New Theatre, Boston, Lincolnshire

The Boston Guardian, 4 January 1919, advertised at the New Theatre ‘Tom Major Presents a New Musical Comedy: “Rosy Island.” Written by Tom Major. Composed by J. E. Machin. Star Caste: Kitty Major, Nellie Gannon, Phyllis Miles, May Baron, Rosie Coyle, Tom Major, Jack Leonard, Jack Maitland, Doris Cameron, Jay Junior, Lily Ennis, And full caste of Principals. Scene 1.- Sunshine Beach England (in the Season). Scene 2.- On Deck of S.Y. “Iona” in the Tropics. Scene 3.- A Cosy Cove on Rosy Island (twelve months later). Powerful Chorus, Augmented Orchestra. Stage Manager J. E. Machin. Musical Director Madam Rosina’. Also, ‘Mr. Howden is to be congratulated in securing another splendid musical comedy to place before his patrons, at the New Theatre for the present week. On this occasion Tom Major presented his new musical comedy, “Rosy Island,” written by himself and composed by J. E. Machin. There is a large star caste, a powerful chorus, some of the best scenery we have seen in Boston, beautiful music and the latest songs., pretty girls, clever dancing, and an augmented orchestra, under a lady conductor. Tom Major and his amusing drolleries and clever gags are worth seeing, and hearing alone, he being a comedian of the first order, and a perfect “treat” in himself. His song in the first scene, in the character of a policeman, “I only came on duty yesterday,” was “top-hole,” as were also his amusing analytical qualities of man and woman taken from the letters of those words, of course bad qualities for woman and good for man, and his serio-comic song-duet and dance, “What is Love?” with Kitty Major (Rosy Dawn, a fisher girl), who was also another good comedian. Mention must made of a rather forcible monologue, “A Wounded Tommy’s opinion of a Conscientious Objector,” given by the same actress, and a pathetic war recitation by a male member of the company, which were much enjoyed, copies of the monologue being sold to the audience’ (Boston Guardian, 11 January 1919).

By arrangement with Thomas C. Dagnall, Robert Brasher presented performances on 22, 23 and 27 March.

The Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian, 4 December 1920, advertised at the New Theatre, Corn Exchange, Boston, from Monday 6 December, The Passions on Monday and Tuesday, Sapho on Wednesday and Thursday, and ‘the Great problem Play, in a Prologue and three Acts, Neither Wife Nor Maid. By Ada G. Abbott. The Play of the Moment’. At the New Theatre, Boston, ‘Ernest R. Abbott’s company present “The Passions,” “Sapho,” and “Neither Wife Nor Maid,” with a cast including Ada Abbott, John Johnston, Edwin Keene, J. Clyde Miller, W. H. Davis-Brown, Edward Fryer, Bert Whitmore, John Drake, G. Tring, Marion Holly, Agnes Kingston, Margaret Dickenson, Nellie Crowther and Isobel Singleton, D. Pentland, John Faber, B. Edmondson, H. Bevil, Rose Duncan, and Mary Douglas’ (The Stage, 9 December 1920).

Will H. Glaze's Repertory Company. 'His Mother's Rosary' also performed on Monday 28 February. ('Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian', 26 February 1921, p. 8)