Somebody Knows - Somebody Cares

Advertisement in The Stage, p. 38, 21 October 1915. New production by Mrs. Frank Bateman's Company. No performance dates but described as 'Production Christmas'.

Advertisement, p. 38, The Stage, 28 October 1915 New Production by Mrs. Frank Bateman's Company.

Advertisement, p. 38, The Stage, 28 October 1915. Mrs. Frank Bateman's New Production. No performance dates but following venue to Theatre Royal Sheffield ca. 28 October 1915.

Advertised in The Stage, p. 37, 20 January 1916. Mrs. Frank Bateman's Company

The Jarrow Express, 21 January 1916, advertised that Mrs Frank Bateman & Co. were performing at the Theatre Royal, from Monday 24 January 1916, for six nights only, Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares on Monday-Wednesday and Saturday, The King and the Orange Girl and Variety Numbers on Thursday, and Sapho on Friday.

The Era, 16 February 1916, reported that Mrs Frank Bateman and company were performing Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Grand Theatre, Halifax, except that East Lynne would be staged on Friday night.

Review in Rochdale Observer, 26 February 1916: "an interesting story of a waif, has proved an entertaining production at the Palace Theatre ..."

‘‘“Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares,” which Mrs. Frank Bateman is presenting at the Grand Theatre this week, is essentially a play of the moment. The hero is a dashing lieutenant (afterwards a commander) in the Navy, and among the other characters are a naval captain and a German agent. Add to these a drunken lighthouse keeper and, for a heroine, the pathetic figure of a sea-waif, and you have the material personnel of the play, as well as a suspicion of the dramatic method followed by the author. Mrs. Bateman acts with a well modulated force as the waif Nell, while Fred W. Goddard (as the hero), Marion Vyner as Nell’s child, and Dan Dunyille as the German spy, are all excellent. On Friday only “The King and the Orange Girl” will be staged’. Nottingham Journal, Tuesday 29 February 1916.

Article in Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. Text garbled. Scanned image not accessible. Performance dates may have been a week later.

The Manchester Evening News, 13 March 1916, advertised Mrs Frank Bateman in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares at the Royal Osborne Theatre. Noted in The Era, 15 March 1916, and The Stage, 16 March 1916.

'A beautifully staged drama dealing with sea life is provided for the patrons of the Prince’s Theatre this week. Mrs. Frank Bateman and Company are responsible for the production, which is entitled “Somebody Knows Somebody Cares” (by Miss Gladys Hastings Walton). The story is a truly excellent one, whilst the spirit of adventure leads up to several thrilling situations, which create an extraordinary amount of interest. The leading part of “Nell, a waif of the sea,” is undertaken by Mrs. Frank Bateman, who is responsible for the lion’s share of the success of the piece. Her acting throughout is clever, and cannot help but create a favourable impression on the audience. Another character which has been placed in capable hands in that of “Richard Alverstone,” which is ably impersonated by Mr. Fred W. Goddard. He has several difficulties to surmount, and in the end has a lucky escape from death as a result of his would-be murderer killing his own son. The villainous element is of the German agent type, and is well represented by Mr. Charles Adeson, who is assisted by Miss Flora Hastings. Mr. Harry Parker causes an agreeable diversion with some good-natured humour, and other capable members of the cast are Mr. Bert Daniels, Mr. Roy Jackson, and Miss Marion Vyner, who presents a pathetic figure as the blind child. Her rendering of the favourite song, “Somebody knows, somebody cares,” is particularly pleasing’. Bradford Weekly Telegraph, 7 April 1916.

The Stage, 13 April 1916, reported that Mrs Frank Bateman and company were staging Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Metropole, Gateshead; The King and the Orange Girl would be presented on Thursday and Friday.

The Era, 26 April 1916, reported that Mrs Frank Bateman and company were appearing with Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares, Sapho and East Lynne that week at the Royal Palace, Liverpool.

The Shields Daily News, Monday 1 May 1916, advertised that Mrs Frank Bateman herself & company were appearing that week at the Theatre Royal, North Shields in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares on Monday-Wednesday and Saturday, The King and the Orange Girl on Thursday and Sapho on Friday.

Review Birmingham Mail 30 May 1916: "Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares is first-rate melodrama. is crisp and topical, with strong plot, an unscrupulous villain, and fair amount of bright comedy. The villain is a German spy, who tri.s (sic) ensnare defenceless girl, sea waif". Unable to access newspaper for further details.

The Stage, 22 June 1916, noted that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company were performing Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares and The King and the Orange Girl that week at the Royal, Stratford.

The Era, 28 June 1916, noted that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company were performing Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Theatre Royal, Leicester.

First performance in London recorded in The Era, London on 26 July 1916. Also recorded in Hand-list of plays, Allardyce Nicoll, English Drama 1900-1930, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1973 p. 710.

The Newcastle Journal, Saturday 29 July 1916, reported that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company were due with Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares and The King and the Orange Girl at the Palace Theatre.

Advertisement in Evening Despatch, Warwickshire 29 August 1916. Twice nightly. Unable to browse newspaper to establish further detail.

Review in Birmingham Daily Gazette 19 September 1916: " Somebody Knows. Somebody Cares met with a very warm welcome at Smethwick last night. It was the first time this admirable story of the waif ..." Unable to access newspaper for further details.

Advertisements in Daily Record and Mail, Lanarkshire. 9th, 11th and 13th October 1916 "Entrancing is the only possible word to apply to this delightful play" (9th) "Huge success last night" (11th) "A veritable feast of Comedy, Pathos and Thrilling Situations" (13th)

The Gloucester Journal, Saturday 28 October 1916, advertised Mrs Frank Bateman’s greatest of all domestic dramas Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares on Monday next and during the week at the Palace Theatre, Gloucester. ‘“Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares,” the title of a well-known song, has been adopted for the title of the drama which occupies the boards at the Palace this week. The story is that of a girl who, having been saved from the sea by a fisherman, had been brought by him as a fishermaid. At the time she was found, papers showing that she was the rightful heir to Alverstone Hall were in her possession; but the fisherman kept them in the hope that she would marry his son and so make him rich. When she had grown up. Lieut. Alverstone happened to come to the village, and the two fell in love, of a fond but unwise character. Lieut. Alverstone’s ship was ordered on service before he could marry Nell. A plot was formed by a German spy to wreck the ship by bribing the lighthouse keeper, who was the fisherman’s son, Steve Penrith, to put out the light. Nell overhears the plot and tried to prevent her unwelcome lover, Steve, from going to the lighthouse. As the price of the safety of the ship Nell agreed to give herself to Steve, and was seen in his arms by Lieut. Alverstone, who obtains leave and returns to marry her. He accuses her of being false to him, and leaves her. She marries Steve, but is ill-treated by him. Eventually after years of waiting the papers are restored to Nell, and she becomes owner of Alverstone Hall. Finally Steve is shot by his own father, and Nell and Alverstone are married. Mrs. Frank Bateman is effective as Nell, and Mr. Fred W. Goddard makes a splendid partner as Lieut. Alverstone. Steve Penrith is well played by Mr. Roy Jackson as also is Dave Penrith by Mr. John S. Jones, and Hilda Markham by Miss Flora Hastings. Lily (Nell’s child) is splendidly portrayed by Miss Marion Vyner. Mr. S. A. Tilbury and Miss Kathy Jackson are most amusing in the lighter parts’. Gloucester Journal, 4 November 1916.

The Era, 8 November 1916, noted that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company was appearing in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

The Era, 15 November 1916, noted that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company was appearing in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Grand Theatre, Brighton.

The Era, 13 December noted that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company was appearing in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Hippodrome, Bolton.

The Portsmouth Evening News, 18 December 1916, advertised Mrs Frank Bateman & Co in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Prince’s Theatre.

The Stage, 18 January 1917, reported that Mrs Frank Bateman’s company was presenting The Light That Leads Me Home at the Royal, Crook, and that ‘“Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares is also played’.

The Leeds Mercury, Tuesday 8 February 1917, advertised Mrs Frank Bateman and Company in Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares that week at the Queen’s Theatre. However, the Leeds Mercury, 10 February 1917, advertised that the play that night was The Light That Leads Me Home.

The Jarrow Express, 12 October 1917, advertised Mrs Frank Bateman & Co in the great domestic drama Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares for six nights from Monday 15 October at the Theatre Royal. ‘Mrs. Frank Bateman and Company have been presenting the domestic drama “Somebody Knows Somebody Cares,” to large and appreciative audiences this week. The lady has been accorded a warm welcome each evening, and on Monday she thanked the audience for the kind manner in which they had supported her and the company, at the same time mentioning that for two nights next week “East Lynne” would be played in response to a request from numerous friends. She was always pleased to come to Jarrow, as it was like coming home. Mrs. Bateman gives a fine reading of the part of Nell, a waif of the sea. for which she has been heartily applauded. Mr. Fred Goddard is particularly good as Lieut. Richard Alverstone. He is Nell’s lover, but seeing her with a man called Steve Penrith, he believes that Nell is false and leaves her. The heavy part is ably sustained by Miss Flora Hastings as Hilda Markham, a woman with a past and Mr. Harry P. Loydall as Hans Hertzog, a German agent. They enlist the services of two fishermen, Dave Penrith and his son Steve, who is the lighthouse keeper. Mr. John S. Jones’ presentation of the part of old Dave is excellent, whilst Mr. D. F. Russell is to be congratulated upon the able manner in which he takes the part of Steve. Miss Marion Vyner as Lily takes the part with great ability.. The lighter side of the play is ably undertaken Mr. Charles Adeson as Joe, the assistant lighthouse keeper, and Miss Lily Sweeney as Jenny Briggs. They create a great deal of amusement each evening. Mr. Ted Brickell is very good as Captain Fitz Davies of the Royal Mercantile Navy. Next week, the last of the present visit, Mrs. Bateman will present “Sapho” the first three nights; “East Lynne” Thursday and Friday; and on Saturday “The Light that leads me Home”’. Jarrow Express, 19 October 1917.