Good Old Times: A Celebration of Peace
Examiner of Plays' Summary:
[The Examiner's notes for this script are missing from the file at the British Library]
Researcher's Summary:
Frederick Bowman’s ‘Good Old Times’ was first performed at the Pavilion, Northwich, on Monday 9 December 1918. The review of the production in The Era, 25 December 1918, mentioned the character Sir Warren Beresford and the actors George Lawrence and Peggy Mackintosh, who are also all mentioned in a review of ‘Good Old Times’ at the Garrick Theatre, Edinburgh, 30 December 1918 – 11 January 1919. George Lawrence and Peggy Mackintosh are also mentioned in an advertisement for ‘Good Old Times’ at the Tivoli, Aberdeen, 3-8 February 1919. This is the last definite mention of (presumably Bowman’s) ‘Good Old Times’. Around the same time, a revue called ‘Good Old Times’, sub-titled ‘Miffins in a Muddle’, was advertised in The Stage, 6 and 13 February 1919, as ‘Barnella Daly’s Mammoth Record Breaking Production’. The actors George Lawrence and Peggy Mackintosh were not to be involved with this; in March 1919 they were both appearing in the revue ‘Bright and Breezy’ (notice in The Stage, 20 March 1919). This second ‘Good Old Times’ seems to have been a different show from the one that Bowman wrote: it had a character called Miffins who is not in Bowman’s revue and who was played by George S. Young, who is identified in The Stage, 3 July 1919, as the new show’s author. However, there are connections between the two shows. George S Young and the Mons Star Troupe of Dancers were in the production at the Tivoli, Aberdeen, and they are also mentioned in the advertisement for Barnella Daly’s production; and the advertisement for this in The Stage, 13 February 1919, commented, ‘Enormous success last week, Tivoli, Aberdeen’. Perhaps the second ‘Good Old Times’, which was said to be ‘full of laughter surrounding a Pretty Love Story’ (The Stage, 28 August 1919), was in some way a development of Bowman’s original piece. If so, it was developed after the end of the Great War and has not been researched further.
Licensed On: 30 Nov 1918
License Number: 1889
Genre(s):
Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1918/20
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66202 T
Performances
| Date | Theatre | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1918 | Tivoli, Manchester | Unknown | Licensed Performance |
| 9 Dec 1918 | Pavillion, Northwich | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Era, 25 December 1918, published a review of Good Old Times, a revue in three scenes by Frederick M. U. [sic] Bowman produced at the Pavilion, Northwich, on 9 December. The cast was: Sir Warren Beresford, George Lawrence; Private Tiger, Will Sullivan; Benjamin Blowhard, Sam Roberts; Pierre, Clem Marchant; Chicquelle, Winnie McCarthy; Lucy, Betty Kitts; Kitty, Lily Ash; Duchess of Dolt, Rose Alder; Jean, Peggy Mackintosh. ‘This revue has many amusing topical references and many witty lines. The hero, Sir Warren Beresford, returns to France, where he once served as a soldier in the ranks, to meet his Army pals, Private Tiger, Sergeant Blowhard, and Pierre, not to mention Jean, the pet of the regiment. The haughty Duchess of Dolt scorns him for his love of this little poor peasant girl, but eventually discovers through the agency of a song that Jean is her own child, stolen away by gipsies years ago. There is a charming duet between Mr. George Lawrence and Miss Peggy Mackintosh, who respectively play Sir Warren and Jean in excellent style, and all the other numbers are up-to-date, and capitally rendered. Mr. Will Sullivan has a couple of good songs as Tiger, and extracts plenty of mirth from his representation of a British “Tommy.” Pierre is impersonated with characteristic excitability by Mr. Clem Marchant, and Kitty is humorously portrayed by Miss Lily Ash. In Scene II. we have an entertaining exposition of the disillusionments which will in many cases follow the correspondence between girls and “lonely soldiers.” “Good Old Times” has some artistic scenery, and has been produced by Mr. George Lawrence in conjunction with Mr. A. P. Dean on behalf of the Provincial Revues Syndicate. The costumes are in excellent taste’. The Era, 25 December 1918.
|
| 16 Dec 1918 | Tivoli, Manchester | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Stage, 19 December 1918, listed the revue Good Old Times as On Tour from 16 December at the Tiv., Manchester. The Manchester Evening News, 21 December 1918, advertised at the Tivoli the revue Good Old Times with Geo. Lawrence, Peggy Mackintosh and full chorus.
|
| 23 Dec 1918 | ?, Paisley | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Stage, 19 and 27 December 1918, listed the revue Good Old Times as On Tour from 23 December at the R., Paisley.
|
| 30 Dec 1918 | Garrick Theatre, Edinburgh | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Stage, 2 January 1919, listed the revue Good Old Times as On Tour from both 30 December and 6 January at the Garr., Edinburgh. ‘“Pantomimical Revue” at the Garrick. “Good Old Times,” presented by the Provincial Revue Syndicate, made a good debut last night. Described as “the great pantomimical revue,” it is refulgent in scenery and dresses. All the up-to-date songs, brilliant acting, and much hilarity made “Good Old Times” a great success. Sir Warren Beresford, a young English aristocrat, formerly a Tommy in the British Army, is excellently enacted by George Lawrence; Benjamin Blowhard, an ex-sergeant, who is no cynic, is ably impersonated by Sam Roberts; Private Tiger, one of the “old Contemptibles,” is in Will Sullivans’s capable hands; and Joan, a French peasant girl, once known as the daughter of the regiment, was represented by Peggy Macintosh, who quickly showed her abilities’ (Edinburgh Evening News, 31 December 1918). The Edinburgh Evening News, 7 January 1919, advertised at the Garrick Theatre that night: ‘Enormous success of the great pantomimical revue, “Good Old Times.” Funnier than any Pantomime. All the Newest Songs. All-Star Cast. Don’t miss seeing the Great Peace Conference Sketch’.
|
| 27 Jan 1919 | Olympia, Stirling | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Stage, 23 and 30 January 1919, listed the revue Good Old Times as On Tour from 27 January at the Ol., Stirling. Also: ‘The Provincial Revue Syndicate presents the musical comedy revue, “Good Old Times”‘ at the Olympia, Stirling. The Era, 29 January 1919.
|
| 3 Feb 1919 | Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Stage, 30 January and 6 February 1919, listed the revue Good Old Times as On Tour from 3 February at the Tiv., Aberdeen. . The Aberdeen Press and Journal, 3 February 1919, advertised at the Tivoli ‘Special Attraction. The Provincial Revue Syndicate presents “Good Old Times,” a Musical Comedy Revue in Three Scenes. All-Star Cast, including George Lawrence, George S. Young, Peggy Macintosh, The Mons Star Troupe of Dancers. Full Chorus of English and French Beauties’.
|