Elton Morgan, but he emerges with flying colours every time; while Miss Flo Norman as the adventuress, Blanche Leroy, is just as callous as the author intended. The hero, Clifford Carlton, has a thoroughly capable exponent in Mr. Villiers Stanley. He is an actor of fine power, and in his ,love scene with Evelyn proved himself particularly fervent and sincere’.
3 Aug 1917 Grand, Halifax Professional
Read Narrative
‘“For Motherland,” which is being produced twice nightly this week at the Grand Theatre (Friday excepted) is a stirring up-to-date drama … On Friday only a new drama “The woman who dared” will be presented’. Halifax Evening Courier, Tuesday 31 July 1917.
10 Aug 1917 Hippodrome, Huddersfield Professional
Read Narrative
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 7 August 1917, reviewed For Motherland at the Hippodrome and noted, ‘On Friday evening “The Woman Who Dared” will be played’.
17 Aug 1917 Cambridge Theatre, Spennymoor Professional
Read Narrative
‘Mr Charles Locke and his up-to-date company will present the modern drama For Motherland, at the Cambridge Theatre, Spennymoor, next week. For Motherland is one of those dramas which appeal to those made lonely by the war. The action of the play takes place during those fateful days, August 4th and 5th, 1914, when all our naval men were called to action. On Friday night there will a special drama entitled The Woman Who Dared. The title itself predicts plenty of thrill and excitement’. Daily Gazette For Middlesbrough, 11 August 1917.
31 Aug 1917 Theatre Royal, Crook Professional
Read Narrative
‘Crook – Royal … Charles Locke’s company are here playing For Motherland. The cast includes Cliff Page, Elton Morgan, Charles Locke, Frank Hertie, Frank Preston, Flo Norman, Lilian Iris, Muriel Kavanagh and Clare O’Sullivan. On Friday The Woman Who Dared will be played by the same company’. The Stage, Thursday 30 August 1917.