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.