Dalston Theatre, London

'At the Dalston Theatre next week the well known dramatic actress, Mrs. Bateman, is appearing in a series of dramatic plays. She opens on Monday with her latest success, “A Woman in Khaki,” which will be repeated on Tuesday, Thursday matinee and on Saturday night; on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, “Nell Gwynne,” and on Friday night, “Sapho.” Mrs. Bateman brings with her a very capable company, and after so many West End plays recently given at the Dalston, a week of drama will no doubt be much appreciated’ (East London Observer, Saturday 1 May 1915). ‘This week’s attraction at the Dalston Theatre is Mrs. Bateman in a series of Dramatic Plays, interpreted by a very capable company. The repertoire consists of “A Woman in Khaki,” “Nell Gwynne,” and “Sapho”’ (Gloucester Citizen, 5 May 1915). See also https://eastendww1.wordpress.com/tag/dalston-theatre which quotes from a review of The Woman in Khaki in the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette, purportedly on Saturday 9 May 1915 but that date was a Sunday; internal evidence suggests the piece was published on Wednesday 5 May.

For the week following the August Bank Holiday the Dalston Theatre announces ‘that wonderful attraction which is breaking all records at the Royalty Theatre, viz: “The Man Who Stayed at Home”‘ (Shoreditch Observer, 30 July 1915). ‘Through the enterprise of Mr. J. Landon Lee, North London theatre-goers will have the opportunity of witnessing the phenomenally successful Spy play, “The Man Who Stayed at Home,” at their favourite resort, the Dalston Theatre, next week, with a cast of exceptional brilliancy' (Gloucester Citizen, 4 August 1915).

The Era, 15 September 1915, reviewed The Enemy in our Midst a ‘Play, in Four Acts, by G. Carlton Wallace, Produced at the Dalston Theatre on Monday Sept. 13’. The cast was: Lord Northwood, John Parker; Henry Carstone, J. Forbes Knowles; Basil Stanhope, Frederick D. Daviss; Major Thurston, Robert Alison; Hermann Klost, Norman A. Overton; Friedrich Baumer, Chas. Mervyn; Rev. Arthur Kingsley, William Tarbert; Peter Streaker, Harry Benson; Sergeant Barnes, Fred May; Ralph Morton, Frank Halstead; Mrs. Stanhope, Mabel Mannering; Peggy Piper, Laurie Potter; Elise Carstone, Maisie Hanbury. The review continued: ‘The description of a “new up-to-the-moment play” is certainly not misapplied in the case of Mr. G. Carton Wallace’s latest drama. It vividly illustrates the treachery of the alien enemy in our midst and the scenic sensation is a most effectively worked Zeppelin raid, concluding with the destruction of the cigar-0sjaped monster. The author carries along his story with the skill born of experience, and another interesting and well constructed play can be placed to his credit'. The review contained a detailed account of the plot and comments on the actors. The Stage, 16 September 1915, also reviewed the production in similar detail, noting that ‘All the essentials of popular drama are to be found in G. Carlton Wallace’s new autumn product, with the added virtue that it is brought up to date by the inclusion of scenes illustrative of present-day incidents. The play is full of strong situations and effective comic scenes, and includes an excellently worked illusion of a Zeppelin raid ... The play is admirably produced, and frequent applause on Monday gave indication of the success achieved’.

‘Mr. Oswald Cray presents this week at the Dalston Theatre, the drama entitled “The Unmarried Mother.” Dalstonians are always ready to follow a stage story of strong domestic interest, dramatically told and efficiently acted, and in this piece they have full opportunity of evincing their sympathy and appreciation'. The Era, 9 February 1916.

‘The capital war drama, “Neither Wife Nor Maid,” will be presented at the Dalston Theatre next week, with Miss Ada Abbott playing the leading part. This lady is well known to Dalston audiences, having played “Sapho” many times in this district’. East London Observer, 27 May 1916. A notice in The Era, 7 June 1916, shows that Ernest R. Abbott’s company was performing Sapho at the Dalston Theatre in the week 5-10 May 1916.

‘Next week, at the Dalston Theatre, we have the most laughable drama ever placed before the public. Laughable, inasmuch as such strange situations arise from the difficulties of a woman who finds herself blessed with two husbands. Notwithstanding the farcical side of the play, there is also a deep vein of tragedy and local lovers of the drama will be well advised to patronise the Dalston Theatre next week'. Holloway Press, 13 October 1916. Reported in The Era, 18 October 1916.

The Era, 21 and 28 March 1917, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Blue) as On The Road from 26 March at the Dalston Theatre, Dalston. ‘Mr. E. Taylor Platt presents [at the Dalston Theatre] this week the play, “The Man Who Stayed at Home.” Mr. George Howard quite pleases his audience with his clever portrayal of the quietly wide-awake Christopher Brent. Mr. Howard Brenan, as Carl Sanderson, and Miss Nora Kingsley, as Mrs. Sanderson, efficiently portray the enemy element, and they are effectively supported by Mr. Herbert Rouen, as Fritz, and Miss Lilian St. Maud (sic - Maur), as Fraulein Schroder (sic). Mr. W. Besley Beltran is refreshingly English as John Preston, J.P., and Miss Barbara Hall is also unmistakeably British as Molly Preston. The same hall-mark distinguishes Mr. George Percy as Corporal Atkins. The efficient cast also includes Mr. Owen Cassidy, Miss Agnes Thornton, Miss Agnes Lowson, and Miss Duff Earle Howard’. The Era, 28 March 1917.

‘Next week at the Dalston Theatre the exploits of “The Black Sheep of the Family” is to be presented, an extraordinary successful drama now packing every theatre it visits. The play should be really welcome to all true lovers of drama, and a capable company will doubt provide a fine evening’s entertainment at this popular theatre' (East London Observer, 28 April 1917). ‘Mr. Arthur Hinton presents, at the Dalston this week, the drama, by Gladys Hastings Walton, entitled “The Black Sheep of the Family.” The name-rôle is represented by Mr. Hubert Barwell, who as the Hon. Ralph Sylvester, the eldest son of Lord Arlingham. keeps the audience thoroughly engrossed by his delineation of an interesting character. Mr. J. C. Ward efficiently represents Lord Arlingham. Mr. Harry T. Wood is also well cast for Lionel Sylvester, Ralph’s younger brother. Miss Ethel Monton is popular as Loyale Dale, a part which she plays with considerable effect. Miss Alice Jordan is a satisfactory Lady Arlingham; Miss Miriam Pritchett as Blanche Maitland, Miss Peggy Courtney as Mary Leigh, and Miss Beatrice Annersley as Mammy Dinkie all do well; as do Mr. Oscar Lynne as Barrister Lumley, Mr. Arthur Acton as Judge Smythe, and Mr. Roland Willis as Tough MacCoy. The cast also includes Mr. Louis Weston, Mr. Harry Deane, Mr. Sam Morrall, and Mr. Fred Sharpe’ (The Era, 2 May 1917).

(The Stage - Thursday 18 October 1917)

‘Mr. Charles Locke successfully presents this week, at the Dalston Theatre, the war play For Motherland’ (The Era, 14 November 1917).

‘The great naval drama, "For Sweethearts and Wives,” visits the Dalston Theatre on August Bank Holiday, and should draw crowded houses. Presented by a first-class company of star artistes, this striking play is unique of its kind, and a real Bank Holiday attraction. There will be matinees on Monday and Thursday at 2.30’. East London Observer, 3 August 1918.

‘A fine musical and dramatic attraction, “Real Sports,” visits the Dalston Theatre next week. The company, nearly fifty strong, will be presented by Mr. Arthur Rosebery, who produced the play at the Borough Theatre, Stratford, last week [sic], to crowded audiences. The play is full of excitement and incidents from start to finish. The final, with three fine racers in it, brings the “house down.” There will be the usual matinee on Thursday at 2.30’ (East London Observer, 17 August 1918).

The Stage, 28 November and 5 December 1918, listed On Leave For His Wedding as On Tour from 2 December at Dalston.

‘The Stanley Carlton Company presents at the Dalston Theatre this week a drama by Charles Darrell, entitled “Love and the Law.” Mr. George Gordon represents Caleb Partmann, a person “who cares for no one but himself,” and the story illustrates how this selfishness involves other people in trouble. Miss Ivy Denny pathetically and cleverly enacts the part of Alice Winter; Miss Minnie Watersford gives evidence of much ability in presenting the business-like Mrs. Cornelia Partmann. and other female characters are efficiently represented by Miss Cissie Hall, Miss Florence Garnet, and Miss Minnie Rousby, who is excellent as Constance Haven. Mr. Edwin Turner makes an excellent stipendiary magistrate; Mr. David Leslie acts well as Corporal Dick Treowen (demobilised), and other characters in the cast are well played by Mr. Victor Knight, Mr. Bert Evans, and Mr. C. V. Roselle’ (The Era, 26 February 1919). Edwin Turner, a member of the Love and The Law company, inserted an advertisement for the play in The Stage, 13 March 1919. In it he quoted an ‘unsolicited letter’ dated 1 March 1919 from J. Langdon Lee of the Dalston Theatre: ‘Dear Mr. Turner,-- I am more than pleased with Love and the Law, and, what is of more importance, my audiences were delighted, as final returns proved. The author gets right home in the way he tackles the questions of the Discharged Soldier and the Female Reformatory System. I am sure you have a winner, and I have great pleasure in recommending the Play and Company to my brother managers.-- Yours faithfully, J. Langdon Lee’.

‘Mr. Oswald Cray is adopting the unusually bold and ambitious course of presenting this week at two London theatres, the Dalston and the Elephant and Castle, C. Vernon Proctor’s latest drama, The Plaything of an Hour’ (The Stage, 6 March 1919). The Stage, 6 March 1919, and The Era, 12 March 1919, reviewed C. Vernon Proctor’s The Plaything Of An Hour, presented at the Elephant and Castle on Monday 3 March. So The Unmarried Mother may have been played at Dalston that week.

The Stage, 27 March 1919, listed The Unmarried Mother as On Tour from 24 March at Dalston, N.E. (listing The Plaything Of An Hour separately at other theatres). When Jack Murtagh inserted a theatrical card in The Stage, 27 March 1919, he was the juvenile lead in The Unmarried Mother at the Dalston Theatre.