Palace Theatre, Gloucester

Included a special matinee at 2.30 on Easter Monday. 'Mr. Leonard Mortimer and his full No. I London Company have presented The Glorious Day twice nightly. It not only slap up-to date, but it shows intelligent anticipation coming events, for towards the end the Allies enter Berlin, the death of the War Lord is foreshadowed, and “The Glorious Day” of peace is ushered in. Patriotism and comedy, laughter and tears, pathos and burlesque are dealt out with a lavish hand. Of anything in the shape of well-connected plot there not much trace, but in exchange you have superabundance of boisterous fun. showy but extremely dainty dresses, and spirited music and dancing. kbit there is cohesion notwithstanding, in that the dangers through which our country is now passing are portrayed, and the lessons to be learned from the present war are strenuously driven home. A strong recruiting appeal is made both in song and speech, backed up trumpet and drum (and here some eight or ten bandsmen from the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars assist the augmented orchestra and appear on the stage); and the spy peril also forms part the slender story. There are eleven tableaux, some in the well-known style of Messrs. Pooledrums, alarums, nerve-shaking explosions, and the lurid glamour of war—but all them strikingly effective. The chorus, numbering some 60. add much to the brightness and jollity of the revue, as it also deepens the impression of the more serious scenes. The oast is particularly strong one: Mr. Leonard Mortimer, author and hero, takes the part of Just Billy Boy,” and irresistibly carries all along with him; his pal, Mr. Louis Oaye, makes lively Tony Evans; and Mr. Fred Russell a typical John Bull; Miss Peggy Wyse is a vivacious and altogether charming Molly Wedlake (Billy’s sweetheart); and Miss Graeie Gallimore Ernestine Ardeune, and Mr, Ernest Griffen as Count Paul Schumann forcefully illustrate the spy peril in this country. These are only a few from a very long oast, all whom found favour amongst the thronged houses Monday.'(Gloucester Journal, 10 April 1915)

The Era, 5 January 1916, listed The Little Grey Home In The West (North) as On The Road from 3 January at the Pal., Gloucester. Also The Stage, 6 January 1916.

‘“Neither Wife nor Maid,” the title of the play which is being acted at the Palace Theatre during the present week, is one suggestive of a state which is scarcely a fitting subject for recreative contemplation. The title of the piece is a true indication of its trend, for there is depicted a woman who has been enamoured of a man in a higher social sphere and who has fallen from the right path. The tale unfolded chiefly concerns the troubles, dangers, and temptations which befall this misguided girl, who eventually sinks to the lowest depths of poverty, vice, and shame. She becomes the drunken and abused drudge of a thief who offered her shelter, such as it was, at a time when she was starving. Her little son, who is shown amidst surroundings of the worst possible kind, is ultimately adopted by a rich lady and her husband. The girl goes to see her boy and makes the tragic discovery that the lad’s foster father is his rightful parent. The story ends with the capture of the thief and the marriage of the girl with a man who had loved her, was faithful, and forgave. Although the theme is a sordid one and depicts that seamy side of life which is better left to smoulder in its natural surroundings, the acting of the principals is splendid, and is worthy a healthier subject. Miss Nina Blake Adams is able in the name part and gives what one would imagine to be a striking portrayal of the abandoned woman. Mr. Morton Powell, who appears as the thief, gives a vivid and vigorous representation of the blackguard, while Mr. Walter H. Wilson wins applause as the character who brings calm and protection to the heroine. Mr. Horace Lionel as the original offender is capable, as also is Miss Flora Leslie as the lady who adopts the child. Little Miss Gladys Brittan as “Tommy” is a favourite. Mr. Sammy Foster and Miss Lottie Kendal are perhaps even more comical than ever, and relieve in a most successful manner the heavy parts of the play’ (Gloucester Journal, 27 May 1916). ‘At the Palace this week the Morton Powell Repertoire Company present a domestic drama entitled “Neither Wife nor Maid,” by Ada Abbott, its descriptive title circling round a dark page of the heroine’s history and her descent into the lowest depths of squalor and misery. In her pitiable plight the only person to give her shelter is a disreputable thief, who makes her his much abused drudge. Her child is adopted eventually by a rich lady, and on going to see him she recognises that the husband is not the foster parent but the real father of her son. Later on she meets a former lover, who has been faithful to her and her past forgiven she is happily married. Miss Nina Blake Adams strikingly portrays the heroine, and Mr. Morton Powell does equally well in the heavy part. Mr. Walter H. Wilson seen to advantage in the part of the faithful swain, and Mr. Sammy Foster and Miss Lottie Kendall much to enlighten the sombre parts’ (Gloucestershire Chronicle, 27 May 1916).

Morton Powell Repertory Company

The Gloucester Journal, Saturday 28 October 1916, advertised Mrs Frank Bateman’s greatest of all domestic dramas Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares on Monday next and during the week at the Palace Theatre, Gloucester. ‘“Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares,” the title of a well-known song, has been adopted for the title of the drama which occupies the boards at the Palace this week. The story is that of a girl who, having been saved from the sea by a fisherman, had been brought by him as a fishermaid. At the time she was found, papers showing that she was the rightful heir to Alverstone Hall were in her possession; but the fisherman kept them in the hope that she would marry his son and so make him rich. When she had grown up. Lieut. Alverstone happened to come to the village, and the two fell in love, of a fond but unwise character. Lieut. Alverstone’s ship was ordered on service before he could marry Nell. A plot was formed by a German spy to wreck the ship by bribing the lighthouse keeper, who was the fisherman’s son, Steve Penrith, to put out the light. Nell overhears the plot and tried to prevent her unwelcome lover, Steve, from going to the lighthouse. As the price of the safety of the ship Nell agreed to give herself to Steve, and was seen in his arms by Lieut. Alverstone, who obtains leave and returns to marry her. He accuses her of being false to him, and leaves her. She marries Steve, but is ill-treated by him. Eventually after years of waiting the papers are restored to Nell, and she becomes owner of Alverstone Hall. Finally Steve is shot by his own father, and Nell and Alverstone are married. Mrs. Frank Bateman is effective as Nell, and Mr. Fred W. Goddard makes a splendid partner as Lieut. Alverstone. Steve Penrith is well played by Mr. Roy Jackson as also is Dave Penrith by Mr. John S. Jones, and Hilda Markham by Miss Flora Hastings. Lily (Nell’s child) is splendidly portrayed by Miss Marion Vyner. Mr. S. A. Tilbury and Miss Kathy Jackson are most amusing in the lighter parts’. Gloucester Journal, 4 November 1916.

Performed for this week. Performers were: Isa Steele (actress), Charles Carter (actor), Will Gardiner (actor), Horace Whitwell (actor), Alec Gillette (actor), George Steele (actor)

The 'Gloucester Journal' (16 June, 1917) notes 'taking the play as a whole, there is nothing novel in it, but it contains most of those thrilling incidents which go to make and interesting production.'

Performed for one week.

‘That highly successful musical extravaganza, “Tails Up,” has been drawing crowded audiences to the Palace Theatre this week ... In a word “Tails Up,” is one of the smartest, wittiest and most novel revues ever seen in Gloucester. The whole show abounds with fun and merriment, while the music is full of haunting refrains. The caste contains none but experienced artistes, and it is worth going many miles to see Mr. Philip Valantine [sic - Vallentine?] as the Sergeant- Major, Mr. Jack Leopold as the constable, or Mr. Bert Monks as Pte. Small. The lady principals are par excellence, and the whole production teems with novelties, war and other topical skits, and a variety of burlesque scenes provocative of continuous roars of laughter. The principals are supported by a splendid chorus, noted alike for their costumes of wonderful design, as well as their fine singing and new dances’ (Gloucestershire Chronicle, 17 January 1920). ‘“Tails Up!” is one of the smartest revues which have been seen at Gloucester for a long time ... The production is in the nature of a series of detached sketches, all of which are excellently thought out and smartly given. The opening scene picturing a cab shelter on a wet night is followed by a most amusing item “The intellectual Sergeant-Major” in which Mr. Philip Vallentine takes the name part and Mr. Bert Monks is the chief comic as Pte. Small. “Will o’ the Wisp” is a very pretty song charmingly rendered by Miss Doris Lennox, who also dances most gracefully. The sketch purporting to be a historical lecture such as will be delivered 500 years hence is screamingly funny. “The Special Cop” in which Miss Alison Maclaren is the Special, and Mr. Jack Leopold the Constable is quite good. Miss MacLaren is heard to advantage in “I don’t know,” and Miss Marie Dix and Mr. Norman Astridge sing “Wild Thyme” delightfully. A splendid take-off for the newly rich and the impoverished nobility is “The Butler who has seen better days,” in which Mr. Vallentine and Mr. Monks are the chief actors. Another smart take-off in which a Government Department is portrayed is “The Brigadier-General who was never seen,” which is followed by a novel contrast in things as they were in 1815 and as they are to-day entitled, “The Marriage Expert v. Vauxhall Gardens.”’ (Gloucester Journal, 17 January 1920).

‘Although “The Unmarried Mother” deals with a subject which was prominent two or three years ago it still makes an appeal to many, as was shown by the keen interest with which every detail of Mr. Cray’s play was followed by the Palace audience. The doctrine professed by the unmarried mother is rather dangerous, but Mr. Vernon Proctor, the author, has wrapped it up in a manner which wins the entire sympathy of. those who follow the trials and difficulties which beset the footsteps of his heroine. Loving “not wisely but too well,” Eileen, herself of unfortunate birth, finds herself in trouble, and the immediate departure of her fiancee to the Front prevents the application of the proper remedy. Her employer, one of the hard-hearted kind, turns her adrift, but his daughter stands by Eileen and the two support themselves by war-work. Ethel has previously refused to marry Gerald Blake, the villain of the piece, but he hunts the girls down and obtains the dismissal of Eileen. This, however, leads to the avowal by her former employers’ wife that she, Eileen, is her child, and that Blake is her father. The final scene is an intensely dramatic one in which Eileen is taken to her fiancee whilst he is lying unconscious on what is supposed to his death bed. He rallies and they are married by the chaplain, a circumstance which gives the husband a new lease of life, and everything ends happily. Miss Betty Emery (Eileen), Miss Hylda Depass (Ethel), Mr. Will Beasley (Blake), Mr. Alfred D. Adams (John Chalmers), Mr. Jack Terry (Lieut. Denis Allan), Mr. Archie Grant (Pte. Newton), Miss Louie Adams (Mrs. Chalmers), take the principal parts, Miss Aubrey Canning and Mr. Cecil Mercer providing the comedy’. Gloucester Journal, 20 July 1920.

The Era, 24 August 1921, Listed The Unmarried Mother as On The Road from 22 and 29 August at the Pal., Gloucester. Also: ‘Another company of Mr. Oswald Cray’s are appearing this week, in the problem drama, “The Unmarried Mother.” The presentation is on excellent lines, and the play well received’. The Era, 31 August 1921.

Albert Sember's company performed for the week of 8-13 May. Cast were: Reggie Travers ... Val Gurney Enoch Hargreaves ... Albert Sember Eric Mullins ... Willie Reid Billy Blane ... Peter Tyson Bill Blower … George Dudley Samuel Butterworth … E. W. Bretton Mr. Smith … Vincent Carlyle Rhoda Hargreaves … Lilian Moubray Matilda Hargreaves … Ruth Wallace Lilian Alice Jinks ... Jeannie Hackett Mary Darling ... Camille Ronald