Opera House, Northampton

Cast included: Amy Ravenscroft (Lady Mertin), Dorothy Edwards (Evelyn Mertin), T L Julian (Benwor), Austin Fairman (Lieut. Jack Stanley), Reginald Rivington (Col George Nolan), F Warwick Ward (Charles Bodin), Lionel West (Maurice Barradet), Ernest A Douglas (Mr Hedgewoods), L Fraser (Inspector Dart), Yolande May (Clotilde), Leonard Shepherd (Baron von Stoll)

The Stage, 2 December 1915, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Taylor Platt) as On Tour from 29 November at the O.H., Northampton.

The Era, 24 and 31 May 1916, listed The Little Grey Home In The West as On The Road from 29 May at the O.H., Northampton.

‘The Enemy in our Midst, presented twice nightly, is popular’ at the Opera House, Northampton. The Stage, 15 June 1916.

Performers: Matthew H Glenville and Co.

‘For this week there are two houses nightly at the Opera House, when a naval drama, “For Sweethearts and Wives,” is being given. The play is exciting and topical. Around the adventures of a naval engineer, Mr. Arthur Roseberry [sic] has written an exciting story. He has perfected inventions which will revolutionise marine engineering, but his success is threatened on the one hand by the opposition of unskilled labour, which is likely to be displaced, and on the other by the plotting of spies, who hope to secure the fruit of his brains for this country’s enemies. A love story runs through the play, for the engineer is in love with his master’s daughter. It is such a play as will please a Northampton audience, and is well acted and well staged’. Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 1 January 1918.

‘E. Taylor Platt Co. in The Man Who Stayed at Home’ at the Opera House, Northampton was advertised in the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 29 July 1918.

Starring William Home (actor), John McNally (actor), Helen Green (actress), A. Blundell Murray (actor), Gladys Spencer (actress). 'By Pigeon Post' is another of the spy plays which during the last three years have been so much enjoyed, but one cannot honestly say it is as good as its predecessors. It has exciting moments and its surprises, but it has not the grip over one of 'The Man who Stayed at Home' for instance.' (Northampton Chronicle, 3 September 1918)

Presented by Percy Hutchison and Herbert Jay

‘Witty, amusing, full of delightful situations, “Nurse Benson,” at the Opera House this week, is a play to be thankful for. It is a tonic in these days, and for the time drives away all troubles. The reputation of play is evidently wide, for there was an excellent house last night, and there will certainly be crowded houses throughout the week. The acting is a triumph for Miss Doris Kendal as Lady Gillian Dunsmore, the very flippant, charming, loveable niece of Lord Messiger, who pretends he [sic] is a qualified nurse, to the delight of her soldier patient though to the scandal of the said soldier’s worthy parents. Mr. J. Edward Pearce, as Lord Messiger, played with a very real appreciation of his part, and amused the audience with his fussy bewilderment at his niece’s behaviour, and his wonderful schemes for making the general public and his household economise in war time. The other parts were well supported, and it is a treat to have a comedy so well acted as that is by the Taylor Platt Company'. Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 11 February 1919.

‘“Nurse Benson” is one of those quiet amusing comedies that keeps an audience smiling from beginning to end, but does not cause roars of laughter. Everybody in the play is interesting and creates fresh smiles, every situation makes you smile, and nearly every sentence, and when you leave you feel that it has been an evening pleasantly spent in amusing company. The performance last night was good. Maud Linden as Lady Gillian is pretty and charming, and freakish, and acts well. But most delightful was Mr. George P. Polson as Lord Mesiger [sic – Messiger]. He acted with real appreciation of all that the part contains, and the same may justly be said of Miss Mary Griffiths as Mrs. Tibbenham. The company contains no weak spot'. Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 24 February 1920.

The Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 9 May 1922, reviewed In The Night: ‘On Thursday and Friday night, “The K.C.,” which is shortly to be produced in London, will be staged, and next week “The Walls of Jericho,” an old favourite play, and Jerome K. Jerome’s “Cook”’. Also: '‘The Rex Gerard Repertory Co. last night gave the second of the many plays they hope to give during their season at the Opera House. This was “The K.C.,” a new three-set play by Dion Titheradge. It has been played at the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, and is shortly to be produced in London. It is a problem play in that it raises several problems which are discussed every day and always will be discussed: the duty of a barrister to his client; the problem of whether a man should marry the woman he has wronged ... . The central figure of the play is a retired K.C., who is fond of books and flowers and quotations, but who finds in a family trouble the call to once again plead in the courts. The family trouble is due to his prospective son-in-law being accused of a crime. To tell the story would be to rob those who go to-night of some of their enjoyment. Mr. Rex Gerard is a wonder actor. He gave the whole audience intense enjoyment last night, and he created a memory of a delightful wise old man which will live long after the details of the play have been forgotten. Tonight “The K.C.” is being given again, and to-morrow “In the Night.” Both plays are worth seeing' (Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 12 May 1922).

Performed for Easter Week by the Elephant Repertory Company in conjunction with W. Carter Slaughter.

Performed for the week by the Elephant and Castle Repertory Company.