Empire, Penge

‘At the Penge Empire Theatre this week … Kitts and Windrum are producing a smart up-to-date play entitled “The Slacker”’ (Forest Hill & Sydenham Examiner, 7 May 1915). ‘Very good … was the sketch, “The Slacker,” presented by Charles Kitts and Rhoda Windrum. It contains a strong recruiting appeal and thoroughly deserved all the applause that greeted it’ (Norwood News, 7 May 1915.)

The Stage, 3 June 1915, listed ‘Rosa Lynn’s A Guardian Angel’, among several other acts or turns, in Calls for Monday 7 June at the Penge Empire. The Norwood News, 4 June 1915, advertised a variety bill, apparently at the Empire, Penge, for Monday 7 June and during the week, including ‘Special engagement of Miss Rosa Lynn, supported by Messrs XXX Jarman(?), XXX Sydney(?) and Alfred Barber in the one-act play, entitled A Guardian Angel by Anthony Wharton. Produced by Mr. Norman XXX’. [XXX denotes an illegible name.] The Norwood News, 11 June 1915, reviewed the ‘long and most interesting programme’ at the Penge Empire that week. It noted, ‘Miss Rosa Lynn and Co. in the one act play “A Guardian Angel” are very good’. The People, 12 September 1915, noted that Rosa Lynn was the nom-de-theatre of ‘a prominent society lady’. The Stage, 16 September 1915, commented, ‘Miss Rosa Lynn ... is advertised as a very prominent leader in Society. Has anyone ever been able to explain precisely what is meant by Society? At any rate, the label is wholly unnecessary, because Miss Lynn is quite a clever and natural actress, and it certainly carries no stage recommendation with it’.

The Era, 1 November 1916, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Red) as On The Road from 6 November at the Emp., Penge. ‘“The Man who Stayed at Home” pays a welcome visit to Penge next week at the Empire Theatre, and will be looked forward to with great interest. It is a strong as well as an amusing play, dealing with the absorbing interesting spy question, and is, indeed, the play of the moment. Produced at the Royalty Theatre, London, on December 10th, 1914, it achieved instantaneous success because it is thrilling, and at the same time amusing. It deals with the burning question of foreign spies on the East coast. It reflects the Empire of to-day. It appeals to young and old alike, to civilian as much as to soldier. The devices used by the spies are drawn from what has actually occurred. Although it deals with war time, there is no suggestion of the horrors of war. Theatregoers have seldom had the opportunity of witnessing such an interesting play as “The Man Who Stayed at Home.” Such a play needs a fine company, and the name of Taylor Platt. who presents it, is a sure guarantee of the efficiency of the players. The strong cast includes Clifford Marle, Charles H. Mortimer, J. Edward Pearce, C. Laverack-Brown, Russell Bendle, Malcolm Cumming, Valerie Richards, Greta Wood, Hilda Franks, Frances Waring, Ethel Coleridge, Edith Cuthbert’ (Norwood News, 3 November 1916).

Performed for the week: ‘There is almost continuous laughter throughout the three scenes, principally on account of Will Hay, who I at least the equal of many men with big London reputations. But he should omit the spitting on his hand business. From personal observation I saw it was distasteful to the better parts of the audience, and a comedian of Hay’s calibre does not need adventitious aids of that sort to raise laughs’. (The Encoure, 9 May 1918)

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.

Performed twice nightly at 6.15 and 8.30 with performances at 6 and 8.30 on Saturdays. Starring Alfred Paumier in his original role. Advertised as 'The longest run of any drama ever produced in the world' (Norwood News, 24 January 1919)

The Era, Wednesday 5 March 1919, listed Harry Thurston and company in “The Johnson ‘Ole” in Calls for Next Week, Monday 10 March, at the Penge Empire. Also advertised in the Norwood News, 7 March 1919.

‘The attraction next week at. the Penge Empire is the London production of “Bubbly,” for which it is claimed that no musical play of modern times has had such a long consecutive run. In London alone it ran for 400 nights, and this success has been followed by equal enthusiasm in Birmingham, Manchester. Glasgow, and Dublin, with exactly the same company as that which is to appear in Penge next week. Heading the fine cast of principals are Ivy Tresmand and Edmund Russell. There is a perfectly trained and exquisitely dressed chorus, and “Futurist” scenery of the most weird and elaborate description. The orchestra will be specially augmented, and the whole production will be staged exactly as it was at the Comedy Theatre. Intending patrons are advised to book their seats well in advance’ (Norwood News, 21 November 1919). The Era, 26 November 1919, reported, ‘The “Bubbly” touring company celebrates its second anniversary, and also ends its present tour at Penge on Saturday. At the special request of the management Miss Ivy Tresmand, who has been away for nine weeks under medical orders, returned [to play the lead (?)] for the last fortnight. Towards the end of the year she will join the cast of one of Mr. Andre Charlot’s town productions’.

Playing twice nightly.