Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The War Lord, otherwise the Kaiser, is first seen in his tent at night, receiving news of losses and dictating to his staff officer reports of successes. Left alone he falls asleep and in his dream is interviewed by King Death, appearing in the uniform of the Death's Head Hussars. To the accompaniment of a growling thunderstorm the supernatural figure greets his fellow-monarch with gross irony as the worthiest successor to Atilla and Nana Sahib, and congratulates him upon the methods and results of his wholesale slaughter at Louvain. In reply to the War Lord’s protest against this patronising condescension he is told that he will soon be one of King Death's subjects, just as are his victims whose bones will hardly be distinguishable from his own royal ones. The curtain falls to weird music, as the figure fades away, and the War Lord is left to his troubled slumber. A dignified if violent indictment dramatised from the journalism of to-day, and in the circumstances of the moment. Recommended for License. Ernest A. Bendall

Licensed On: 31 Oct 1914

License Number: 2996

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British Library Reference: LCP1914/32

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66080 C

Performances

Date Theatre Type
6 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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At the Palladium, on Monday last, Mr. Gulliver presented a Variety Bill that even in these strenuous times should pack the building. That remarkable comedian, Mr. Charles Austin, appeared in his greatest comedy sketch, "Parker on the Panel," Mr. Arthur Collins's dramatic sketch, "The War Lord's Dream," remains in the bill for a further week. Mr.H.M.Vernon, in "The Case of Johny Walker," assisted by James Carew, H.V.Surrey, Gerald Valentine, and a full West End Company, was excellent. it is a remarkable sketch in which the methods of the police in new York are very severely criticised. The sketch deals with the attempts of an unscrupulous detective to send an innocent man to prison, and the "Detectograph" plays an important part in turning the tables on the detective. The Variety Bill also includes:- Billy Merson, Maidie Scott, Clarice Mayne & Tate, Liane d'Eve, Goodfellow and Gregson, Scotch Kelly, and Alice Hollander. (Gloucester Citizen - Wednesday 25 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Unknown Licensed Performance
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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The proceeds of the Water Rats entertainment, to be held on Thursday Nov. 26 at the Palladium will be given to the Belgian Fund. A pantomime entitled "Dick Whittington His Cat," will be the special novelty sketch, "The War Lord's Dream," in which Mr.C.V. France and Mr. C.M. Hallard appear, is to be introduced. (Sporting Life - Friday 13 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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On Monday next, November 16, Mr. Charles Gulliver will revert to a full variety bill at the Palladium. One of the principal items will be a sketch entitled, "The War Lord's Dream," this is founded on an article that appeared a short time ago in a London newspaper. The part of the Emperor or War Lord, will be played by Mr. C.V. France, and that of King Death by Mr. C.M. Hallard. Special incidental music has been composed by Mr. J.M. Glover. (Sporting Times - Saturday 14 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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6.30 and 9pm, Mon.Wed. and Sat. 2.30,4.30, and 7pm. Arthur Collins presents C.M.Hallard, and C.V. France in "The War Lord's Dream." (Globe - Monday 16 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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An impressive dramatic sketch entitled "The War Lord's Dream," was produced by Mr. Arthur Collins at the Palladium yesterday. The Emperor is seated in his tent after a council with his generals, when there enters, amidst thunder and lightning. King Death he greets the Emperor as the best friend he has ever had - a brother in very truth. He speaks of the young and strong whom the Emperor has sent to Death's kingdom years before their time; he speaks of murdered women and butchered children. And he disappears amidst more thunder and lightning with the promise to come again. The Emperor roars in rage at the thoughts of the home truths spoken to him. Music sounds - it is the patriotic music of the Allies, guns thunder. The tent bursts into flames, King Death appears again. He has come for his brother king. The grim little piece was excellently acted by Mr. C.V. France as the Emperor and Mr.C.M.Hallard as King Death; while it owed not a little of its strength to the incidental music composed by Mr. J.M. Glover. This one serious "turn" is relieved at the Palladium by numerous items that are truly joyous, among which must be mentioned Mr. Billy Merson, Miss Maidie Scott, Miss Clarice Mayne, and Carlton, all at the top of their form. (Sporting Life - Tuesday 17 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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6.10 and 9; Mon, Wed, and Sat. (Daily Mirror - Tuesday 17 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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That elegant and enthusiastic wielder of the baton at the Palladium, Mr. James Sale, made way for another Jimmy for an interval on Monday, the popular maestro from the Lane directing his own music for "The War Lord's Dream." The conductor's chair fairly groaned a protest when it first felt the presence of Mr. Glover who was immediately recognised by the audience and loudly acclaimed. "Jimmy" however, refrained from turning round and acknowledging the plaudits. Possibly he thought it prudent to sit tight and not risk acrobatics. (The Era - Wednesday 18 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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The German Emperor was the central character in a new sketch, entitled "The War Lord's Dream," presented at the London Palladium on Monday, and had a long way the worst of the argument with a ghostly King Death, who paid him a midnight visit in the Royal tent close by the firing line.. The Emperor's preliminary examination of the war map with his great Staff, induced the sleep whence came the dream, and, when the ghostly visitor had fairly aroused the anger of the Imperial sleeper with unpleasant references to Louvain and the good work done since then by Britain's contemptible little Army, he - to use an American expression- "put the lid on the stew" by bringing up an unseen military band to play the "Marseillaise". That and the ghastly grin on the green face of King Death finished William and the play. Whitby Gazette - Friday 20 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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6.30 and 9.0. Mon. Wed. and Sat. 2.30. 6.30 and 9.0. (Globe - Saturday 21 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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Councillor Glover established a record on Monday last, when he had the honour of having two productions introduced in to the London public the same day. At 2.30 and 7.30 he conducted Mr. Arthur Collins sketch "The War Lord's Dream" at the Palladium, and then jumping into a cab, awaited the cries of "Jimmy Glover - Speech" which greeted the successful end of the new Hippodrome revue "Business as Usual," of which he arranged the music. The Press notices have hailed the revue as a great success, and in all the notices Mr. Glover comes in for more than the ordinary sharer of the praise. It is an enormous production costing 7,000 and employing 150 people on the stage. Councillor Glover spent the next morning with Mr. G.R. Sims over the next Drury Lane pantomime and went to Plymouth in the afternoon to settle his pantomime there returning to Bexhill on Monday for his Council duties. (Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 21 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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"The War Lord's Dream" is anything but a cheery concoction, and at the same time it is hardly convincing. The scheme is mainly based on a monologue between the Kaiser and King Death, the never-to-be-deposed grisly monarch. It leads eventually to a situation a la Richard the Third in which the conscience stricken ,Monarch calls for "his Guards." Mr. Jimmy Glover is responsible for the incidental music. The Emperor and King Death are well played by Messrs. C.V.France and C.M.Ballard respectively. The programme includes a number of excellent turns, providing splendid entertainment. (The People - Sunday 29 November 1914)
16 Nov 1914 Palladium, London Professional
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"The War Lord's Dream" dramatic sketch, founded on an article which appeared in "The Pall Mall Gazette," produced by Arthur Collins, with incidental music by J.M.Glover; Palladium, Nov.16. (The Era - Wednesday 23 December 1914)