Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The hero of this comedietta is a young officer who ‘comes home’ directly the war is over, to his uncle and guardian, an Early-Victorian jam-maker, who wants to put the young fellow into his prosperous business, and is greatly disappointed to find that five years of army-training have not taught his nephew to obey avuncular orders. Just after the question of the lad’s future has been rather angrily discussed the uncle falls asleep and dreams - or does he dream? - that ‘the boy’ threatens to emphasise his views with the aid of the revolver with which he has silenced many Huns; and the result is that the uncle decides upon the reasonableness demanded by him, and that the curtain falls upon a kind of forced agreement much in the nephew’s favour. A well-written if not very dramatic little sketch. Recommended for License. Ernest A. Bendall.

Researcher's Summary:

Owen Nares created the part of the nephew Philip at the Victoria Palace, London, in September 1918 and returned to it when ‘The Boy Comes Home’ was inserted into the revue ‘Hullo America!’ (which is also in this database) at the Palace Theatre, London, later in the year. Then in February 1919 the play was chosen as a vehicle for the return to the stage of the actor Godfrey Tearle following his demobilisation from the Royal Artillery.

Licensed On: 5 Sep 1918

License Number: 1762

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British Library Reference: LCP1918/16

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66198 G

Performances

Date Theatre Type
9 Sep 1918 Victoria Palace, London Professional Licensed Performance
Read Narrative
‘If there are any of those iron-willed parents and guardians left over from the good old days who still have an idea that they will be able to exert pre-war authority when the boys get back, they had better go to the Victoria Palace this week, see Mr. A. A. Milne’s comedy, “The Boy Comes Home” – and be warned in time. Mr. Milne’s “boy” comes home to a coercive and cantankerous Uncle James, whose will is law – or it was before 1914. His plans for Philip’s future include “beginning at the bottom” in his jam factory. But the boy has had enough of plum-and-apple, and doesn’t see his way to accepting the avuncular decree. He “turns nasty.” Having got his hand in by worsting the autocrat of the kitchen in an argument about the right time for breakfast, he proceeds to demolish Uncle James. He advances on the old boy while he is still fuzzy from forty winks in front of the fire, attacks, counter-attacks, surrounds the enemy, aided by gentle persuasion in the shape of a service revolver, has Uncle James down on his marrow-bones, with his arms in the air, shouting “Kamerad!” Left to himself again in the armchair, Uncle believes it must have been all a dream; but he has learnt his lesson. As the returned warrior, Mr. Owen Nares, of course, had the sympathies of the house. He was just right in look and bearing for the part, and put in some neat comedy touches. Mr. Tom Reynolds played the not-too-plausible Uncle on farcical lines. It was the only thing to do with him, and he did it very effectively. Miss Dorothy Radford was sympathetic as a sweet-faced, submissive Victorian aunt. Miss Rachel de Solla made much of a brief appearance as the domineering Cook, and Miss Adah [sic] Dick was Mary, the housemaid’. The Era, 11 September 1918.
23 Dec 1918 Palace Theatre, London Professional
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‘I went into the Palace yesterday afternoon for a second glimpse of “Hullo, America!” There have been some changes of late. Mr. Billy Merson succeeds Mr. Stanley Lupino - and very funny he is, too. Then there is an excellent topical scene - “The Boy Comes Home” - by Mr. A. A. Milne’ (Daily Mirror, Tuesday 24 December 1918). The Hampstead News, 16 January 1919, mentioned that Owen Nares was particularly successful playing 'the returned officer, anxious to get back to the ordinary business of life'. It seems reasonable to assume that he played the part until he left the cast of the revue on 8 February 1919.
3 Feb 1919 Hippodrome, Boscombe Professional
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‘Crowds are flocking to see Handsome Godfrey Tearle at the Hippodrome this week. This gentleman has only just been “demobbed,” and made his first re-appearance “over the top” in stage life on Monday last when he played the central figure in a clever sketch by A. A. Milne entitled “The Boy Comes Home.” In a nutshell this is a clever up-to-date play showing how the Great War has resulted in a necessity for a careful re-adjustment of the views held by the older generation for the flower of our youth that has made such splendid sacrifices on the blood-stained battlefields. Mr. Godfrey Tearle is most happy and self-assuring as the “Boy” and the elderly nan [sic] is played with excellent effect by Mr. Arthur Bawtree’. Bournemouth Graphic, 7 February 1919.
10 Feb 1919 Hippodrome, Newcastle Professional
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‘The Hippodrome offered another big variety bill last night … At the head of the list is Godfrey Tearle, who with a London company is running a smart sketch “The Boy Comes Home,” by A. A. Milne, an author who has already done some good work as a playwright. The time is “a day after the war,” and the rest can be imagined with little effort. Mr. Tearle is supported by a useful company’. Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 11 February 1919.
17 Feb 1919 King's Theatre, Edinburgh Professional
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'The successful run of the pantomime, “Puss in Boots,” ended here last Saturday, and the variety season, with twice-nightly performances began on Monday. An attractive programme introduced to Edinburgh audiences “The Boy Comes Home,” with Mr. Godfrey Tearle in the principal part, which he plays in a dramatic and finished style. Miss Amy Coleridge and Mr. Arthur Bowtrees [sic – Bawtree] give effective support’. The Era, 19 February 1919.
24 Feb 1919 Alhambra, Glasgow Professional
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‘Neil Kenyon heads the bill, and his subtle studies of Scottish character are finer than ever. Godfrey Tearle is the leading figure in the first-rate playlet The Boy Comes Home’. The Stage, 27 February 1919.
3 Mar 1919 Palace Theatre, Manchester Professional
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‘Godfrey Tearle and company are seen to advantage in an after-war sketch, “When the Boy Comes Home.” Manchester Evening News, 4 March 1919.
10 Mar 1919 Hippodrome, Leeds Professional
Read Narrative
‘The Hippodrome has a welcome change from the run of music hall fare in the playlet, “The Boy Comes Home,” the boy in this case being Mr. Godfrey Tearle, in the part of a demobilised officer impressing few facts upon an uncle whose ideas of values need shaking up. It is a clever trifle, which begins by catching the ear of the ex-soldier especially with piquant references that he understands and enjoys, and then develops a surprise that it would be a pity to explain'. Yorkshire Evening Post, 11 March 1919.
17 Mar 1919 Hippodrome, Brighton Professional
Read Narrative
‘Godfrey Tearle is appearing as Philip in “The Boy Comes Home.” He is supported by Amy Coleridge, Maud Scott, Mary O’Toole, and Arthur Bawtree’. The Stage, 20 March 1919.
24 Mar 1919 Hippodrome, Portsmouth Professional
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‘A variety programme is headed by Godfrey Tearle and company in a one-act play of topical interest, “The Boy Comes Home,” by A. A. Milne’. The Stage, 27 March 1919.
31 Mar 1919 Hippodrome, Southampton Professional
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‘A capital representation at the Palace this week is “The Boy Comes Home,” presented by Mr. Godfrey Tearle and Company. It provides capital fun’. Hampshire Advertiser, 5 April 1919.
7 Apr 1919 Coliseum, London Professional
Read Narrative
‘The outstanding feature in this week’s programme at the Coliseum is the presentation of a new one-act topical play, “The Boy Comes Home,” from the pen of Mr. A. A. Milne. The theme which the little work deals with is one which is being faced by hundreds of parents and guardians at the moment, and lies is the hard fact that many of our gallant young warriors who went out to Flanders four years ago mere boys, docile and willing to follow whatever call in life parental authority dictated to them, have returned as men, with definite ideas as to the call for which they feel best suited, and determined to adopt the career upon which their minds may be set. Although Mr. Milne does not approach the subject in serious vein, nevertheless there is an under-current of warning pervading the plot ... The dialogue is witty, if somewhat “snap-shotty,” and the satire is in places clever and biting. It “got right home” last night to the soldier element in the house. The triumph of the demobilised youth ever the rebellious household is extremely humorous' (Westminster Gazette, 8 April 1919). ‘A. A. Milne’s clever playlet, “The Boy Comes Home,” with Godfrey Tearle in the leading part, is retained in the bill. One notices the restoration of certain lines which were left out at the first performance here; the result is all to the good. Mr. Tearle is excellent as the young ex-officer, and has clever support from Arthur Bawtree, Amy Coleridge, Maud Scott, and Helen Hardy’. The Stage, 24 April 1919.
28 Apr 1919 Hippodrome, Bristol Professional
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‘A well-written sketch entitled “The Boy Comes Home,” presented by Mr Godfrey Tearle and company is a welcome acquisition to the bill of fare The little play unfolds the moral that many a youngster who has gone through four years of active foreign service returns home not the boy he was on going out, but a man able to decide for himself and to take responsibility. Mr Godfrey Tearle takes the leading rôle, and he is excellently supported by Arthur Bawtree, Amy Coleridge, Maud Scott, and Helen Hardy An enthusiastic curtain recall was given’. Bristol Times and Mirror, 29 April 1919.
12 May 1919 Hippodrome, Aldershot Professional
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‘An excellent variety company fills the bill at the Aldershot Hippodrome this week. The star item of the programme is Mr Godfrey Tearle and his London company in a topical play “The Boy Comes Home” The story is deeply interesting, concerning Uncle James, who has made a pile of money during the war, and his nephew Philip, who has been away fighting for four years and who, returning self-reliant, refuses his irate uncle’s offer to take him into his jam business. The laughable way in which he turns the tables on his blatant uncle assures the play of success'. Aldershot News, 16 May 1919.
19 May 1919 Empire Theatre, Kingston Professional
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The Stage, 15 May 1919, listed ‘Godfrey Tearle and company in “The Boy Comes Home”’ in Calls For Next Week at the Kingston Empire.
14 Jul 1919 Victoria Palace, London Professional
Read Narrative
‘Godfrey Tearle – with him Arthur Bawtree, Amy Coleridge, Maud Scott, and Ethel Hart – repeats his amusing performance as the hero in A. A. Milne’s topical sketch “The Boy Comes Home,” which was originally produced at this house with Owen Nares in the chief part. Highly acceptable as is Mr. Tearle’s impersonation, it would be more so with a little less restraint’. The Stage, 17 July 1919.