Theatre Royal, Hanley

‘Next week at the Theatre Royal, Hanley, Messrs. Vedrenne and Eadie’s Company will present “The Man Who Stayed at Home,” the successful spy play that is still running at the Royalty Theatre, London. It is ... in three acts, each act being amusing and at the same time thrilling … The strong cast includes: George Tully, Frank Woolfe, Haviland Burke, J. Augustus Keogh, George Hewetson, Ernest Cox, Esty Marsh, Eugenie Vernie, Laurie Flockton, Christina Jensen, Gladys Hamilton, Valerie Richards’ (Staffordshire Sentinel, Wednesday 25 August 1915). Previewed in the Staffordshire Sentinel, 28 August 1915: ‘It is a play which deals with events of the moment, and has several episodes of great dramatic power, and is full of humour’.

Performed as part of the repertory this week. No dates given but likely to have been between Thursday and Saturday, on the basis of other performances.

Performed for the week by Ralph Roberts, Harry Buss, Nora O'Malley. Other acts on the same bill: The Zantrellas (pedestal equilibrists), Jock Mills (comedian), Kenna Bros (original and mirth-provoking), De Busse (piano-accordion), Selbini Troupe (cyclists), Doris Wynter &Co (vocal and dancing act).

‘As an up-to-date, attractive programme for the holiday week, the management [has] succeeded in arranging for the interpretation of a patriotic play, The Enemy in Our Midst, by a company selected by the author of the piece, Mr. G. Carlton Wallace, who also sustains one of the principal roles. The Enemy in Our Midst seems to have been written as a warning against Germans who have become naturalised ... The drama culminates in a Zeppelin raid. The raid is pictured in a realistic way. Bombs are heard to drop, and then there appears from the far distance a Zeppelin floating into view. Suddenly an aeroplane rises above the Zeppelin, and when quite over it a flash is seen, and the huge envelope beneath buckles up in the centre, and. gradually falls, and the triumphant aviator also descends. The picture is so uncommon as to come as a great surprise ... The Enemy In Our Midst was played twice on Monday evening to good houses'. Staffordshire Sentinel, 7 August 1917.

‘“The Black Sheep of the Family,” by Gladys Hastings Walton, described as a new and up-to-date drama, is this week being presented at the Hanley Theatre Royal by Mr. Arthur Hinton’s Company [there follows a long account of the plot and the actors]'. Staffordshire Sentinel, 21 August 1917.

The Staffordshire Sentinel, 7 May 1918, advertised at the Theatre Royal, Hanley, twice nightly from Monday 13 May, ‘Arthur Hinton Presents a New and Up-to-Date Drama – “The Black Sheep of the Family”‘, naming cast members Arthur Hinton as Ralph Sylvester and Alice Greenwood as Lady Blanche Maitland. ‘“The Black Sheep of the Family,” the play which is being presented at the Hanley Theatre Royal this week by Mr. Arthur Hinton’s Company, has met with favour on the occasion of at least one former visit. The story shows that the Black Sheep of the family is not only not as black as he is painted, but is in reality a generous minded young fellow, who takes upon his own shoulders the lash of malice, in order to befriend weaker beings. He allows himself to be robbed of his inheritance and driven into the world penniless. He has, however, given his promise to befriend others, and so is driven from the parental roof with the false accusation against him of being a forger and other things scarcely less humiliating. Drifting to New York, he joins a gang of desperadoes. For purposes of blackmail, one of New York’s rich heiresses is imprisoned in a den and placed under the charge of the Black Sheep. The heiress wins him to a sense of the unreality of his position; and induces him to join the forces of his country, which he does after securing the girl’s freedom. Impressed by the personality of this young man, and while he is away fighting for his country, the heiress crosses the Atlantic, in order to learn something of his history and family. The Black Sheep at length returns to the old home, with the honourable scars of war upon him, and the past is straightened out and the future made bright. The company is very capable. Mr. Hinton plays the title role himself, and in the course of his interpretation exhibits powers which clearly demonstrate his right to be considered an actor of exceptional capacity. Miss Alice Greenwood, as Lady Blanche Maitland, plays in a manner which entitles her to most laudatory remarks; and the same observation applies to the Lionel Sylvester of Mr. Harry T. Wood, the Lord Arlingham of Mr. Henry C. Ward, the Tough McCoy of Leslie Steward, the Jebson [sic] of Mr. Arthur Trail, the Bud Rawson of Mr. R. Powell James, the Mary Leigh of Miss Lily Harold [sic], and the Loyale Dare of Miss Peggy Courtenay'(Staffordshire Sentinel, 14 May 1918). Arthur Hinton’s company continued at the Theatre Royal, Hanley, until 8 June performing other plays, as mentioned in the Staffordshire Sentinel, 14 and 18 May.

‘For the second and concluding week of Mr. G. Carlton Wallace’s repertory season at the Theatre Royal, Hanley, The Enemy in our Midst will be presented. This is a spy play, abounding in intensely dramatic situations, from the pen of Mr. Wallace himself' (Staffordshire Sentinel, 10 August 1918). ‘Mr. G. Carlton Wallace is this week producing at the Hanley Theatre Royal his own play, The Enemy in Our Midst. Last night the piece met with a cordial reception by large audiences. Mr. Wallace himself supports the role of Herman Klost, a naturalised Englishman. Klost is both a spy and a plotter, with the instincts of a brute ... when a Zeppelin appears on the distant horizon he guides its course by means of a strong light. He is thus occupied when Basil comes across him, and then a well-directed shot puts an end to all his machinations. It does not, however, prevent the advance of the Zeppelin or the dropping of bombs. That is effectually done by an aeroplane which is seen to advance and to mount above the airship. The hail of lead which falls from the aeroplane has the effect of buckling up the Zeppelin, to the delight of everybody. It will be seen that the plot is startlngly up-to-date, and it may be added that the Zeppelin and aeroplane used work so well that the scene has a considerable amount of realism given to it' (Staffordshire Sentinel, 13 August 1918).

The Staffordshire Sentinel, 3 August 1918, advertised at the Theatre Royal, Hanley, G. Carlton Wallace’s company in The Amazing Marriage on Monday-Wednesday, 5-7 August, and The Apple Of Eden on Thursday-Saturday, 8-10 August.

The Era, 30 July 1919, noted that Arthur Hinton’s repertoire company had opened at the Royal, Hanley, for a season in A Man’s Best Pal (also The Stage, 31 July 1919). The Staffordshire Sentinel, Thursday 31 July 1919, reported that the following week [that is, beginning Monday 4 August] – the second week of Arthur Hinton’s repertory season at the Theatre Royal, Hanley – the company would present Let No Man Put Asunder, with The Black Sheep of the Family by special request on the Friday night [that is, on 8 August]. An advertisement in the same issue of the newspaper conforms the split of the week, naming cast member Arthur Hinton as Ralph Sylvester. Arthur Hinton's company remained at the Royal, Hanley, until 30 August, performing other plays (Staffordshire Sentinel, 8, 12, 15 and 26 August 1919).

Previewed in the Staffordshire Sentinel, 31 October 1919: ‘The cast … includes Miss Doris Kendal, Miss Mary Griffith, Mr. F. Fuller [sic – P. Fuller], Mr. Eric Fane, Mr. Harold Payton, Mr. James Hornby, Mr. George Polson, and Mr. J. Edward Pearce’. Also, 'the “Nurse Benson” comedy at the Theatre Royal this week is one of the most delightful entertainments we have met with for a long while. The clever, bubbling, and pretty comedy is played by a really excellent company, who give us some distinguished acting ... The comedy and the acting are alike brilliant, and there was no mistaking the keen appreciation and the wholehearted enjoyment of last night’s audience ... The play is beautiful and enchanting comedy, full of dainty and innocent fun and sentiment; and the company now in Hanley do it full justice ... It is refreshing and stimulating and incidentally it is a lesson in good manners, frank and pure friendship, and kind-heartednesses. It is one of the best things since the Robertson comedies, and is also quite modern ... Comedy and company are mutually worthy of one another. It is an irresistible production, and there should be large audiences' (Staffordshire Sentinel, 4 November 1919).