The Queen and The Knave

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This play, an odd blend of Ruritanian and Gilbertian fairy-comedy, concerns itself mainly with the peaceful invasion of the country belonging to the gentle Queen Nedecia by a neighbouring potentate, the dashing knave of Lazeda. Since the Queen would do anything rather than embroil her subjects in war, and since her 'enemy' is obviously in love with her the invasion would soon come to a happy issue in a marriage between the queen and the knave, but for the sinister plottings of the jealous princess Helen, and for the loyal opposition of the queen's adherents. These motives of a rather confused story - in which there figure also the hunchback sister of the wicked princess, the queen's valiant jester and various satellites of her primitive Court - lead to some rather violent episodes of imprisonment, attempted assassination and finally of murder. There is no offence, if little reasonable interest, in any of them; nor is there in the amateurishly affected dialogue in which the crude tale is told. Recommended for licence, Ernest A. Bendall.

Researcher's Summary:

In addition to the performances listed below, 'On Tour' listings in 'The Stage' suggest that the play was also performed at the Grand, West Hartlepool (19-24 August 1918), Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland (26-31 August 1918), Theatre Royal, West Stanley, 2-7 September 1918, Hippodrome, Wednesbury, 23-28 September 1918, and Theatre Royal, Stratford, 10-15 March 1919. As 'On Tour' listings are not always accurate (with other plays often being substituted), these performances have not been included below.

Licensed On: 6 Jun 1918

License Number: 1610

British Library Reference: LCP1918/10

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66192 W

Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
29 Jul 1918	Theatre Royal, Whitehaven	Professional	Licensed Performance Read Narrative Performed as part of the Theatre Royal, Whitehaven Repertory Season by Emma Litchfield (author and actress) who 'acted with dignity and restraint' (Stage, 1 August 1918).
5 Aug 1918	Theatre Royal, South Shields	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week by Emma Litchfield and her company for the week and described as a 'high class production [...] of great charm' (Shields Daily News, 6 August 1918)
12 Aug 1918	Theatre Royal, Jarrow	Professional
19 Aug 1918	Grand, West Hartlepool	Professional	Read Narrative The evidence for this week is that The Stage, 15 and 22 August 1918, listed The Queen and the Knave as On Tour from 19 August at the Grand, W. Hartlepool.
26 Aug 1918	Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland	Professional	Read Narrative The evidence for this week is that The Stage, 22 and 29 August 1918, listed both The Queen and the Knave and Emma Litchfield as On Tour from 26 August at the E., Bishop Auckland; and that The Era, 28 August 1918, listed The Queen and the Knave as On The Road from 26 August at the E., Bishop Auckland.
2 Sep 1918	Theatre Royal, West Stanley	Professional	Read Narrative The evidence for this week ii that The Era, 28 August and 4 September 1918, listed The Queen and the Knave as On The Road from 2 September at the T.R., West Stanley; and that he Stage, 29 August and 5 September 1918, listed The Queen and the Knave as On Tour from 2 September at the R., West Stanley.
9 Sep 1918	Palace, Newcastle	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week (except Thursday when theatre closed for a public meeting), twice nightly (6.45 and 8.50) by Emma Litchfield's company.
16 Sep 1918	Grand, Lancaster	Professional
23 Sep 1918	Hippodrome, Wednesbury	Professional	Read Narrative The evidence for this week is that The Stage, 19 and 26 September 1918, listed The Queen and the Knave as On Tour from 23 September at Wednesbury; and that when Miss Emma Litchfield advertised The Queen and the Knave in The Stage, 19 September 1918, the address for the following week was the Hippo., Wednesbury.
7 Oct 1918	Grand, Halifax	Professional	Read Narrative At this popular house [the Grand Theatre] next week Miss Emma Litchfield will present the new romantic play, “The Queen and the Knave” … On Friday night they will present the ever-successful play, “Home Once More”‘. Halifax Guardian, 5 October 1918.
14 Oct 1918	Hippodrome, Huddersfield	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week by Emma Litchfield's company. The cast included Emma Litchfield, Mr C.. E. Stratford, Miss W. Rutland, Miss C. Elkington, Rose Carr, Lena Tarver, Mr T. C. Jackson, Mr J. Cooper, Mr B. Raymond, and Mr S. Bryant.
28 Oct 1918	Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week by Emma Litchfield's company.
4 Nov 1918	Palace Theatre, Bordesley	Professional	Read Narrative Performed twice nightly this week at 6.30 and 8.30 with matinee Weds at 2.30. Cast included Emma Litchfield (author and actress) and Conrad E. Stratford.
11 Nov 1918	Grand Theatre, Doncaster	Professional	Read Narrative The South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times, Saturday 9 November 1918, advertised at the Grand Theatre, Doncaster, from Monday 11 November ‘Miss Emma Litchfield’s Company in the New Romantic Play – The Queen and the Knave, by Emma Litchfield’.
18 Nov 1918	Theatre Royal, Sheffield	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week at 7pm.
25 Nov 1918	Theatre Royal, Liverpool	Professional
2 Dec 1918	Theatre Royal, Smethwick	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week.
9 Dec 1918	Theatre Royal, Aston Cross	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week at 5.40 and 8.40pm, matinees Monday at 2.30.
16 Dec 1918	Grand Theatre, Pentre, Rhondda valley	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week.
23 Dec 1918	Empire, Mountain Ash	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week.
7 Jan 1919	Pavilion Theatre, Pontnewyndd	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week.
13 Jan 1919	Playhouse, Faversham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week.
21 Jan 1919	Elephant and Castle Theatre, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week by Emma Litchfield's company.
10 Feb 1919	Empire Theatre, Edmonton	Professional
10 Mar 1919	Theatre Royal, Stratford	Professional	Read Narrative The evidence for this week is that The Stage, 6 March 1919, listed The Queen and the Knave as On Tour from 10 March at the R., Stratford.
19 May 1919	Royalty Theatre, Barrow-in-Furness	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by The Royalty Stock Company with cast including Mr Hugh Robertson and Mr T. E. Evans.
30 Jun 1919	Theatre Royal, Sunderland	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by the Albert Sember company for two weeks.
10 Jul 1919	New Theatre Royal, Whitehaven	Professional	Read Narrative Performed on 10 and 11 July.
1 Sep 1919	Theatre Royal, Jarrow	Professional	Read Narrative Performed on Monday-Wednesday this week by Emma Litchfield's company who were at the theatre two weeks and presented the play in their second week of the visit along with 'A Clever Imposter' on the remaining nights. Emma Litchfield performed alongside Mr T. C. Jackson, Miss Claire Elkington, Miss Winifred Rutland, Mr Tony Snape, Mr Percy J. Barnett, Mr J. C. Cooper, Mr Frank Rothwell and Miss Rose Carr.
8 Sep 1919	Cambridge Theatre, Spennymoor	Professional	Read Narrative Performed in repertory for the week alongside 'The Rival Mothers' and 'Queen of the Red Skins'.

The Queen and The Knave

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Performances