Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A sham spy comedy. A girl comes into a hotel room and tries to open the safe. She is interrupted by a man and after some comic business with revolvers it appears that the man is a 'gentleman burglar' after jewels and that the girl believes the owner of the room is a spy and has concealed a valuable paper in the safe. He appears and the end of it all is that the paper is only a marriage license. Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Researcher's Summary:

The Stage - Thursday 22 April 1915 Her Majesty’s Theatre, Carlisle, 14 April 1915 Lowther Street (Professional) On Wednesday, April 14, 1915, was produced at Her Majesty’s Carlisle, a one-act comedy, by Arnold Reynor, entitled, - The Man Who Stayed at a Hotel Vera Taunton …………..Miss Isobel Carma Rupert Mallett ………….Mr. Gilbert Ritchie Cyril Faulkner (alias Lawrence Kremlen) Mr. Frank McKee The plot deals with the efforts of an over-zealous young lady to frustrate the machinations of a supposed foreign spy. The scene is laid in the private sitting room of Faulkner in a hotel “somewhere on the East Coast,” and the rise of the curtain discovers Vera Taunton in the act of attempting to open Faulkner’s safe. She is interrupted by the entrance of Rupert Mallett, a gentleman crook, and a diverting scene ensues between the pair, in which two unloaded revolvers play an important part. Mallett’s scheme for relieving Faulkner of valuable jewellery is discarded when Vera explains the object of her visit, which is to secure a certain paper, believed to contain plans of national importance. That Faulkner is a spy is apparently decisively proved by his suspicious movements in the hotel (in which he passes under the alias of Lawrence Kremlen), his midnight meeting with an unknown lady, and his whispered conversations in a foreign tongue about certain “plans.” Mallett, convinced by Vera’s statements, opens the safe with a duplicate key, but not trace is found of the all-important document. Their operations are interrupted by the return of Faulkner himself. Mallett and Vera at first conceal themselves but finally force Faulkner to reveal the hiding place of the incriminating paper, which turns out to be nothing more than a special marriage licence. The little piece, which contains some smart dialogue and well-thought-out situations, in addition to a surprising denouement, went with particular smoothness. Carma did specially well as Vera Taunton, and Mr. Gil … en effective performance … lett. The cleverly acted … ner by Mr. Frank McK … recognition. Apart from the first performance in Carlisle, “The Man Who Stayed at a Hotel” seems only to have been performed as curtain raiser, initially to Frank Fenton and Company’s production of “Driven” and latterly to Harold V. Neilson’s production of “The Kiss Cure”. Arnold Reynor was a cast member in both companies. “The Kiss Cure” was performed widely from 1914 to 1916 and later, still being performed by Neilson’s company in 1933. Other curtain raisers were used but the implication is that there may have been other performances of “The Man Who stayed at a Hotel” but which failed to be advertised or recorded.

Licensed On: 10 Apr 1915

License Number: 3292

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British Library Reference: LCP1915/8

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66094 A

Performances

Date Theatre Type
14 Apr 1915 Her Majesty's Theatre, Carlisle Professional Licensed Performance
19 Apr 1915 King's Theatre, Sunderland Professional
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Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Tuesday 20 April 1915 p5 The King’s Theatre, Sunderland 19 April 1915 to 24 April 1915 E. Temple Thurston’s “Driven.” Produced by Frank Fenton and Gwendolyn Carlisle The play is preceded by “The Man Who Stayed at an Hotel,” a spy comedietta with amusing climax.
30 Apr 1915 Grand Theatre, Hull Professional
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Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 28 April 1915 p4 Grand Theatre, Hull 30 April 1915 Mr. FRANK FENTON and his Company. TO-NIGHT (Wednesday) and THURSDAY EVENING and SATURDAY AFTERNOON and EVENING, Sir GEORGE ALEXANDER’S Greatest Success at the St. James Theatre, London, by Sir Arthur Pinero, “HIS HOUSE IN ORDER,” FRIDAY NIGHT, at 8.5, The Haymarket Theatre Success, “DRIVEN,” Preceded at 7.30 by the One-Act Comedietta, “THE MAN WHO STAYED AT A HOTEL.” Hull Daily Mail – Friday 30 April 1915 p4 Mr. FRANK FENTON and his Company. TO-NIGHT (Friday) at 8.5, The Haymarket Theatre Success, “DRIVEN,” Preceded at 7.30 by the One-Act Comedietta, “THE MAN WHO STAYED AT A HOTEL.”
6 May 1915 New Theatre, Salisbury Professional
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Salisbury and Winchester Journal - Saturday 01 May 1915 p4 New Theatre, Salisbury Thursday, Friday and Saturday. May 6th, 7th and 8th. Mr. Frank Fenton and Company in “Driven” preceded by Arthur Reynor’s Comedietta “The Man Who Stayed at a Hotel”.
19 Jun 1916 Opera House, Blackpool Professional
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Blackpool Gazette & Herald - Tuesday 20 June 1916 p8 The Opera House, Blackpool 19 – 26 June 1916 "The Kiss Cure" that sparkling comedy of youth, sunshine and kisses, which was so successful on its visit to Blackpool last November, is again the pleasing attraction at the Opera House this week. On Monday evening a holiday house gave it an enthusiastic reception on its re-appearance. The play was originally produced in Liverpool. It gained an instant success, and after a run of four weeks the comedy was produced in London at the Kingsway Theatre. … The play is preceded by a one-act play, "The Man who Stayed at a Hotel," the characters being admirably sustained by Miss Maud Bracewell. and Messrs. Arnold Reynor and I. K. Melford. "The Kiss Cure" is produced under the direction and management of Mr. Harold V. Neilson. Blackpool Gazette & Herald - Friday 23 June 1916 p2 The Opera House, Blackpool 19 – 26 June 1916 “The Kiss Cure." that sparkling comedy of youth, sunshine, and kisses. which was so successful on its visit to Blackpool last November, is again the pleasing attraction at the Opera House this week. … The piece is preceded by a one-act play, “The Man Who Stayed at a Hotel”, the characters being admirably sustained by Miss Maud Bracewell and Messrs. Arnold Reynor and J. K. Melford. "The Kiss Cure" is produced under the direction of Mr. Harold V. Neilson. Fleetwood Express - Saturday 24 June 1916 p2 The Opera House, Blackpool 19 – 26 June 1916 The play is preceded by the one-act play (by Mr. Arnold Raynor (sic)) “The Man Who Stayed at a Hotel” which is performed by Miss Maude Bracewell, Messrs. J. K. Melford and Arnold Raynor (sic).
3 Jul 1916 Pier Theatre, Eastbourne Professional
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Eastbourne Gazette - Wednesday 05 July 1916 p7 Pier Theatre, Eastbourne 3 – 8 July 1916 Performances will be given each evening this week at 8. and matinees to-day (Wednesday) and Saturday at 3. “The Kiss Cure” is preceded by an interesting one-act comedy The Man Who Stayed at a Hotel. p4 do. Presented by Mr. Harold Neilson Eastbourne Chronicle - Saturday 08 July 1916 p3 The Pier, Eastbourne 3 – 8 July 1916 THE PIER. "THE CURE." An exhilarating comedy … Mr. Arnold Raynor, as the cold, unenterprising lover, "Peter Carey," gives a very droll study, … The comedy is preceded by a pleasing one-act play, The Man who Stayed at an Hotel. The company conclude their engagement to-day with performances at 3 and 8.
10 Jul 1916 Theatre Royal, Bournemouth Professional
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Bournemouth Graphic - Friday 14 July 1916 p4 Theatre Royal, Bournemouth 10 – 17 July 1916 Preceding "The Kiss Cure" is a clever little playlet, entitled "The Man who stayed at an Hotel," by Arnold Raynor. It is certainly a smart little surprise packet. Arnold Raynor cast member for “The Kiss Cure”.