Inside the Lines
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
Genre(s):
Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1917/10
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66165 N
Performances
Date | Theatre | Type | |
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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)
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6 Aug 1917 | Gaiety Theatre, Hastings | Professional |
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First 3 days of the week.
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9 Aug 1917 | Pleasure Gardens, Folkestone | Professional |
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Last 3 days of the week after Hastings.
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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
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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
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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
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29 Oct 1917 | Olympia, Liverpool | Professional | |
29 Oct 1917 | New Theatre, Oxford | Professional |
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3 days only
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1 Nov 1917 | Theatre Royal, Leamington | Professional |
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3 days only
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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1 Jun 1920 | Hippodrome, Rugby | Professional |
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Performed Monday-Wednesday and Saturday.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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15 Aug 1927 | Palace Theatre, Aberdeen | Professional | |
15 Aug 1927 | Palace Theatre, Aberdeen | Professional |
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Presented by the Arthur Hinton company.
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15 Sep 1927 | Theatre Royal, Darlington | Professional |
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Presented Thursday-Saturday by the Royal Repertory Players.
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23 Apr 1928 | Playhouse, Broadstairs | Professional |
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One-night only at 8.30 presented by Lena Anderson and company.
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27 Apr 1928 | West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate | Professional |
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Presented by the Broadhead company.
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14 May 1928 | Royal and Empire Theatre, Peterborough | Professional |
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Presented by the Langley Howard Players
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18 Jun 1928 | Prince of Wales Theatre, Rugby | Professional |
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Presented Monday-Weds
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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.
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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.
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3 Mar 1930 | Pavilion Theatre, Sheerness | Professional |
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Presented by the Grant Anderson repertory company.
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