April 1914: Agnes Bartholomew and Company in an Entirely New Playlet – Mr Harry Lumsden’s “Auntie Mirren”, at the Alhambra
An article on page ten of The Glasgow Herald, on Tuesday the 21st of April, 1914, reads:
“A NEW COMEDY.
GLASGOW AUTHOR’S SUCCESS.
The taste of the patrons of vaudeville, thanks to an enlightened management, has advanced considerably
since the time when the so-called dramatic sketch was first introduced. Generally there was hardly
sufficient drama in such pieces to lure people away from theatres devoted to the ‘legitimate.’ Recently,
however, and notably at the Alhambra, new plays have been successfully produced without losing any of
their attractiveness though sandwiched between feats of jugglery and step dancing or any of the other
kinds of turns which are still the main prop of the halls. Nor can it be doubted that the tabloid play which
gives no scope to loquacity and ingenious padding is appreciated. There is no reason why a comedy should
be spread over three or four acts if the whole story can be told in one. This was evidently in the mind of
Mr Harry Lumsden when he planned the family comedy ‘Auntie Mirren,’ which was produced by Miss Agnes
Bartholomew and other accomplished players last night at the Alhambra. If this is Mr Lumsden’s first essay
into dramatic authorship one may hope that it will not be the last. It reveals talent in characterisation, a fine
sense of humour, and a knowledge of human nature which might well be turned again to good account. The play
probably owed its hearty reception to the fascinating acting of Miss Bartholomew, whose talent was doubtless
in the author’s mind when he wrote it. …”
The article then provides some details of the location of the play, the characters, and an outline of the plot.
It continues:
“The little comedy was admirably played. Miss Bartholomew had fine scope for her talent in a part designed
to show what a clever actress can do, and she well merited the numerous recalls at the fall of the curtain. The
old-fashioned country doctor was portrayed in lifelike fashion by Mr Walter Roy. The acting of Miss Nell Greig
of the house keeper and Miss Elizabeth Dundas as the doctor’s cousin was also in harmony with the spirit of
the comedy. …”
The article concludes with a summary of some of the other performances in the programme.
George Fairfull-Smith, November 2022.