King's Theatre, Southsea

‘Jeff Coates Hebrew character delineator is relinquishing his connection with Jack Johnson’s Revue, and is specially engaged by Mr. Horace Hunter to open at the King’s, Southsea, on Monday next [20 September], to create a Hebrew Character Comedy Part in his new production’ (The Era, 15 September 1915). ‘A novelty in sketches is that introduced by Horace Hunter and Co. in “Next Please”’ (Portsmouth Evening News, 21 September 1915). ‘Horace Hunter and company appear in an American sketch, “Next, Please,” which is well acted and causes much amusement’ (The Stage, 23 September 1915).

‘Playgoers will welcome the return to the stage of Miss Camille Clifford (the Hon. Mrs. Lyndhurst Bruce), the creator of the famous “Gibson Girl” and her equally famous walk. Miss Clifford will next week present for the first time at the King’s Theatre a new act, entitled “The Girl of the Future,” a musical fantasy written by Mr. Harold Simpson, with music by Mr. Arthur Klein. In “The Girl of the Future,” Miss Clifford will wear some wonderful Parisian dress creations by Lucille [sic – Lucile], including an exquisite bridal dress. Her stage “lover” will be Mr. Norman Cheyne, and others supporting the cast will include Miss Ada Palmer, Mr. Bertie White, and Mr. Tripp Edgar’. (Hampshire Telegraph, 20 October 1916; also Portsmouth Evening News, 21 October 1916). The Sketch, 25 October 1916, published a photograph of Camille Clifford captioned: ‘Returning to the stage in a new sketch, “The Girl of the Future”: Miss Camille Clifford (the Hon. Mrs. Lyndhurst Bruce). Miss Camille Clifford recently decided to return to the stage, and it was announced the other day that she had arranged to appear in a new sketch, called “The Girl of the Future,” beginning a provincial tour at Southsea, and later coming to the Finsbury Park Empire and other London theatres. Audiences will see again, it is said, her famous “walk” which won her the title of “the Gibson Girl.” It will be recalled that Miss Clifford, who in private life is the Hon. Mrs. Lyndhurst Bruce, has been widowed by the war. Her husband, who was the eldest son and heir of Lord Aberdare, was killed in action in France last year. Their marriage took place in 1906’.

Presented and Performed by Ethel Irving who had recently returned from a 9-month tour of South Africa. Also performing was Owen Roughwood. In the same bill were The Selbinis, a cycling act in black and white, May Starr (dancer), Ermay and Rey, W. O. Robinson (Canadian with a mouth organ), and Dora Lyric (comedienne and singer).

Performed by Mrs Patrick Campbell.

The play had originally been due to be premiered in London, at the Oxford, on 19 May, however, the opening was delayed and it was first seen in Portsmouth where it was performed between 5 and 9 June 1917.

Performed for the week by George Hester (sic – Hestor) (actor), Jack Mann (actor), Charles Hammel (actor), Winnie Collins (actress), Dorothy Frostick (actress), Ethel Arden (actress). Also on the bill: Jos de Moraes, vocalist; Vivian Foster, the ‘vicar of mirth’; the Delson-Good Trio, French comedy acrobats; and Kioto, ‘a clever Japanese equilibrist.

The name of the villain changed from Von Bolo to Von Golo. Frenchman Paul Bolo, known as Bolo Pasha, had been arrested in September 1917 as a traitor/German agent and stood trial in early 1918. He was found guilty of treason in February 1918 and executed in April 1918 after an unsuccessful appeal. If the villain was originally called Von Bolo after Bolo Pasha (there was a lot of press coverage of the case) perhaps the producer decided to change the name for the sake of decency!

The Stage, 16 January 1919, listed Bubbly in Calls For Next Week at the King’s Theatre, Southsea, and listed Bubbly as On Tour from 20 January at the K.’s, Southsea.

Performers: Fred Kitchen, May Beatty

Performed here between 17 and 22 March 1919.

The Era, 29 October 1919, listed among calls for 3 November 1919 a rehearsal at 1.30pm for Tails Up at the King’s Theatre, Southsea. Also The Stage, 30 October 1919. Previewed in the Hampshire Telegraph, Friday 31 October 1919. At the King’s Theatre, Portsmouth ‘“Tails Up” is attracting large audiences as played by Frederick Lloyd’s company. The cast includes Edwin Adeler, Jack Leopold, Leslie Ward, Arthur Laurie. Ellaline Thorne, Kitty Yorke, Hilda Simpson, and Essie Brett’ (The Stage, 6 November 1919).

Performed from 26 November to 1 December 1917.

‘The entire London production of “Bubbly!” will be staged at the King’s next week. No musical play of modern times has had such a long consecutive run as “Bubbly!” which already has more than eleven hundred performances to its credit. Heading the fine cast of principals are Phyllis Whitney and Edward Steadman, the former a fascinating burlesque actress, who, both as vocalist and dancer, is immensely popular in the metropolis, and the latter a ripe comedian of the robust school’ (Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 13 March 1920). ‘“Bubbly” is aptly and appropriately named. It is called “Bubbly” because it is bubbly and sparkling by reason of its delicious mirth, merriment, and a whole series of dazzling episodes by fascinatingly clever artists amid scenes of splendour. The leading artists are Phyllis Whitney, Elsie Stevens, Rita Webber, and Vivian Pedlar, Edward Steadman, R. Barrett Lennard, and Laurie Aster’ (The Stage, 18 March 1920).

Performed from 5 to 10 December 1921.

Flying matinee.

The Stage, 17 November 1977, listed a Kiss For Cinderella in Calls for 21 November at the King’s Theatre, Southsea.