Grand Opera House, Belfast

Twice Nightly 6.50pm and 9 pm.

‘In times of peace the play which is being performed the Grand Opera House this week might be divested of some of its glamour, but there can be doubt about the compelling interest which it has at the present juncture. It is good, vital, stimulating drama, and apart altogether from its topical flavour, it well worthy of the patronage of playgoers. The construction is by no means faultless, but on the whole the authors have handled their material with wonderful skill, and the action is worked with such ingenuity that not until the great climax at the close does one get to know how the tangled threads are to be straightened out … “The Man Who Stayed Home” is essentially a play for the times in which are living, and having regard to this fact it is not surprising that it has proved a huge success' (Belfast News-Letter, 15 February 1916). The cast was listed in the Belfast News-Letter, 10 February 1916, which confirmed the actors as members of E. Taylor Platt's company.

The Northern Whig, Tuesday 12 September 1916 reviewed Alias Jimmy Valentine at the Grand Opera House, Belfast the previous night, noting that ‘The play was preceded by a dramatic little curtain-raiser, “The Deserter,” which was capitally acted by Miss Dorothy West-Symes, Mr. Herbert Fox, Mr. Walter Clifford, and Mr. George Mayfield’. The Belfast Newsletter, 12 September 1916 noted, ‘“Alias Jimmy Valentine” will be preceded each evening by a one-act play entitled “The Deserter.”’ The Belfast Telegraph, 12 September 1916 noted that ‘“The Deserter,” by Fred J. Morris, makes an admirable curtain-raiser’. The Era, 13 September 1916 noted that ‘The one-act play, The Deserter”, was an attractive curtain-raiser’.

Florence Helm (actress), Allan Jeayes (actor), Gilbert Heron (actor), St.John Medley (actor), Goodie Willis (actress)

Arthur Hardy (producer), Florence Helm (actress), Baliol Holloway (actor), Gilbert Heron (actor), Reginald J. Turner (actor), H. Blundell (actor), Herbert Vyvyvan (actor), Goodie Willis (actress), Florence Burns (actress), Fred Conyers (actor)

Performed for the week at 7.30 with matinee Friday at 2.

Performed from 16-19 December 1942.