Theatre Royal, Leamington Spa

The Era, 4 and 11 October 1916, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Blue) as On The Road from 9 October at the T.R., Leamington. ‘Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week will see an excellent company’s presentation of “The Man Who Stayed at Home”' at the Theatre Royal, Leamington. (Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 7 October 1916). ‘Those who stayed at home at the beginning of the week missed something by not seeing “The Man Who Stayed at Home.” There is no need for us to dwell on the merits of this spy play for they are already very widely known. Large audiences attended all the performances of the three-night engagement, and everybody seemed to enjoy thoroughly the thrills and humour of the thing’ ( Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 14 October 1916).

‘Revue as a rule has few original attractions, but “Bubbly” is one of the few exceptions. This play is more like musical comedy, and by the fact that it is one of Andre Charlot’s Comedy Theatre productions its value is assured. When this play was staged in Birmingham a fortnight ago, it received a remarkable reception, and it is important that it should be noted that the company appearing [next week] at the Theatre Royal [at Leamington] is precisely the same as that which achieved such a success at Birmingham. The fact that the tour is under the personal direction of Mr. Augustus Bingham is sufficient guarantee of perfection in detail. Miss Ivy Tresmand, who on several occasions has played Miss Teddie Gerard’s part at the Comedy, will sustain the principal character, while Mr. Edmund Russell will essay the rôle long associated with the name of Mr. Arthur Playfair’. Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 29 December 1917.

‘The sale of honours to save from destruction a Government tottering on the brink of a precipice is held up to burning ridicule in “The Title,” which is being played the Theatre Royal for the whole of the week. The full venom of a scathing satire is launched point-blank at the heads of the busy-bodies at Whitehall, who to make the list of knighthoods, baronetcies and peerages presentable to the public, bestow on one or two men of sterling worth the same honours as are given to wartime profiteers and grasping munition makers, whose names, as Mr. Culver, the patriotic energetic Briton of the play expressively says, “Stink like rotten fish.” The action of the play tales place in an ordinary upper-class household, which consists of a Government official and his wife, a brilliant daughter and a son, “home for the hols.” The conversation, in fact the whole background of the play, strikes a note which seems too human to be possible upon the stage. Everything is homely, natural and unaffected, although Hildegarde, the daughter, proves to be the most brilliant journalist in London, and under a nom de plume attacks the Government virulently on the deplorable sale of honours. Then the bombshell bursts: her own father is offered a baronetcy. The ensuing scenes, in which Mr. Culver is torn between his wife’s entreaties to accept the doubtful “honour” and his children’s efforts to persuade him to refuse it, are a masterpiece of humorous production. Working upon an excellent plot, the author, Mr. Arnold Bennett, has introduced a lively repartee which convulses the audience. The production, itself, is excellently enacted by a high-class company. Mr. Stanley Turnbull takes the part of Mr. Culver, with Miss Louie Pounds as his wife, Miss May Ward plays Hildegarde Culver, Mr. E. Watts Philips, John, the youth from school, and Mr. Harvey Adams, the part of Mr. Tranter [sic - Tranto], a young newspaper proprietor. The play is proceeded [sic] by a one act comedy entitled “Postal Orders”’ (Leamington Spa Courier, 7 March 1919).

Performed for three nights with matinee Saturday.

Baliol Holloway (actor), Florence Helm (actress), Gilbert Hexon (actor)

‘Mr. Watson Mill is distinctly fortunate in the attraction which he has secured for Easter week, as the crowded houses each night have testified. “Nurse Benson,” a comedy by R. C. Carton and Justin Huntly McCarthy, has had a successful run at the Globe Theatre ... The playwrights made no pretence at constructing an elaborate plot, indeed, we are told almost at the outset what is to happen. The charm of “Nurse Benson,” therefore, lies in the way in which a perfectly obvious denouement is reached. And there is no mistaking that charm when we have Doris Kendal in the leading rôle. As Lady Gillian Dunsmore she exhibits a gaieté de coeur which is most refreshing, and which even the blasé theatre-goer finds irresistible. It may be said, in fact, that she is the making of the play, for without her charming personality it is possible that “Nurse Benson” might not be the undoubted success that it is. Nevertheless the comedy is abounding in witty sallies, and its exposure of certain war time foibles and poses is a source of additional amusement ... How the Joseph Tibbenham depicted by Mr. Fuller could ever have amassed a fortune we do not understand, and that such a husband and wife should have parented a V.C. seemed flatly contradictory of the law of heredity. But that, we suppose, is a criticism which concerns the playwrights rather than actors. Anyhow, “Nurse Benson” can be depended on to provide a highly entertaining evening’. Leamington Spa Courier, 25 April 1919.

This was the third visit of the play to this theatre.

Previewed in the Leamington Spa Courier, 16 May 1919, and the Coventry Herald, 17 May 1919. ‘“Tails Up,” which has been successful at the Comedy Theatre, London, is a most amusing and entertaining musical extravaganza. Produced Mr. Frederick G. Lloyd, by arrangement with Andre Charlot, “Tails Up” is a play which appeals to almost everyone, for it is a series of short scenes, all of which are little plays in themselves, and therefore something fresh appears at every rise of the curtain, so the piece can never grow dull. It. is an excellent company, with a strong chorus, and the principals take full advantage of the opportunities they are given, to show how well they can sing some admirable lyrics, although at times the music is catchy. The orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Fred Shaw, leave nothing to be desired. There will a matinee this afternoon and performance to-night’ (Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 24 May 1919).

‘For the first three nights of next week the Theatre will be occupied by Mr. Arthur Rosebery’s Co. in the Nautical play “Sweethearts and Wives,” and for the last three nights the same Company will appear in another Naval play, “The Silent Watch.” There will be matinees on Wednesday and Saturday’ (Leamington Spa Courier, 5 December 1919). ‘For the first part of the week the popular naval drama “For Sweethearts and Wives” was the attraction at the Theatre Royal. The plot centres round a young and clever workman who becomes Engineer-Commander Frank Manley, R.N. (Walter Hilliard). This young man is the inventor of a new type of destroyer, the plans of which he offers to his employer, George Gold (Cole Aspinall), a rascally shipbuilder, in exchange for the hand of his charming daughter. The advent of Captain Karl Schmidt - who poses as a patriotic manager to the shipowner - introduces a strong spy element. The play is full of surprises, and interest is intense when young Manley is wrongly accused of the murder of his fiancée’s father. However, like the popular fairy story, all ends well. Manley becomes a famous inventor, marries the girl he loves, and gets the better of the German spy’ (Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser, 13 December 1919).

Performed as a Flying Matinee on Friday afternoon.

One night only. Performed by the Raynor Repertoire Company, headed by Ennis Lawson.