Thursday, 11 December 2014

Plays and references from local newspapers on the British newspaper Archive 1936-1940



Bucks Herald - Friday 21 February 1936
The passing of the third floor back – review

North Devon Journal - Thursday 05 March 1936
The passing of the third floor back – review

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 07 March 1936
The passing of the third floor back – review

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 28 March 1936
The passing of the third floor back – review

Burnley Express - Saturday 25 July 1936
The passing of the third floor back – review

Burnley Express - Wednesday 29 July 1936
The passing of the third floor back – review

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 09 December 1936
Witch of Edmonton – Old Vic – review included Honorable mention for Miss Beatrix Lehmann

Aberdeen Journal - Tuesday 02 February 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review Noorah Beery and Beatrix Lehmann are sufficiently bloodthirsty on the side of wrong

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 12 February 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review

Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser - Saturday 13 February 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review

Western Gazette - Friday 19 February 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review

Tamworth Herald - Saturday 20 February 1937
Strangers on honeymoon cinema ad

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 20 February 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review

Bucks Herald - Friday 05 March 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review
Complications arise owing to the intervention of Beatrix Lehmann and her hired assassins(!)

Western Times - Friday 30 April 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film ad

Lincolnshire Echo - Saturday 24 July 1937
Strangers on honeymoon film review

Nottingham Evening Post - Friday 17 September 1937
On Friday Oct 8 Miss Beatrix Lehmann will go to Birminghman for a play based on the life of Mary Webb

Aberdeen Journal - Saturday 20 November 1937
Mourning becomes Electra – review
“I do not expect to see a finer play or finer acting”.

Western Morning News - Monday 22 November 1937
Mourning becomes Electra – review
“Miss Beatrix Lehmann gives an impeccable performance as the Electra of the piece.
She is hard as a piece fo flint in the early scenes when she is meting out justice, inherits her mother’s mantle of wickedness with uncanny fidelity in the later scenes, and in the moment when she ultimately accepts her doom rises to heights of real greatness.”

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 20 January 1938
Mourning becomes Electra – review
“But it should be seen if only for the sake of Miss Beatrix Lehmann’s magnificent performance in the principal role. For sheer compelling power this exceeds even the same actress’s memorable study of Emily Bronte a few years ago”.
“A crowded audience received the play enthusiastically”. 

Aberdeen Journal - Tuesday 10 May 1938
The rat – film review
Rene Ray and Beatrix Lehmann both give admirable performances.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Friday 13 May 1938
The rat – ad

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Friday 13 May 1938
The rat review

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 18 June 1938
The rat review

Derby Daily Telegraph - Saturday 02 July 1938
The rat review
Rene Ray and BL are excellent.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 09 July 1938
The rat review

Dundee Courier - Tuesday 12 July 1938
The rat review

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Friday 29 July 1938
Hartlepool Mail - Friday 29 July 1938

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Friday 29 July 1938

Petition over bombing in Spain (activism)
Beatrix mentioned 5th and only woman of over 700 signatures!

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 30 July 1938
Petition over bombing in Spain (activism)
(mention Bea before HG Wells)

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Tuesday 02 August 1938
The rat review

Motherwell Times - Friday 19 August 1938
The rat review

Western Daily Press - Thursday 01 September 1938
Arts peace campaign – activism for war in Spain

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 01 September 1938
Negative reply to Arts Peace Campaign’s petition activism for war in Spain

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 09 September 1938
The rat review

Western Daily Press - Tuesday 04 October 1938
The rat review

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 27 October 1938
More political appear re. spain

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Saturday 03 December 1938
On British film stars
“and then there was Beatrix Lehmann who looked like another edition of Hebburn without the restlessness in The Passing of the third floor back.
Critics enthused over her as an actress with the “difference” the British producers had been seeking but to have, in these case, was not to hold and she gradually dropped into obscurity” 

Derby Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 10 January 1939
The rat review

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 16 January 1939
“great” actors
Mentions how there aren’t any any more, though mentions Gielgud and Olivier as “young hopefuls”
“There are no “great” actresses on the contemporary London stage, though I remember with appreciation performances of Edith Evans, Flora Robson, Beatrix Lehmann, in Eugene O’Neill’s Mourning becomes Electra

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 20 January 1939
They walk alone Shaftesbury – review
Miss Beatrix Lehmann appears as the Jekyl and Hyde servant girl, a haunting performance which evoked equal horror and sympathy. A grand part undoubtedly and grandly she rose to it.
(Also in the cast was Rene Ray who worked with Bea in the Rat)

Hull Daily Mail - Saturday 21 January 1939
They walk alone Shaftesbury – review
“It is a ghoulish affair, with Miss Beatrix Lehmann acting the part of a mysterious servant who makes love, tells lies, and murders with equal facility.
At the end of the West End performance ML hoped the audience would no suffer any ill effects from the play, and quoted the old Cornish litany: ‘From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night good lord deliver us”.

Western Morning News - Monday 23 January 1939
They walk alone Shaftesbury – review
“A vampire from Cornwall
There is no actress in England more capable of giving an audience the “jitters” than Miss Beatrix Lehmann. She brings all her powers of horrifying intensity to the part of the vampire servant girl in “They walk alone” the new play that the Shaftesbury Theatre, and the audience duly registers every sign of emotional disturbance. Even the most hardened playgoer must blench before that wild eye and clutching hand. … Miss Lehmann’s portrayal of this monster is a remarkable tour de force. She makes the incredible creature credible, even pitiable..”

Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Dundee Courier - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Derby Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Gloucester Citizen - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Portsmouth Evening News - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 07 February 1939
Radio 20 minutes of extracts from TWA (6.40-7)
Western Morning News - Monday 24 July 1939
Radio drama, Storm over Santa Cruz, Polish radio play with BL, Vera Lennox and Robert Adams 8.20-9

Hull Daily Mail - Monday 24 July 1939
Gloucestershire Echo - Monday 24 July 1939
Western Daily Press - Monday 24 July 1939
Gloucester Citizen - Monday 24 July 1939
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Monday 24 July 1939
Portsmouth Evening News - Monday 24 July 1939
Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 24 July 1939
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 24 July 1939
Storm over Santa Cruz, review and photo of Bea (downloaded in two parts)

Hull Daily Mail - Thursday 03 August 1939
Dundee Courier - Thursday 03 August 1939
Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 03 August 1939
Portsmouth Evening News - Thursday 03 August 1939
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 03 August 1939 (little more info)
Nottingham Evening Post - Thursday 03 August 1939
Radio – 9.30-10.10 Borden Murders by Alwyn Whatsley, dramatic reconstruction of mystery based on authentic records…

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 07 September 1939
Ready to entertain “the boys” famous stars on register
“We shall have at our disposal some of the most famous stars in the country. There are people on the register like Leslie Banks, Robert Donat, Nicholas Hannen, Beatrix Lehmann and Dame Sybi Thorndike”.

Nottingham Evening Post - Thursday 07 September 1939
Gloucester Citizen - Friday 08 September 1939
(as above)

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 08 September 1939
As above with more detail

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 19 September 1939
Leeds production of They Walk Alone with bea.

Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 14 October 1939
Theatre royal production Nottingham of They walk alone without Bea

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 26 January 1940
Desire under the elms –review
“MBL is perhaps the only one who really manages to identify herself with the part – that of the woman…”

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 26 January 1940
Desire under the elms –review
“The magnificent acting of Beatrix Lehmann (MD AND SM)

Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 06 April 1940
May 13 Tour of Desire under the elms with Beatrix Lehmann in Leeds

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 20 April 1940
New theatre Hull for Desire under the elms Tour with Beatrix Lehmann

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 24 April 1940
New Theatre tour of Desire under the elms after 10 weeks in London

Hull Daily Mail - Thursday 25 April 1940
Hull Daily Mail - Friday 26 April 1940
Ad for Desire under the elms next week at Theatre Beatrix Lehmann with Griffith Jones (check if he’s the same)

Hull Daily Mail - Saturday 27 April 1940
Desire under the elms – opening – “With Beatrix Lehmann the famous west-end actress in the lead”

Hull Daily Mail - Monday 29 April 1940
Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 30 April 1940
New theatre ad for Desire under the elms
 
Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 30 April 1940
Desire under the elms – review “Beatrix Lehmann builds up a portrait of a woman creating her own doom which will long be remembered”.

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 24 April 1940
Desire under the elms – review “the brilliant Beatrix Lehmann in the lead” … “after a ban of 16 years the British censor passed Desire under the elms for public performances and it had a 10 week run at Westminster Theatre London…”

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 30 April 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 02 May 1940
Ad for Desire under the elms
 
Hull Daily Mail - Thursday 02 May 1940
Hull Daily Mail - Friday 03 May 1940
Ad for Desire under the elms with quote, “Beatrix Lehmann’s superb portrait of a wanton wife – evening standard

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 03 May 1940
INTERVIEW with Bea from Desire under the elms
A newcomer here
Beatrix Lehmann in Hull for the first time this week doesn’t think, “our policemen are marvelous” but she does like what she has seen of Hull’s New Theatre and the theatre going public, says colleague “miss humber”. Chatting with this famous West End stage star in her dressing room, ML said, “this is one of the nicest theatres I have played in outside London, for the acoustics are splendid”. And “the audiences so far have been grand – so obviously intelligent and appreciative”.
Heart-shaped, piquant little face with two enormously expressive eyes shining out; copper-coloured curls cut in a simple boyish style; slim graceful figure and a deliciously attractive husky voice- this is Beatrix round who shines the aura of fame, with three outstanding successes to her credit, including this week’s Desire under the Elms, Mourning becomes Electra and They walk alone.
In each she played an emotional role which demanded every ounce but always in the skin of the character, she never allows it to overcome her, so that although a trifle exhausted she is never mentally worn out.
The stage in her bones
Boasting of Scottish blood in her veins, Beatrix might be called an Anglo-American, with her American mother and British Father. Her father was a coach at Harvard and Yale and Oxford and Cambridge.
She has always had the love of the stage in her bones, went to the R.A.D.A. as soon as she could and her first chance was with a touring company in Clemence Dane’s Bill of divorcement”. She thoroughly enjoys playing in this “strong meat” but strangely enough, has never done any Shakespeare.

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 03 May 1940
Using Bea for local publicity - in Hull Desire under the elms
Miss Beatrix Lehmann the distinguished actress who is in Hull this week has been impressed by the extend of the amateur dramatic movement in the city. She believes that it is important that amateurs should carry on during wartime.
Miss Lehmann is particularly interested in the activities of the Garret Plays, whose show, “on parade” commences at the Alexandra on Monday, and has sent her best wishes to this society, which is working so hard for our Comforts Fund.
Last week you will remember Miss Dorothy Drake, who is Miss Lehmann’s publicity agent, saw a rehearsal of On Parade and passed a very favourable verdict.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 07 May 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 08 May 1940
Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday 09 May 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 09 May 1940
Yorkshire Evening Post - Friday 10 May 1940
Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 11 May 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 11 May 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 13 May 1940
Ad for Desire Under the Elms at Grand theatre Leeds

Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 11 May 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 11 May 1940
Preview for Desire Under the Elms – no new information

Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 14 May 1940
Review – Desire under the elms – Leeds
"Beatrix Lehmann’s performance as the wife is primitive passion suggested with astonishing sensitivity, a rare piece of work…"

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 14 May 1940
Ad Grand Theatre Leeds, Desire under the elms “The management respectfully point out that this play is not suitable for children”

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 14 May 1940
Desire under the elms Skill of players
Miss Lehmann exercises a seductive charm as the young wife who marries to win a home but looks elsewhere for love…

Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday 16 May 1940
Yorkshire Evening Post - Friday 17 May 1940
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 18 May 1940
Small ad, Desire under the elms emphasis on next week’s play

Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 18 May 1940 – interview!
Desire under the elms
Beatrix Lehmann
BL who gives a rare and sensitive performance in Desire under the Elms is thought be some critics to be the finest young dramatic actress we have. And, as with others of her kind, her ambition is to play comedy “But I never get a chance.” She said. “I have played it, but once you know become known for a certain type of part, that is the kind of part you are invariably offered.”
She has appeared in other of O’Neill’s plays, notably “Mourning becomes Electra” which did not leave London. Reginald Tate, a Leeds Art Theatre player in his early days, who made good in the West End several years ago, was in the cast.

***ML visited Leeds some years ago with Charles Laughton in Edgar Wallace’s “On the spot” and then before that with a visit with Sir Nigel Playfair’s company in Congreve’s The way of the world. That was practically her first engagement, and much the same applied to Ralph Richardson, also in the company. Later they appeared together in that fine play of Priestley's Eden End, she as Stella, the rather unsuccessful actress who comes home, and he as her irresponsible and somewhat raffish husband. The late Edward Irwin, a Leeds actor, it may be remembered played the part of the Doctor.
I am told that Beatrix Lehmann and Mark Dignam from the Grand Theatre, attended the other evening a rehearsal of a new Leeds amateur organization, the Unity Theatre, which presents stage productions for its members at weekends. 

Lancashire Evening Post - Saturday 25 May 1940
Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 28 May 1940
Blackpool Grand Theatre – ad for Desire under the Elms

Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 28 May 1940
Desire under the Elms – Blackpool review
“with a brilliant study as the young farmer’s wife who seduces her son-in-law, Beatrix Lehmann re-establishes her reputation as one of the leading actresses of the day…

Hull Daily Mail - Saturday 17 August 1940
Hull Theater _ Eden End at the new Theatre
Recast NOT BL

North Devon Journal - Thursday 29 August 1940
Cornishman - Thursday 29 August 1940
Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 30 August 1940
Western Gazette - Friday 30 August 1940
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Friday 30 August 1940
Western Morning News - Friday 30 August 1940
Morpeth Herald - Friday 30 August 1940
Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald - Friday 30 August 1940
Western Times - Friday 30 August 1940
Bedfordshire Times and Independent - Friday 30 August 1940
Northampton Mercury - Friday 30 August 1940
Gloucester Journal - Saturday 31 August 1940
Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 31 August 1940
Ad for farmer’s and Silage,
“Be sure you visit one of the free Silage demonstrations in your district – they will be announced in your local press. Look out, too, for the Silage Film, “Mr Borland thinks again” featuring Emlyn Williams and Beatrix Lehmann coming soon to your local cinema”

Northampton Mercury - Friday 06 September 1940
Mr Borland things again –review
Propaganda directed towards farmers for silage making…. With him are BL the famous tragedienne, …

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