Grand Theatre, Luton

"B" Company

Performers: Cecile Barclay, Rupert Lister

The Luton Times and Advertiser, Friday 11 February 1916, noted that The Day Before the Day would be performed on Friday and Saturday of the following week at the Grand Theatre, Luton, performed by Cecile Barclay and Rupert Lister’s company appearing in a repertory of plays (confirmed by a separate advertisement): ‘“The Day before the Day” is a topical play, direct from the St. James’s Theatre. It is full of exciting moments and the humour of the piece is not lacking in abundance. German espionage is the theme of the play, and how the “naturalized Germans” are brought to bay by an English officer affords much amusement, and gets right home with the sympathies of the audience’. ‘… the week is being brought to a close with another of Sir Geo. Alexander’s patriotic successes entitled, “The day before the day.” It is a stirring four-act drama dealing with German espionage in England, and showing how a disguised British officer penetrates the secret quarters of a gang of naturalised spies’ (Luton Reporter, 14 February 1916). Noted in The Stage, 17 February 1916 and the Luton Reporter, 21 February 1916.

Advertised in the Luton Reporter, 22 May 1916, as ‘a Startling, New Up-to-the-moment Play in 4 Acts’.

The Era, 31 May 1916, listed The Little Grey Home In The West as On The Road from 5 June at the Grand, Luton.

The Era, 2 August 1916, listed The Unmarried Mother as On The Road from 31 July at the Grand, Luton. Similarly The Stage, 3 August 1916.

The Luton Reporter, Monday 7 August 1916, advertised for Monday-Wednesday, 7-9 August 1916 twice nightly at the Grand Theatre, Luton, ‘Miss Winifred Maude (Under the Direction of Victor Du Cane) presents Somewhere A Heart Is Breaking’. The Mormon & The Maid would be performed on Thursday-Saturday. ‘The inherent love of the masses for the domestic type of drama, with its strong situations and healthy morals, was forcefully demonstrated by the cordial reception given at the Grand Theatre last week to two plays by a soldier author, Private Ivan Patrick Gore, entitled “Somewhere a heart is breaking” and “The Mormon and the Maid.” Both proved powerful stories, and Miss Winifred Maude, who appeared in the leading roles. was well supported by her company’. Luton Reporter, Monday 14 August 1916.

The Era, 6 December 1916, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Blue) as On The Road from 11 December at the Grand, Luton. The Luton Reporter, 11 December 1916, advertised ‘the enormously successful Spy Play’ The Man Who Stayed at Home at the Grand Theatre, Luton.

Performed as 'The Middy V.C. Comes Home' Twice nightly. Performed Monday 24 December and during the week (Xmas Day excepted). Matinee on Boxing Day. ('Luton Reporter', 18 December 1917)

‘There is abundant outlet for patriotic sentiment in the stirring topical play, “His Last Leave,” by Clifford Rean, which is being presented at the Grand Theatre this week. The story travels from a little English village to the fighting line in France, and is brimful of healthy incident, and the quality of humour that is the characteristic of the British Tommy. Mr. Will H. Glaze's Company is presenting the play under the direction of Mr F. E. Chabot, who himself figures in the role of an R.A.M.C. doctor, and the realistic pourtrayal of scenes at the Front well merits the enthusiasm it evokes. The principal roles are in the hands of Mr. John Evelyn, the elderly vicar, Mr. H. Wright Scaddan, his soldier son, Mr. Albert Caron, a not very particular Captain, Miss Lilian Fenn, wife of the Vicar's son, and Miss Millie Phillips as the other woman, and all amply fulfil their share in a rousing play’. Luton Reporter, 23 April 1918.

‘Local playgoers who have not yet seen the popular spy play, “The Man Who Stayed at Home,” will be missing a great treat if they do not take advantage of the return visit of this fine war-time play to the Grand Theatre this week … [this is] the greatest of all spy plays there has been presented during the war … For such a play an essential for success is a fine company, and the fact that the Taylor Platt company are again presenting it at the Grand Theatre will be a sufficient guarantee on that score to all who saw it on the last visit’. Luton Reporter, 26 November 1918.

Performed: 3-8 March. Advertised as 'A play for the mothers, for the soldiers, for the sailors, for sweethearts and wives, who have long prayed for those two little words, “Coming Home”' (Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle, 27 February 1919).

Performed for six nights and a matinee.

Performed for the week by Thos. C. Dagnall's company including: J. Lawrence Anderson (actor), Evelyn Ormonde (actress). "This well-known and successful war story...would seem to be one of the few war plays which can survive the withdrawal of their background and excuse. We are still in that uneasy, transitory stage when drama touching on the old sorrows and triumphs is almost invariably painful or very dull. But this play leaves a different impression. The war element in it is neutralised by the many other elements which are entirely familiar and jolly." (Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle, 9 October 1919)

‘At the Grand Theatre this week Luton theatregoers have their first opportunity of seeing “Nurse Benson,” the greatest success Miss Marie Lohr has had since she undertook management on her own. It is a clean, wholesome comedy, brilliantly written by two of the most successful authors of modern times, R. C. Carton and Justin Huntly McCarthy, and possessing just enough sentiment and excitement and a last act to put the firm seal of success on the whole production. It is being presented once nightly, and at a Saturday matinee at 2.30 by the Taylor Platt Co. whose presentations at the Grand of such successes as “Milestones” and “The Man Who Stayed at Home” are a sufficient guarantee of the excellences of the production’ (Luton Reporter, 9 December 1919). ‘The Grand Theatre was not nearly full on Monday night as it should have been, probably because many people failed to realise what an entertaining play “Nurse Benson” was likely be. Since then they have learned that it is too good to miss. It is a very charming comedy, built up round the act of a charming young lady with V.A.D. training, who takes the place of an elderly nurse who has been engaged to attend a convalescent V.C., but who is unable to fulfil her engagement. It is to be expected that from this imposture all sorts of complications would ensue, and they do. Of course, it all pans out happily in the end, but before this happy ending is reached there is very much that is highly entertaining. “Nurse Benson” can be confidently recommended to all who want the tonic of a really jolly night’s amusement' (Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle, 11 December 1919).

Performed for the week.