Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A spy play, the point of which is that the audience thinks, wrongly, that one of the characters is a spy up to the last moment. The weakness, of course, is that after the first night the secret is out. The scene is laid in Gibraltar. In the first act Almer, a real spy, runs the hotel splendid. To him comes Captain Woodhouse, just arrived to join as a member of the signal corps. It appears in a conversation between the two that woodhouse is really a spy from Berlin, come to blow up the British fleet when it arrives in the straits. The other two scenes are in the governor general’s house. There are minor matters concerning various stranded Americans who are befriended by the general’s wife, Lady Crandall. One of them is a young woman who has met woodhouse in Berlin; he makes her promise not to tell, and there is a love affair between them. Another American says she has seen him in Berlin. All this is to make the audience think he is really a spy. Another real spy is the general’s Indian servant, with a grudge against the English. The spy business proceeds and the climax is reached with the Indian’s holding up the general while he telephones to Woodhouse to fire the mines. But Woodhouse breaks in, has the Indian arrested, and explains that he is an English secret service man who took the place of the German spy when the latter was going to impersonate the real Woodhouse, who had been wounded. The play ends with the love interest it is rather well-written stuff, though of course the plot is absurd. Like most other spy plays it is too remote from anything which could really happen to raise any military objection, I imagine, even though the scene is laid in Gibraltar. I presume, however, that there is no actual ‘hotel splendide’ I presume, however, that there is no actual ‘Hotel Splendide’ there; that would be unfair. Recommended for license. G. S. Street. I think there is real danger in suggesting an Indian might be a spy. Undertaking given that character will be absolutely nondescript and every reference to India eliminated (GS)

Researcher's Summary:

After completing a solid run in August 1921, the first film adaptation of the play was premiered in September 1921. The chief roles in the film were taken by Lewis S. Stone and Marguerite Clayton. The play was seen sporadically over the remainder of the 1920s. In October 1930 a new 'talkie' adaptation of the film was seen. It featured Betty Compson, William von Brincken, Ralph Forbes, Reginald Sharland, Montagu Love, Ivan Simpson and Betty Carter.

Licensed On: 15 May 1917

License Number: 952

Author(s):

Genre(s):

Keyword(s):

British Library Reference: LCP1917/10

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66165 N

Performances

Date Theatre Type
21 May 1917 Apollo, London Unknown Licensed Performance
21 May 1917 Apollo, London Professional
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The show played at the Apollo for almost a year until 13/4/1918. Two other companies, known as Red Co and Blue Co, toured the country, often with performances in different cities during the same week! Cast at the Apollo: Eille Norwood (Captain Woodhouse), Frederick Ross (George Crandall), Edward Dagnall (Henry J Sherman), Ida Adams (Jane Gerson), Grace Lane (Lady Crandall), Lewin Mannering (Yucca Len), Franc Stoney (Major Bishop), E Jack Caldwell (Willie Kimball), Gerard Clifton (Mr Clapper), Sydney C Sinclair (Sergeant Crosby), Philip Knox (Joseph Almer), Ernest Leverett (Fritz), George Nicholls (Orderly), Sinna St Clair (Mrs Sherman), Beatrice Hunt (Kitty Sherman), Dulcie Benson (Maria), Estelle Van Gene (Mina)
6 Aug 1917 Gaiety Theatre, Hastings Professional
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First 3 days of the week.
9 Aug 1917 Pleasure Gardens, Folkestone Professional
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Last 3 days of the week after Hastings.
13 Aug 1917 Hippodrome, Croydon Professional
20 Aug 1917 ?, London Professional
10 Sep 1917 Palace, Watford Professional
17 Sep 1917 Hippodrome, Richmond Professional
1 Oct 1917 Pleasure Gardens, Folkestone Professional
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3 nights only
1 Oct 1917 Pavilion Theatre, London Professional
4 Oct 1917 Park Theatre, Eastbourne Professional
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Last 3 days of same week as Folkestone
8 Oct 1917 Grand, Blackpool Professional
8 Oct 1917 Theatre Royal, Aldershot Professional
15 Oct 1917 Grand Theatre, Southampton Professional
15 Oct 1917 Empire Theatre, Bradford Professional
22 Oct 1917 Theatre Royal, Portsmouth Professional
22 Oct 1917 Empire Theatre, Sheffield Professional
22 Oct 1917 Empire Theatre, Leeds Professional
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5 matinees only
29 Oct 1917 Olympia, Liverpool Professional
29 Oct 1917 New Theatre, Oxford Professional
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3 days only
1 Nov 1917 Theatre Royal, Leamington Professional
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3 days only
5 Nov 1917 Hippodrome, Nottingham Professional
12 Nov 1917 Theatre Royal, Birmingham Professional
12 Nov 1917 Theatre Royal, Wimbledon Professional
19 Nov 1917 King's Theatre, London Professional
19 Nov 1917 Theatre Royal, Brighton Professional
26 Nov 1917 Royal County Theatre, Reading Professional
26 Nov 1917 Theatre Royal, Plymouth Professional
3 Dec 1917 New Theatre, Cardiff Professional
3 Dec 1917 Hippodrome, London Professional
10 Dec 1917 Hippodrome, London Professional
10 Dec 1917 Theatre Royal, Bournemouth Professional
17 Dec 1917 Hippodrome, London Professional
18 Jan 1918 Hippodrome, London Professional
21 Jan 1918 Dalston Theatre, London Professional
21 Jan 1918 Empire, Southend Professional
28 Jan 1918 Empire Theatre, Kingston-upon-Thames Professional
28 Jan 1918 Olympia Theatre, London Professional
4 Feb 1918 Borough Theatre, London Professional
8 Feb 1918 St Dunstan's Hostel, London Professional
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One perfromance only in aid of blind soldiers.
18 Feb 1918 Opera House, Leicester Professional
25 Feb 1918 Grand Theatre, Derby Professional
25 Feb 1918 ?, London Professional
4 Mar 1918 Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow Professional
4 Mar 1918 Royalty Theatre, Chester Professional
11 Mar 1918 King's Theatre, Edinburgh Professional
18 Mar 1918 Tyne Theatre, Newcastle Professional
25 Mar 1918 Grand Theatre, Oldham Professional
8 Apr 1918 King's Theatre, Dundee Professional
8 Apr 1918 Theatre Royal, Liverpool Professional
15 Apr 1918 New Theatre, Cambridge Professional
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3 nights only
15 Apr 1918 Theatre Royal, York Professional
22 Apr 1918 Empire, Swindon Professional
22 Apr 1918 Prince of Wales Theatre, Grimsby Professional
29 Apr 1918 Grand Theatre, Hull Professional
29 Apr 1918 Lyceum Theatre, Newport Professional
6 May 1918 Hippodrome, London Professional
13 May 1918 Hippodrome, Ilford Professional
13 May 1918 Theatre Royal, Guildford Professional
20 May 1918 ?, Eastbourne Professional
27 May 1918 Gaiety Theatre, Hastings Professional
3 Jun 1918 Pleasure Gardens, Folkestone Professional
22 Jul 1918 Grand, Blackpool Professional
29 Jul 1918 Palace Theatre, Manchester Professional
5 Aug 1918 Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool Professional
5 Aug 1918 County Theatre, Bedford Professional
12 Aug 1918 Grand Theatre, Hull Professional
19 Aug 1918 Grand Theatre, Leeds Professional
19 Aug 1918 Grand Theatre, Mansfield Professional
26 Aug 1918 Theatre Royal, Rochdale Professional
26 Aug 1918 Grand, Swansea Professional
9 Sep 1918 Empire Theatre, Preston Professional
16 Sep 1918 Theatre Royal, Grantham Professional
16 Sep 1918 Winter Gardens, New Brighton Professional
23 Sep 1918 Theatre Royal, Lincoln Professional
23 Sep 1918 Grand Opera House, Middlesbrough Professional
30 Sep 1918 Royal Court Theatre, Wigan Professional
21 Oct 1918 Royal County Theatre, Reading Professional
28 Oct 1918 King's Theatre, Edinburgh Professional
11 Nov 1918 Grand Theatre, Croydon Professional
11 Nov 1918 Empire Theatre, Sheffield Professional
29 Mar 1920 Junction Theatre, Manchester Professional
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Produced by Messrs Egginton and Porteous. Cast including William Heilbron and May Moffatt Jane Gerson.
5 Apr 1920 Osborne Theatre, Manchester Professional
12 Apr 1920 Coliseum, Eccles Professional
19 Apr 1920 King's Theatre, Manchester Professional
26 Apr 1920 Grand Theatre, Nelson Professional
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Performed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
10 May 1920 Grand Theatre, Deal Professional
17 May 1920 Worthing Theatre, Worthing Professional
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Performed Monday-Wednesday at 8, with matinee at 2.30 Wednesday.
1 Jun 1920 Hippodrome, Rugby Professional
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Performed Monday-Wednesday and Saturday.
7 Jun 1920 Hippodrome, Burslem Professional
5 Jul 1920 Theatre Royal, Bognor Professional
12 Jul 1920 Theatre Royal, Bognor Professional
24 Aug 1921 Lounge Theatre, Nottingham Professional
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Performed Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
26 Jul 1926 King's Theatre, Manchester Professional
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Presented by the Broadhead Players with cast including C. Hamilton Langham, Edward Terry, Lewis Nanton, Winifred Wayne, and Marie Paxton.
2 Mar 1927 Y.M.C.A, Liverpool Amateur
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Presented by the Red Triangle Amateur Dramatic Society on Wednesday and Thursday 2 and 3 March.
15 Aug 1927 Palace Theatre, Aberdeen Professional
15 Aug 1927 Palace Theatre, Aberdeen Professional
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Presented by the Arthur Hinton company.
15 Sep 1927 Theatre Royal, Darlington Professional
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Presented Thursday-Saturday by the Royal Repertory Players.
23 Apr 1928 Playhouse, Broadstairs Professional
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One-night only at 8.30 presented by Lena Anderson and company.
27 Apr 1928 West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate Professional
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Presented by the Broadhead company.
14 May 1928 Royal and Empire Theatre, Peterborough Professional
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Presented by the Langley Howard Players
18 Jun 1928 Prince of Wales Theatre, Rugby Professional
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Presented Monday-Weds
18 Mar 1929 Victoria Opera House, Burnley Professional
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Performed for the week once nightly, twice nightly on Saturday by the Beric Hammersleigh Repertory Company.
27 Apr 1929 King's Hall Theatre, Covent Garden, London Amateur
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Presented by the Bancroft Dramatic Club as the last performance of the season.
3 Mar 1930 Pavilion Theatre, Sheerness Professional
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Presented by the Grant Anderson repertory company.