Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton

Reviewed at length, with details of the plot, in The Era, 4 August 1915, and The Stage, 5 August 1915. The Stage, 5 August 1915: ‘Mrs. F. G. Kimberley’s new domestic drama was produced on Monday before crowded and highly appreciative audiences in the author’s own theatre, and in her native town. As a playwright Mrs Kimberley has attained her majority, for this is her twenty-first production. Mrs Kimberley is prolific without being prolix. Her latest drama shows fresh strength, and has more variety. Into the drawing of the characters a great deal of thought has been put, for they are more definite and individual than one sometimes meets ... In the construction of the play Mrs Kimberley has exercised considerable ingenuity... [The play is] agreeable, exciting, and not too obvious. That there should be a great deal of sentiment may be taken for granted when one considers that the play is based upon the popular song’. The cast was: Cecil Standing, Melville Chiswell; Robert Standing, Frank Eaglesfield; Dick Bryant, Ernest Vaughan; Jack Hartley, Edgar Morgan; Coloured Sam, Frank Mackinnon; Tom Slopper, Jack Hayes; P.C. Christopher, Geo. Rodney; Duggie, Little Willie Graham; Mary Bryant, Pauline Nanton; Mrs. H. Standing, Ada Roscoe; Mrs. Bryant, Ellen Bevereley; Peggy Bryant, Madge Douglas.

‘Home Once More is being staged here [the Royal, Wolverhampton] by Emma Litchfield’s company. A capital portrayal of the heroine is given by Emma Litchfield. She is cleverly supported by S. P. Goodyer-Kettley as Capt., Forrester, and Ena Newham, who skilfully handles the part of the adventuress. Others are Conrad Stratford, Lionel Belmont [sic - Balmont], Tom H. Solly, Larry Clements, Chas. Edwards, and Lillie Livesey’. The Stage, 21 October 1915.

The play is founded on the song of the title now being featured by Miss Florence Smithson.(The Era, 13 October 1915)

The Era, 26 January 1916, listed The Little Grey Home In The West (South) as On The Road from 24 January at the T.R., Wolverhampton. Also The Stage, 20 and 27 January 1916, but identifying the company as ‘North’. Also: ‘A popular attraction here this week is Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Vaughan’s company in Mrs. Kimberley’s play, “The Little Grey Home in the West"' (The Era, 26 January 1916). ‘Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Vaughan pay a welcome return visit with The Little Grey Home in the West. Ernest Vaughan fills well the rôle of Dick Bryant, being ably assisted by Madge Douglas as Peggy. The other parts are in able hands, and the piece is capitally staged’ (The Stage, 27 January 1916).

Performers: Matthew H Glenville (Father Patrick Fitzgerald), Sydney A Monckton (Jack Brownlow), Maude Lambert (Lennie McMahon), Bert Pemberton (Dennis O'Donohue), Oscar Power (Col Nugent Pallister), George Langdon (Max Hoffman), Sidney Ellis (Benjamin Burnstyne), Robert Mann (Sgt Haggerty), Tom Atkinson (Orderly Brown), Genna Lyndon (Winnie Desmond), Mysie Monty (Mary McMahon), Nellie Richmond (Biddy Dolan) Reviews: "There is not a dull moment in the piece ... The scene in the dug-out is excellent", The Stage

‘Arthur Hinton, Ltd., this week present “The Black Sheep of the Family” [at the Theatre Royal, Wolverhampton]. Cast includes Ethel Monton, J. Knox Orde, and Arthur Hinton’. The Era, 22 November 1916.

The Stage, 11 January 1917, listed The Unmarried Mother as On Tour from 8 January at the Royal, Wolverhampton.

Performed by Will Casey and company.

Noted in The Stage, 5 July 1917.

When Miss Emma Litchfield’s company advertised Always Welcome in The Stage, 12 July 1917, the address for the following week was the T.R., Wolverhampton. And when Emma Litchfield advertised in The Stage, 19 July 1917, for a ‘good Juvenile Man’ for Always Welcome (owing to Mr. Lionel Balmont being called up); 'Rehearse Bordesley, July 24’, her address was the T.R., Wolverhampton.

The Stage, 20 September 1917, listed His Last Leave as On Tour from 24 September at the Royal, Wolverhampton.

When Peggy Courtney, R. Powell James and Ethel Monton of the Black Sheep company inserted theatrical cards in The Stage, 29 November 1917, their address for the following week was the T.R., Wolverhampton. When Arthur Hinton advertised in The Stage, 6 December 1917, for theatres for The Black Sheep of the Family his address was the T.R., Wolverhampton.

‘Will H. Glaze’s company occupy the boards here with “The Voice on the ‘Phone,” which has hitherto been staged as “Blackmail.” A good cast includes James Stillwell, Geoff. Chate, Alfred Stretton, Renee Bevan, Nita Langford, and Florence Lyndon. The twice nightly system continues successfully here’. The Stage, 7 February 1918.

The Stage, 7 and 14 March 1918, listed Deliver the Goods as On Tour from 11 March at the R., Wolverhampton.

Noted in The Era, 15 May 1918.

The Stage, 30 May and 6 June 1918, listed A Son of the Sea as On Tour from 3 June at the R., Wolverhampton.

Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home'

According to an advertisement for the play (‘not played by a one-star man, but a good all round company, headed by Miss Ruby Kimberley, one of the daintiest Revue artists on the stage to-day’) in The Era, 14 August 1918, ‘This Revue was specially chosen for the T.R., Wolverhampton, last week and the business was the talk of the town – never has the theatre done such business, it was packed nightly and beat any previous attraction – beat all pantomime records and all plays – no revue near it’.

This performance (theatre and start date) is included in a list of forthcoming performances of “Married on Leave” in The Stage of Thursday 1 August 1918.

The Stage, 17 and 24 October 1918, listed His Last Leave as On Tour from 21 October at the R., Wolverhampton.

Performed for the week by Emma Litchfield's company.

Mentioned as Home From The Trenches in an advertisement in The Stage, 6 March 1919 and in the 'on tour' listings in The Stage, 20 and 27 March 1919. Mentioned as Back To Wife And Home in an advertisement in The Stage, 13 March 1919. Notice for the Royal, Wolverhampton: ‘Drama is a welcome change here, and Will H. Glaze's company with “Home From the Trenches" are much appreciated’. The Stage, 27 March 1919.

The Stage, 3 April 1919, noted Joseph Millany’s [sic – Millane’s] company at the Royal, Wolverhampton, in Love, Honour and the Woman. ‘A strong company include Vincent W. Carlyle, George Gaisford, Fergus Leslie, Leonard C. Way, Florence Churchill, Violet St. John, Winnie Crichton, and Evie Conway. The piece is drawing good houses’. Also: when Joseph Millane’s Companies advertised in The Stage, 10 April 1919, for theatres for Love, Honour, and the Woman, and for The Man, The Woman and The - ?, (‘cast includes Florence Churchill’), the advertisement referred to ‘the success, financially and artistically’, of Love, Honour, and the Woman at the T.R., Wolverhampton the previous week.

Performed by the Kimberley-Fortesque repertory company with cast including Paul Ash, Gene Muriel, Fred Wilson, Walter A. Thomas, Ted Mooney, Lawson Frazier, June Harris and Madge Longden.

‘The Kimberley Fortescue repertory company are now in their fifth week’s stay here [the Royal, Wolverhampton], and continue to be successful. “The Black Sheep of the Family” was presented on Monday, and for to-night (Thursday) “Neither Wife Nor Maid” is billed’ (The Stage, 18 October 1928). The author of the play is not named, so there is no certainty that it was Gladys Hastings Walton, but no other play with the same title was licensed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office.

The Stage, 19 March 1931, reported that the company at the Royal Theatre, Wolverhampton announced A Kiss for Cinderella for next week.