There Was A King In Flanders

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A well written and in its way a fine and stirring little play. An English nurse is alone in a farmhouse 'near the Belgian lines'. She hears on the telephone that the Belgian line is broke and the Germans are coming that way. She cuts the telephone and puts out the light and waits. A wounded Belgian soldier staggers in. She makes him talk while she dresses his wounds as a means of keeping his terrible agony in control, and he tells how in the fight he had killed a German who had outraged his girl, how the king has to be found to [...] the ongoing devotion to King Albert is touching and I think the reference to the King's own conduct (p.7) is without offence, but it is a question if physical agony and the appearance of wounds should be explicit on the stage and I have therefore marked a passage on p.4 […] that this exhibition of wounds is too awful for the stage and must be modified. But I am sure the passion is written sincerely and not for sensation. Otherwise the play is Recommended for license. G. S. Street.

Licensed On: 3 May 1915

License Number: 3384

British Library Reference: LCP1915/11

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66097 P

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Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
3 May 1915	Hippodrome, Balham	Unknown	Licensed Performance Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller.
2 Aug 1915		Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gloria Laurence.
20 Sep 1915	Pavilion, Leicester	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence. On the same bill were: The Decars with their trained donkey Tomato, Harold Beaumont (illusionist),T Darrell Yorke (ventriloquist), Doris Devigne (comedienne).
11 Oct 1915	Surrey Theatre, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed alongside variety acts: Josie Delaine, Victoria Monks, Zellini, Brothers Egbert, Jack Smiles,John Donald, Belle Davis and company, Billy Hobbs
1 Nov 1915	Imperial Theatre, Canning Town	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence.
24 Jan 1916	Tivoli Theatre, Barrow-in-Furness	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence: 'This act has previously received most favourable notice, in which Barrow audiences have heartily concurred' (Era, 2 February 1916).
14 Feb 1916	Hippodrome, Aldershot	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence. Variety acts on the same bill were: Sisters Holman, Krick and Krock, Melt and Bray, Margo and Mascotte, Ernie Mayne, Mazuz and Mazette.
21 Feb 1916	?, Cambridge	Professional	Read Narrative Peformed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence.
6 Aug 1916	Market Theatre, Aylesbury	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by George Belmore and Gloria Laurence, alongside Mary Mack (comedienne and sand dancer), Messrs Cedar and Elgar (singers), Katie Keith (the Kute Kid). The Bucks Herald reported that the performance was 'a stirring story it is, dealing mainly with heroism, and heroism - a beautiful thing in itself - is always attractive, even in its reflected footlights form' (4 August 1917).
23 Oct 1916	Empire, Camberwell, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence. On the same bill were: Eileen (toe dancer), Ernest Ludlow and Millie Chase (vocalists), Jessie Allan (soprano), Three Dancing Wilburrs, Fred Keeton (comedian), Wallace and Ross (comedy duo), Lily Hartley (singer). The Era reported on 1 November 1916 that 'Nothing finer has been seen here in the way of dramatic acting than Mr Oswald Waller's portrayal of the Belgian soldier, and Miss Gloria Lawrence (sic) acts beautifully as the nurse'.
13 Nov 1916	Regent Theatre of Varieties, Salford	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence. Variety acts on the same bill included: The Seven Nobodies (mirth, melody and dance), Bridson (musician ventriloquist), George Hyam (comedian), Winniw Wayne (song and story), The Two Kortinis (head and foot balancers), Daisy Griff (comedienne), The Cornette Trio (musical and vocal), Tom E Hood (character comedian).
20 Nov 1916	Corporation Theatre, Castleford	Professional	Read Narrative Performed by Gloria Laurence and Oswald Waller alongside "The Hidden Voices", variety acts.

There Was A King In Flanders

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Performances