Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A fresh and interesting, but amateurish, sketch of the strange adventure of an impudent and plucky Irish Colleen who has come to London in vague search of her brother, a wounded soldier. Peg is getting into trouble with a park-keeper through her impertinent way of demurring to his brusque demand for a penny for her chair. She is befriended in the dispute by a passing gentleman, who turns out to be an internationally important peer, acquainted with Peg’s brother and able to tell her that he has won the VC and is recommended for a commission. For his kindness Peg repays him by saving him, at the risk of her own life, from the bomb of a female spy, who has chosen this odd method and locale for this attempted assassination. The story is of course not less absurd than harmless: but the characterisation is true as well as telling. Recommended for License. Ernest A. Bendall.

Researcher's Summary:

The play was produced by Miss Judith Wogan. The Illustrated War News, 9 January 1918, reported that Miss Judith Wogan, ‘herself an actress, and a clever one at that’, had ‘formed a company known as the “Wandering Players,” at her own expense, with the object of giving entertainments to wounded men’. Miss Wogan ‘has devised special collapsible scenery which travels with the players and can be used anywhere, stage or no stage’; and she ‘desires, as far as possible, to help out-of-the-way hospitals near London which do not in the ordinary way come in for many entertainments’.

Licensed On: 7 Mar 1918

License Number: 1439

Genre(s):

British Library Reference: LCP1918/5

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66187 C

Performances

Date Theatre Type
1 Feb 1918 Recreation Hut, Stanmore Amateur
Read Narrative
‘On Friday evening a dramatic performance was given in the Recreation Hut [in Stanmore] by Miss Judith Wogan's company of "Wandering Players." Two one-act plays were presented, "A Maker of Dreams," by Oliphant Downy, and "Peg in the Park." The characters were admirably sustained by Miss Judith Wogan, Miss Norah Balfour, Mrs. Hooke, Corpl. V. Davies, and Mr. Wallace. During the interval musical monologues were given by Miss Balfour and Corpl. Davies. The patients thoroughly enjoyed the charming plays, which were quite an innovation, and heartily cheered Miss Wogan and her party at the close’. Harrow Observer, Friday 8 February 1918.
9 Mar 1918 King George’s Hall, Tottenham Court Road, London Unknown Licensed Performance
24 Apr 1918 Military Hospital, Woking Amateur
Read Narrative
‘A most successful entertainment was given by Miss Judith Wogan’s “Wandering Players Company” in the Woking Military Hospital on Wednesday, and was much enjoyed by a large audience. The company, which Norah Balfour, Katherine Herbert, Corpl. Vivian Davies and Kay Harvey, with Miss Kathleen O’Dea as soprano and accompanist, presented “Pros and Cons,” by Gertrude Jennings, and “Peg in the Park,” a romantic Irish comedy, featuring Miss Judith Wogan, who played “Peg” in “Peg o’ my heart” 150 times. A “Forty Minutes Folly Show,” including “Lady Flufflebore at Woking Hospital,” by Michael Orme, was also immensely enjoyed. The entertainment was organised by Miss Beatrix Savage, who is to be congratulated upon having been able to secure so many talented artistes’ (West Surrey Times, Friday 26 April 1918). Also the Surrey Advertiser, 1 May 1918.
31 Jul 1918 Kursaal Theatre, Bognor Amateur
Read Narrative
‘Judith Wogan's Company of Wandering Players can be seen and heard at the Kursaal for the last time to-night (Wednesday). This Company has given many performances to soldiers, which have been highly appreciated. They present two plays, “ Peg in the Park” which resembles “Peg o’ my Heart,” in which Miss Judith Wogan played as Peg, and “Pros and Cons,” one of the charming little plays for which Miss Gertrude Jennings, the authoress, is famous’. Bognor Regis Observer, Wednesday 31 July 1918.