Great War Theatre

Performances at this Theatre

Date Script Type
9 Feb 1918 Sacrifice Unknown
9 Feb 1918 Sacrifice Unknown
Read Narrative
The Era, 13 February 1918, reviewed 'Sacrifice,' a play in seven episodes by Rabindranath Tagore, produced at the King George’s Hall. Y.M.C.A., London, on Saturday 9 February 1918. The cast was: Gunavati … Barbara Everest Raghupati … Norman V Norman Jaising … Edyth Goodall Aparna … Hazel Jones Nakshatra … Eric Ross Chandpal … W. P. Pearce Nayan Rai … Loftus Hare Queen’s attendant … Eleanor Street Druva … Eric Deacon. '‘“Sacrifice” was produced under the auspices of the Union of the East and West. The production was doubtless part of the Society’s programme for increasing the interest and sympathy of the people of this country for the inhabitants of our great Indian Empire. The play in itself, however, would appear to be only of indirect value for the purpose. The action resolves itself into a struggle between king Govinda and Raghupati, a Brahmin priest. Govinda is determined to do away with blood sacrifice, Raghupati is equally determined to continue it. Raghupati is, perforce, compelled to respect the authority of the king in material mattes, but defies him in spiritual. The action proceeds vividly and rapidly towards its climax, but, from a purely dramatic point of view, the climax, when reached, is not so powerful as one had been led to expect. The crisis arrive when Jaising, a servant of the temple, torn between his desire not to take the king’s life and the claims of the goddess, as interpreted by the promptings and urgings of Raghupati, declared that he himself has royal blood in his veins, and stabs himself to the heart on the altar steps. Whatever may be the merits of the play, it, at all events, provides scope for fine acting. The opportunity was taken full advantage of by the four players chiefly concerned – Miss Barbara Everest (as the Queen), Mr. Norman V. Norman (as Raghupati), Mr. H. K. Ayliff (as the King), and, in particular, by Miss Edyth Goodall, whose acting ability and power are beyond question’.
9 Mar 1918 Peg in the Park Unknown