The Bells of St Valoir
Examiner of Plays' Summary:
Described as a 'drama of the war', and happily without the violence and piled-up brutality of some others, as indeed was to be expected from the author. St Valoir, an imaginary village on the Belgian frontier, is occupied by a small body of Germans. The major in command of them is installed in the chateau and is rude - not only in an underbred, insolent way - to his daughter. Her lover comes with a despatch for the Comte, who is a prisoner. The German major reads it and finds the bells are to be rung if the English are not to advance. So he has them rung, but it really was to be read in the reverse, and the English are heard advancing, the major having been shot by the Belgian officer .There is nothing excessive in any part of the play. Recommended for license, G. S. Street.
Licensed On: 14 Nov 1914
License Number: 2998
Genre(s):
Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1914/32
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66080 E
Performances
| Date | Theatre | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Coliseum, London | Unknown | Licensed Performance |
| 30 Nov 1914 | Coliseum, London | Professional |
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This play was performed as part of the weekly variety shows at the Coliseum, London. 'It is inevitable that in these times there should be something approaching an avalanche of war and patriotic items in music hall programmes, but it is equally certain that managers should exercise a kind of censorship with a view to preventing the production of pieces whose principal merit is that they deal with a phase of the War...the company and the popular author are wasted upon topical matter that has little dramatic value...the German villain makes a stronger appeal on the score of conviction than does the French hero' (Stage, 3 December 1914)
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| 4 Jan 1915 | Empire Theatre, London | Professional |
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Performed over 6 days. Cast: Gerald Kirby (Capt Marcel St Remy), Norman Forbes (Major Von Goltz), Dorothy Fane (Louise de St Valoir)
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| 25 Jan 1915 | Empire Theatre, Ardwick, Manchester | Professional |
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Performed over 6 days. Cast: Gerald Kirby (Capt Marcel St Remy), Norman Forbes (Major Von Goltz), Dorothy Fane (Louise de St Valoir).
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