The Patriot

The Era, 19 May 1915, reviewed The Patriot, a recruiting sketch by Fredk. Lonsdale, produced at the Grand, Clapham, on Friday 14 May 1915: ‘Mr. Fredk. Lonsdale’s recruiting sketch produced at a special patriotic meeting at the Grand, Clapham, last week, is well conceived, and has some good dialogue, but it is too lengthy and somewhat faulty in construction. The scene is the morning room of a typically upper middleclass suburban family. The one son has applied for a commission, which he knows he will never get, and with the exception of the elder daughter, the other members of the family are hypocritically asking for something to do for their country. The learn that a “Tommy” is to be billeted on the, and the people so ready apparently to be useful are up in arms. However, the Tommy turns out to be a real live baronet, Sir John Coates, who has enlisted as a private. The eldest daughter and he become betrothed, the one son enlists, and the father promises to have houseful of “Tommies.” The sketch was well acted on the whole, especially good being Miss Dolly Hawkins’ delineation of the elder daughter, Mary, a sincere and convincing study. Mr H. Mordaunt Rogers and Miss Cecil Donnelly were characteristic as Mr. and Mrs. Collington, the mother and father, and Miss Hilda Barnes as Esther (the younger daughter), and Mr Nigel Charrington as Edward (the son), were satisfactory. Mrs. Percy Rogers gave a neat little study of Ellen (the cook), and Mr. Percy Rogers deserves praise for his acting as Private Coates’ (The Era, 19 May 1915). ‘Recruiting Meeting At The Grand. Mrs. Pankhurst paid a visit - the second within a short period - to the Grand Palace on Friday evening, and made an appeal for recruits to the 3rd Battalion 23rd County of London Regiment … At the call of the Mayor, a collection was made by the attendants engaged at the ball on behalf of the survivors of the Lusitania, and a very satisfactory response was made. The proceeds will be forwarded to the Lord Mayor of London’s Fund. A collection was also made of Mrs Pankhurst’s fund on behalf of war babies, and during the evening a special sketch, entitled “Patriot,” was presented by Mr. Percy Rogers’ (South Western Star, Friday 21 May 1915).

‘Recruiting Concert At The Town Hall. In connection with the Battersea Battalion of Regulars, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, a dramatic and variety entertainment was held at the Town Hall on Friday evening, and was extremely well attended … During an interval in the entertainment the Mayor stated that he had been entrusted by Lord Kitchener with the task of raising a Battersea Battalion. So far they had obtained 340 or 350 recruits. They wanted more. The history of the regiment was a glorious one. He congratulated the parents who could sacrifice their sons, and wives who had allowed their husbands to go to the front. The officers of the battalion were of the best, and those who had been the first to enlist were also of the best … A delightful dramatic and variety entertainment arranged by Mr. Percy Rogers and friends was presented … The programme concluded with the new and original one act play by Frederick Lonsdale, “The Patriots.” The parts were taken by Mr. H. Mordaunt Rogers, Miss Cecie [sic – Cecil?] Donnelly, Miss Dollie Hawkins, Miss Hilda Barnes, Mr. Nigel Charrington, Mrs. Percy Rogers, Mr. Percy Rogers’. South Western Star, Friday 30 July 1915.