Theatre Royal, Coatbridge

‘Anything in the histrionic line which appeals to the emotions is always sure of a sympathetic reception, and that very largely accounts for the success of “The Wife With Two husbands,” a simple yet very charming play presented this week at the Theatre Royal by Oswald Cray. It is a telling drama, but not of the sort that belongs to the stage alone; for it deals with a condition of life unfamiliar to us all, and bound up in the story is a moral which few of the audience could either overlook or readily forget. The plot is based on present day life ... altogether “The Wife With Two Husbands” is a splendid production'. Coatbridge Leader, 3 February 1917.

The Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser advertised on 12 May 1917 at the Theatre Royal, Coatbridge, ‘Two Splendid Attractions’: on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, May 14, 15 and 19, performances of Neither Wife Nor Maid; and on Wednesday-Friday, May 16-18, performances of Sapho. ‘On Monday evening Mr Ernest R. Abbott’s old established company appeared in the Theatre Royal with the entirely new and original drama, in a prologue, and three acts entitled “Neither Wife Nor Maid,” by Ada G. Abbott. There was a large and appreciative audience, and Mr Abbott’s popular company received a right hearty welcome back to the town of “reek.” The story opens with the beginning of the war, and the plot is a strong and powerful one. Brilliant acting is served up throughout the piece, and the hearers are thrilled beyond description. Miss Ada Abbott, as Meg, the poor little mother, figures in the leading role. She is a well-known and distinguished actress, and it is not too much to say that she plays the part to perfection. Mr Renaud as Steve Warden, a crook, fits the part like a glove, and does every manner of justice to a very unpopular character, and in his work he is ably assisted by Mr W. H. Davis Brown, as Boney, also a crook. Mr Cecil Gray, as Curly, is an excellent heavy man, and is very popular with the audience A specially clever character is that of Tommy. which is delightfully portrayed by Miss Nellie Crowther. Miss Grace Stafford, as Lady Rose Kingdom, acts the part to the very letter. All the other parts are in able hands. The piece is brilliantly staged, and better all round acting has not been seen in Coatbridge for many a day’. Coatbridge Express, 16 May 1917. Similarly in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 19 May 1917.

Performed by Miss Eva Elwes Company. In the first act there is 'a patriotic song entitled "The Boys of the H.L.I.".' ('Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser', 8 September 1917, p.4)

Performed for one week.

Advertised in the Coatbridge Leader, 26 January 1918: ‘Extra Special Attraction! For Adults Only. No person under the age of 16 admitted to see this Play. Mr Oswald Cray Presents his Latest Problem Play on the Burning question of the day, entitled, The Unmarried Mother by C Vernon Proctor’. Also: ‘This week Mr. Oswald Cray is presenting the great problem play, a charming drama from the pen of C. Vernon Proctor, entitled “The Unmarried Mother.” It is one of the greatest plays of the age, and attracts crowded houses everywhere, Every night this week standing room has been at a premium in the Coatbridge Theatre, and another great gathering is expected to-night (Saturday), at seven The character of Eileen, the unmarried mother, a woman with a heart of love, is a part which needs an actress of great emotional powers in order to make it a success, and Miss Adair succeeded in bringing every particle out of a difficult and delicate role' (Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 2 February 1918). ‘Fresh from a most successful season at the Metropole, Glasgow, Mr Oswald Gray [sic] presented at the Royal this week one of life’s problems dramatised, namely, “The Unmarried Mother.” That Mr Gray [sic] has again met with success is certain, for the building has been filled every night so far. In the title role Miss Adair makes play with all the emotional powers at her command and never fails to awake an echo in the hearts of her responsive audience' (Coatbridge Leader, 2 February 1918).

‘For next week Mr Cole has secured Mr Will H. Glaye’s [sic] company in a most realistic play of the times, entitled “His Last Leave,” by Clifford Rean. As the author has founded mainly on actual happenings in the war now raging, this drama should be of particular interest to almost everyone' (Coatbridge Leader, 2 February 1918). ‘On Monday evening Mr. Wm. H. Glaze’s Co., under the direction of Mr. F. E. Chabot, presented in the Theatre Royal the most realistic play of the times, “His Last Leave,” by Clifford Rean. There was a crowded audience. It is a real soldiers story, and one that holds the audience spellbound from first to last. It is a magnificently staged piece, and depicts in life-like reality many incidents in the great war in scene 2 – a Dugout Somewhere in France; No Man’s Land; and a Dressing Station Behind the Trenches. Love and treachery bulk largely in the play, and some thrilling incidents are portrayed ... The piece is well worth seeing, and we predict good houses during the remaining nights of the week’ (Coatbridge Express, 6 February1918). ‘“His Last Leave,” one of the most realistic plays of modern times, is on at the Theatre Royal this week. The company is that of Mr William Glaze, and is under the personal direction of Mr F. E. Chabot, who takes an active part in the performance. The story has a military atmosphere, most of the incidents relating to the present war, and it contains many such as a dugout, in No Man’s Land, and a dressing station. Of course, there is the old tale of the husband and wife separated by treachery, but re-united after being tried as by fire to fight life’s battles together again ... Altogether it is a splendid production and one well worth seeing at to-night’s performance' (Coatbridge Leader, 9 February 1918).

‘A new and up-to-date drama, “The Black Sheep of the Family,” was staged in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening before a large and appreciative audience. The story concerns the two sons of Lord Arlingham. the elder of whom is accused of the wrongdoings of his younger brother against whom the father will hear no wrong. The elder son is turned from the home in disgrace, drifts to America, and after a series of adventures falls in with an American heiress, “Loyale Dare,” who puts him on the right road. He eventually goes to France. makes good, and returns home only to be accused of another crime committed by his brother. The company comes to Coatbridge direct from a four-weeks’ successful repertoire at the Metropole, Glasgow. The characters are well selected and the piece is cleverly presented. Mr. Harry T. Wood makes a good lead and the heavy part is capitably [sic] presented by Mr. R. Powell James. Mr. Henry Ward is an ideal aristocratic old gent. The very difficult character of Tough McCoy finds a masterly exponent in Mr. Leslie Stewart. Mr. Arthur Trail is specially good as the Butler. Miss Ethel Monton, a distinguished actress as Loyale Dare, is a brilliant lead, while Miss Peggy Courtenay plays the part of Mary Leigh to perfection. The part of the heavy lady receives every justice from Miss Lily Harrold. Miss Laura Wright as Mammy Dinkin, plays the comedy part in a manner that keeps the house in the best of humour. The piece is well worth seeing’ (Coatbridge Express, 20 March 1918). When Arthur Hinton advertised in The Stage, 21 March 1918 for theatres for The Black Sheep of the Family, he wrote that the play was ‘now in its third year of continuous tour, and proving a bigger success, if possible, than ever’.

‘On Monday evening Mr. Will H. Glaze’s company appeared in the Coatbridge Theatre Royal in the new play “A Son of the Sea,” by Clifford Rean … There are four acts in the play, and the staging is magnificent. There was a large and appreciative audience. The story is one in which an innocent. girl is lured into marriage by a man of world is preference to a big hearted seaman, whom she deserts ... The play is a good one, the acting outstanding, the comedy rippling, the staging brilliant. In a word, play ranks among the best that has been staged in the Royal for many a day, and Mr. Cole, the go-ahead local manager, deserves good houses during the remaining nights of the week’. Coatbridge Express, 3 April 1918; similarly in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 6 April 1918.

Venue and date mentioned in an advertisement in The Era, 18 September 1918.

Reviewed in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 21 December 1918: ‘There was a large attendance, and the acting throughout was received with unstinted applause and appreciation … The props are extra good, and the piece is magnificently staged and brilliantly presented’. The cast included W. S. Palmer, Basil Raye, Fred A. Marston, Richard Ferris, Doris Brookes, Robert Robertson, Lily Leoni, Celeste Grey, G. Gordon Jefferson, John Higgins, Robert James, and Thomas Hardy.

The Coatbridge Express, 26 April 1922, advertised at the Theatre Royal, Coatbridge, that night and on Friday Cissie Langley’s company in Nurse, Cavell, Martyr; The Tainted Woman would be performed on Thursday and Only a Dream on Saturday. A review in the same issue of the newspaper reported that Only a Dream had been performed already on Monday.