Her Majesty's, Walsall

‘Next week, “A Sailor’s Love,” described as “a bang-up-to-date current events” drama will be staged. It tells a story of the Dardanelles, and is sure to prove a popular production’ (Walsall Advertiser, 25 September 1915). ‘“A Sailor’s Love,” a story of the Dardanelles, which the Repertory Company have presented this week, is by the authors of “A British Soldier,” one of the first plays written on the present war, and produced at Her Majesty’s a year ago ... The principal roles are ably sustained by Mr. Beckett Bouid as Von Luff, Mr. J. B. Shinton as Mayne, Miss Ada M. Ryder as Dora, and Miss Enid Ross as the villain’s wife. Mr. Fred Blake as an English sailor, Miss Poppy Lytton as the French maid, Miss Isabel Hunt as a ubiquitous Jap, and Mr. Jack Bland as Von Luff’s confidant, are mainly responsible for the humorous side. Smaller parts are well played by Mr. Norman Tracy, Mr. Ernest Regent, and Miss Marie Thorne’ (Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle, 2 October 1915). ‘What is described as the bang-up-to-date “current events” drama, “A Sailor’s Love,” is being presented at Her Majesty’s Theatre this week with considerable success. It a story of the Dardanelles and abounds in interesting scenes and thrilling situations. From start to finish the play is most enjoyable, and the efforts of the Repertory Company have met with much appreciation' (Walsall Advertiser, 2 October 1915).

‘“Remember Belgium” is the title of another war play which is to be presented next week [at Her Majesty’s Theatre]' (Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle, 25 March 1916). Advertised in the Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle, 25 March 1916: ‘Her Majesty’s Repertory Company of Talented Players Present the Successful War Play – Remember Belgium!’.

‘The person who has the selection of the plays which the Repertory Company present happened upon a remarkably good thing when he found “Neither Wife nor Maid,” the play by Ada C. Abbott, which has delighted all who have visited Her Majesty’s this week. It is, perhaps, the most striking of the new productions which have been soon here. There is nothing ridiculously sensational and improbable about the story, but it is nevertheless full of thrills, and so far as the purely dramatic side, at any rate, is concerned, it never relaxes its grip upon the attention of the audience. It is human, and its characters are human; and therein doubtless lies the secret of its appeal. The central figure, Meg, illustrates a type which must be common enough in the big town and cities - the woman who loves and loses because there is no bond, who in despair allows herself to sink lower and lower, accepting the protection of a criminal and bully, giving way to drink, until all the better nature, except her love for her child, are dead. The father of her boy, Tommy, was an officer, supposed to have fallen in the great war (the story is laid in the year 1924), and to save him from becoming the thief her partner, a modern Bill Sykes, would make him, she rends her own heart by allowing him to be adopted by the childless wife of a wealthy peer. Unable to bear the separation she goes to reclaim him, and discovers in Lord Kingdon, the boy’s father. Her intention to expose him to his wife is frustrated by the latter’s kindness. Returning home she is threatened with the fate suffered by Nancy at the hands of Sykes because she has been accused of giving her paramour away to the police, but she is rescued by past and present lovers in the persons of Lord Kingdon and Curly Saunders, and passes into the keeping the latter, who legalises the union with the little band of gold which she has hitherto sought in vain. In the principal part Miss Ada M. Ryder is responsible for some of the best work she has done at Her Majesty’s. A feature of the day is the clever acting of little Muriel Bland, who as the naive, lovable Tommy, charms everyone. Mr. Stuart Lomath, as the bully; Miss Jennie Stevens, as Lady Kingdon; Mr. John B. Shinton, as Curly; and Mr. Jack McCaig, as Lord Kingdon: all have a big share in the success of the play; while the smaller parts are ably handled by Mr. Jack Bland, Mr. C. Alan Hineson, Mr. H. Kenneth Barton, Miss Marie Thorne, Mr. Fred. Blake, Miss Poppy Lytton, and Miss Ellen Owen. What an excellent memory of voices patrons of Her Majesty’s have, was illustrated in the case of Mr. “Mickey” Hineson. He made his first appearance to a silent house, but directly he spoke there was an outburst of welcoming applause’. Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle, 25 November 1916.

The Cannock Chase Courier, 21 June 1919, advertised at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Walsall, on Monday 23 June and twice nightly during the week: ‘Enormous Attraction. Edward F. Furneau’s No. 1 Company, in The Great Military Drama. On Leave For His Wedding, By Clifford Rean. See the Trench Scene. One Roar of Laughter. See The Bombardment. An Actual Scene from the Front. Realising the impotence of the German Guns’. Edward F Furneau’s companies advertised Clifford Rean’s On Leave For His Wedding in The Stage, 3 July 1919: ‘The military play the people want. H.M.T., Walsall, £505 4s 6d. Roars of laughter and the real atmosphere’.

Kimberley's "A Soldier's Divorce" arrived from Runcorn by road and opened at Her Majesty's. (The Era - Wednesday 8 October 1919)