The Honourable Gertrude

The Era, 19 June 1918, reviewed ‘“The Hon. Gertrude” in One Act, by Henry Seton, Produced at the Empress Theatre, Brixton, on Monday, June 17, 1918’. The cast was: Mrs Briggs … Miss Mary Brough; Lady Fateborham … Miss [May] Holford; Private Briggs, V.C. … Mr Gerald Valentine; ad The Hon. Gertrude … Miss Esmé Beringer. The review continued [sometimes illegibly in the British Newspaper Archive]: ‘A distinctly amusing little piece of nonsense far-fetched, maybe. It tells of a shellshocked private soldier, so shellshocked that he recovers to find himself engaged to the titled V.AD. who pulled him through, for she loves every soldier she sees, and would marry them all, she says, if she could - but it “gets the laugh,” thanks to Mary Brough and some quaint lines here and there, and that should be all that matters. The situation develops with the arrival of Lady Fateborham. The V.A.D.’s mother, with nose exalted aristocratically at the perfect angle She scorns the idea of a marriage with such a “common man,” and brings out a very torrent of […] protest from her daughter that makes the gallery “polio” cheer right lustily and the stalls smile. Then comes ‘Erb’s mother, a shade (if Miss Brough can be called a shade) of Fred Emney. One can imagine it all from this point – that East is East and West is West is proved in the best of burlesque; there is more jingo from Sister […] on to a very disappointing and sudden end, when the engagement is called a mistake, and everybody seems as happy as if there hadn’t been one. A dismal curtain; but Miss Brough “bags” the last line […]. For sheer dramatic skill, Miss Holford’s performance is quite the best. With a bit more(?) of the Cockney, Miss Brough’s Mrs Briggs would have the requisite amount of low comedy contrast and get even more laughs; but she’s wonderful as she is and without her the sketch would have been a very poor affair. Miss Beringer is strong with the wrong sort of strength, lacking that feminine “softness” that(?) we expect from the shell-shock […]. She shouts her patriotism to the […] rafters; but for that, at Brixton, she is applauded. Mr Gerald Valentine’s [...] marionette sort of part, V.C. or no V.C., but he does what he can with it’ (The Era, 19 June 1918). The Stage, 20 June 1918, also reviewed the production: ‘There is a wholly delightful touch of human interest about Vera Beringer’s latest effort, which was favourably received at the Empress, Brixton, on Monday evening. It is a rather light and amusing little piece, which depends more on character than plot, and provides abundant opportunities for some highly effective playing. Private Herbert Briggs, V.C., an inmate at a V.A.D. hospital, has become so much attached to the Hon. Gertrude, his zealous and painstaking nurse, that he is confident of complete recovery from a precarious condition if only the titled sister will consent to marry him. Upon hearing the news of the engagement of the Hon. Gertrude to the V.C. hero, Lady Fatiborham hastens to the hospital and agitatedly upbraids her daughter for consenting to marry a man who, though a good soldier, is so much inferior in social standing. At the same time, Herbert’s mother arrives on the scene, and, presumably flushed by the military prestige of her son, declares that declares her surprise that he should lower himself by an alliance with the aristocracy. The two parents eventually meet and engage in a rather acrimonious discussion regarding the merits of their respective classes. Ultimately Herbert confesses that he has mistaken his gratitude to the Hon. Gertrude for love, and that he would be happier with a “humble” sweetheart, who has already won his affections, and whose charms his mother has aggressively advocated against the pretensions of the Hon. Gertrude. The story has been cleverly written, and its many humorous situations are well defined(?). Esmé Beringer in the character of the Hon. Gertrude gives a natural and forcible representation. Mary Brough, always excellent in her low comedy studies, invests the part of Mrs. Briggs with much facetiousness, which is not without its due effect, while Gerald Valentine, though perhaps accustomed to a different class of work, does well as the rough and ready soldier-hero. May Holford was announced as being responsible for Lady Fatiborham, but on Monday evening this part was undertaken by a deputy whose identity was not disclosed, and whose performance was very effective and capable. The Hon. Gertrude should come in for sustained favour’.

The Daily Record, 8 July 1918, advertised ‘Esme Beringer & Co. In “The Hon. Gertrude”’ on the bill at the Alhambra. Also, At the Alhambra ‘a remarkable programme includes … Esme Beringer and company in a diverting playlet, “The Hon Gertrude”’ (Daily Record, 9 July 1918).

‘The most substantial item [at the Chelsea palace last week] was a “topical comedy sketch” entitled “The Hon. Gertrude.” Henry Seton wrote it, W. G. Fay produced it, and Esmé Beringer and Mary Brough are acting in it. The Hon. Gertrude is a V.A.D. nurse who has become engaged to her patient, Pte. Herbert Briggs, V.C. He became smitten with her when suffering from shellshock, and she promised to marry him in order to save his life. But, though each holds the promise binding, and would not hurt the other’s feelings for worlds, neither now loves the other so that the dénouement of the social inequality knot is easily contrivable. But there is some good, broad comedy first, especially in the scenes between the two mothers, one so Hyde Parkish and the other so Hampstead Heatherish, and managers who want an effective curtain […] for their autumn production would do well to communicate with Esmé Beringer, whose company (completed by Annie Esmond and Gerald Valentine) makes a first-class team’ (The Era, 4 September 1918).

‘The well-known actress, Miss Esme Beringer, will appear here [the Hippodrome] next week in a comedy, entitled, “The Honourable Gertrude.” She will be supported by a company which includes Miss Mary Brough’ (Coventry Standard, 13 September 1918). The Coventry Herald, 14 September 1918, advertised at the Hippodrome the following week ‘Miss Esme Beringer and West End Company, present a Comedy Sketch, entitled: The Honourable Gertrude. Caste includes Miss Esme Beringer and Miss Mary Brough’. Several other acts were on the bill including a ‘comedy cat act’ with Tillie, ‘the only cat looping the human loop’.

‘The Aston Hippodrome bill is full of good bookings, the leading attraction being Miss Esme Beringer in a comedy sketch, “The Honourable Gertrude.” Miss Beringer will have the assistance of Miss Mary Brough and a company of picked artists’ (Evening Despatch, 28 September 1918). ‘In an excellently varied programme at the Aston Hippodrome one of the outstanding features was a comedy sketch entitled “The Honourable Gertrude,” in which Miss Esme Beringer and Miss Mary Brough take the principal parts’ (Birmingham Mail, 1 October 1918). ‘Miss Esme Beringer and company in a comedy sketch, “The Honourable Gertrude,” were very amusing’ at the Aston Hippodrome (Birmingham Daily Gazette, 1 October 1918).

The Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 4 October 1918, included ‘a sketch entitled “The Hon Gertrude,” by Esme Beringer and Co.’ in its preview of the following week’s attractions at the Hippodrome. Also the Sheffield Evening Telegraph of the same date.

The Liverpool Echo, 18 November 1918, advertised at the Hippodrome that week a bill that included ‘Esme Beringer & Co., in “The Hon Gertrude”’.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 25 November 1918, advertised at the Hippodrome that week a bill that included ‘Esme Beringer & Co. in “The Hon Gertrude”’. The Newcastle Journal, 26 November 1918, reviewed the show, concluding, ‘Mention should be made of a sketch presented by Miss Esme Beringer and Co., entitled “The Hon Gertrude”’. The Stage, 28 November 1918, noted that at the Hippodrome, Newcastle, ‘A sketch, The Hon. Gertrude, is admirably played by Esme Beringer and company’.

‘There is another fine variety bill at the Kilburn Empire, where we found a capacity audience on Tuesday evening. It contains two excellent sketches in Fred Rome’s “Simpson’s Stores” and Henry Seton’s “The Hon. Gertrude,” each of which, although dissimilar in theme, is quite like the other in the matter of laughter-raising qualities … Esmé Beringer’s company, including Mary Brough, Gwenda Wren, and Helen Ferrers, all accomplished players, are responsible for “The Hon. Gertrude,” which brings into sharp - very comically sharp - contrast the manners and deportment of what are known as the classes and the masses. It is all admirable fun, with just a touch of elemental human sentiment to make it all the more palatable’. The Stage, 20 March 1919.

‘Yesterday afternoon Miss Esmé and Miss Vera Beringer gave a matinée at the Court Theatre for the benefit of the North Islington Infant Welfare Centre. The entertainment was of the customary miscellaneous character, and it may be added that, in accordance with custom, some the popular artists advertised failed to appear. The most notable item was an amusing little farce by Miss Vera Beringer, called “The Honourable Gertrude,” which told quaintly and with considerable skill the tale of an engagement, under the influence of the war, between a Cockney hero and his aristocratic nurse, and the main humour was that neither desired the engagement and that each entered into it in the belief that it was a necessary sacrifice to the intense passion of the other. A meeting of the mothers of the two fiancés made the truth evident, and put an end to the preposterous affair. Miss Mary Brough acted comically as the vulgar mother, and in excellent contrast to the aristocratic lady in a state of despair about her daughter’s folly; and the young people were very well played by Miss Gwenda Wren and Mr. Middleton Woods’ (Westminster Gazette, 10 May 1919). ‘Friday.—Made one of the wise many to attend the Beringer matinée in aid of the Islington Infant Welfare Centre ... Vera [Beringer], disguised as “Henry Seton,” had a great success with her new [sic] playlet, “The Honourable Gertrude,” in which Mary Brough appeared wearing a priceless bonnet born in Whitechapel’ (Truth, 14 May 1919). The Era, 14 May 1919, reviewed the show. The cast was: Mrs Briggs … Mary Brough; Private Herbert Briggs, V.C. … Middleton Woods; Lady Fatiboreham … Helen Ferrers; and The Hon. Gertrude Charlton … Gwenda Wren. The review continued: ‘This proved an amusing little piece, brightly acted. An aristocratic V.A.D. with a string sense of duty becomes engaged to her patient, because she erroneously believes him to be literally dying for love of her, while he thinks she is genuinely enamoured of him. The fun comes in when the two mothers are introduced to one another, languid, supercilious Lady Fatiboreham, and honest vulgar Mrs. Briggs. Her ladyship first attempts patronage, then scorn; but she is hopelessly worsted by her adversary, who finally blurts out the truth and sets the ill-assorted pair free. Miss Mary Brough and Miss Helen Ferrers were excellently suited as the uncongenial mothers, and Miss Gwenda Wren and Mr. Middleton Woods played naturally and with humour as the nurse and the V.C.’ (The Era, 14 May 1919). The Stage, 15 May 1919, reviewed The Hon. Gertrude by Henry Seton (Vera Beringer): 'This farcical sketch, with its title paralleled by those of two full-sized plays, “The Honourable Herbert” and “The Honourable John,” was produced at the Empress, Brixton, June 17, 1918, when, as at this matinée, Miss Mary Brough sustained, on broadly humorous lines, the part of Mrs. Briggs, mother of the young V.C. hero to whom, out of pity, when he is suffering severely from shell- shock, that V.A.D. nurse, the Hon. Gertrude Charlton, engages herself. This girl’s mother, Lady Fatiboreham (pronounced Farham), was made, at the Court, sufficiently stiff and starchy by Miss Helen Ferrers, the duel of words between the rival mothers being rendered very diverting by her and Miss Brough. Miss Gwenda Wren played pleasantly as the V.A.D., and a quaint figure of Private Herbert Briggs (anxious to return to his old fiancée Lizzie Hawkins) was presented by Mr. Middleton Woods. “The Honourable Gertrude” was produced by Mr. William G. Fay’ (The Stage, 15 May 1919).

‘THE C.A.B.A. AT HOME. Quite the best thing on the programme on January 4 at St. George’s Hall was the delightful speech compounded of cheery good nature, apt advice, and anecdotal discursiveness delivered by Mr. Sivori Levey, the happily chosen chairman of the evening. Nineteen out of the twenty-two artists on the bill appeared, and a little play, “The Honorable Gertrude,” also lent lustre to the occasion. In this latter, Mary Brough made a singularly successful appearance as Mrs. Briggs, a character which gave her many opportunities, and she was supported with capital effect by Gwenda Wren, Helen Ferrers, and Middleton Woods’. The Stage, 8 January 1920.

‘At the Royal Hippodrome [in Eastbourne] a fine programme at the Warriors’ Day matinée last Thursday was sustained by’, among others, ‘Helen Ferrers, Frances Waring, Marjorie St. Aubyn, and Arnold Reynor (members of Murray King and Clark’s “The Young Person in Pink” company) in “The Honourable Gertrude”’. The Stage, 7 April 1921.