Theatre Royal, Edinburgh

Twice nightly 6.50 & 9pm Book and lyrics by Arthur Rose. They Didn't Want To Do It in five scenes. The cast includes Charlie Rich, Freddie Malcolm, Claude Gardner, W.E. Phillips, Arthur Stratton, Ada Terry, Winnie Mayhorn, and Elsie Roby. (The Scotsman - Tuesday 27 March 1917)

The Edinburgh Evening News, 13 May 1918, advertised at the Theatre Royal a bill headed by the ‘Special engagement of Constance Drever, London’s Leading Musical Comedy Actress, And Full Company, in “A Wife’s Dilemma”’.

The company spent two weeks at the theatre. The Scotsman, 9 June 1919, advertised Ernest R. Abbott’s company in Sapho at the Theatre Royal that week. So Neither Wife Nor Maid was performed in the week beginning 16 June. ‘Melodrama At The Theatre Royal. One is a little in doubt as to what constitutes the “problem” in “Neither Wife nor Maid “ at the Theatre-Royal this week, although it is billed as a “problem” play. The issue, certainly, is not in doubt. Miss Ada Abbott, who undertakes the rôle of the much-wronged and knocked-about heroine, sustains throughout a consistent mournfulness and despair. Every emotion of which human sensitiveness is capable, if the spectator be a suitable subject, will be harrowed by the brutalities and wrongs of this enterprising little play, which bounds with amazing agility from crooks to peers, from garret to mansion-house. The bright interludes afforded by the maid, Miss Marion Holly, and the happy presence of the child - without which, of course, no melodrama could be complete - give a pleasant relief. Mr John Johnston, who as hero comes in for much applause on the several occasions when he arrives just in time to prevent the murder of his former sweetheart by her crook friends, provides one of the most popular scenes of the evening with his trusty “pal,” an intelligent dog’ (The Scotsman, 17 June 1919). ‘ In “Neither Wife Nor Maid” we have the ages old tale of the betrayer and the suffering woman. The war has accentuated the problem of the unmarried wife and the unwanted child, and this play is based on a war incident in which the aristocratic lover leaves his enamoured one to her shame and degradation. Her experiences, however, are familiar enough – but eventually her champion and rescuer arrives in the person of a former sweetheart of her own station in life. The play is melodramatic and too obvious in many of its developments, but Miss Ada Abbott as the poor little mother acts her role with a tenseness that “wrings the withers.” Mr John Johnston makes a capital hero, and wins hearty applause as he frustrates a band of “crooks. Miss Nellie Crowther and Miss Marion Holly also fill attractive parts in a creditable manner’ (Edinburgh Evening News, 17 June 1919). A ‘theatres wanted’ advertisement inserted by Ernest R. Abbott in The Stage, 3 July 1919, mentioned, ‘Just concluded a big fortnight at T.R., Edinburgh. Second week [when Neither Wife Nor Maid was performed] better than the first’.

‘Mr Will H. Glaze’s company is playing “His Last Leave” at this house. A strong cast includes Mr. Frank Hertie as the Rev. James Maxwell; Mr. Norton Shields as Richard Maxwell; Mr. Edwin Davies as Capt. the Hon Robert Saltire; Mr. George Godfrey as Corporal Tim Trimfoot; Miss Millie Phillips as Dora Wendover; and Miss Monica Holmes as Rose Maxwell’. The Era, 22 October 1919.

Performed by a cast including William J. Miller, Hilliard Vox, Josset Ellis, Charles Whitlock and Evelyn Hope.

Presented twice nightly by Baliol Holloway (actor), Garrett Hollick (actor), Reginald J. Turner (actor), C. Haviland Burke (actor), Queenie Finnis (actress), Tommie Butler (actress), Marion Beresford (actress)

Starring Baliol Holloway, Queenie Finnis, C. Haviland Burke and Miss Tommie Butler.

The company spent two weeks at the theatre. A report in the Edinburgh Evening News, 10 July 1920, implies that The Passions would be presented in the following week; also The Stage, 15 July 1920. So Neither Wife Nor Maid was performed in the week beginning 19 July. A montage of photographs in the Sunday Post, 18 July 1920, of ‘favourites of theatre and hall in Scotland this week’ [actually the following week] included ‘Miss Ada Abbott, in “Neither Wife Nor Maid,” at Theatre Royal, Edinburgh’. The Scotsman, 19 July 1920, advertised ‘Ernest R. Abbott presents the Great Problem Play Neither Wife Nor Maid’ twice nightly at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh. ‘That there are many who prefer their dramatic fare to be served with a sauce of pronounced moral flavour was apparent last night at the Theatre-Royal, when a large audience received with every evidence of enthusiasm the problem play “Neither Wife nor Maid.” Thoroughly to appreciate this type of play requires unlimited credulity; it is a very distorted mirror which is held up to life. Fortunately, in real life villainy is the exception rather than the rule; and the depths of despair to which human nature may fall may be easily exaggerated. In the acting the honours went to Miss Nellie Crowther in the part of the bright-eyed, high-spirited boy, Tommy, who is always natural. Mr J. Clyde Miller made a distinctly evil-looking crook; and in the part of the robust Curly Saunders Mr John Johnston was equally convincing. Miss Ada Abbott endowed the part of Meg with the necessary amount of tragedy’ (The Scotsman, 20 July 1920). ‘The problem play staged in the Theatre-Royal this week, “Neither Wife nor Maid,” attracted a large audience last night. The title suggests the nature of the piece, which was well played by which included Miss Nellie Crowther in the part of a bright-eyed, high-spirited boy; Miss Ada Abbott in the tragic role of Meg, Mr J Clyde Miller, and John Johnston’ (Edinburgh Evening News, 20 July 1920). ‘“Neither Wife nor Maid” was evidently very much to the taste of the audience here on Monday. Its situations were displayed with plenty of force by an effective company, including Nellie Crowther as the boy, J. Clyde Miller as the villain, Ada Abbott as the wronged girl, and John Johnston as Curly Saunders’ (The Stage, 22 July 1920).