The Luck Of The Navy
Examiner of Plays' Summary:
This is a spy play, better written than most and with a quite exciting third act. The spies suggest those of 'The Man who Stayed at Home', being a German woman posing as an English lady and her son who has been brought up as an English naval officer for purposes of treachery. There is also a master-spy, Schaffer, disguised as a wounded Belgian officer. The hero is a gallant commander of a submarine and the spies' bright idea is to get form him the code key word which will disclose important naval plans to them and to send him drugged in an aeroplane to Berlin. He goes unsuspectingly to dinner with them but finds out their character before dinner. The plot is complicated by a love affair, a girl's photograph (with the missing word on it) a midshipman who comes accidentally to the rescue and so on. It is perhaps sufficient to say that after drugging, holding up, and the rest of it the hero outwits the spies and sends one of them to Berlin in the aeroplane instead of himself. The idea of a sub-lieutenant in the navy being a disguised German, with another in our air service (to assist in the aeroplane plot) and the general talk about the omnipresence and efficiency of German spies do not tend to have a useful effect, I think, but there seems to be nothing to interfere with. At one point (act III, p.19 and 21) the spies threaten the hero with mutilation, which is perhaps unnecessarily unpleasant, but its nature is not specified. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street
Researcher's Summary:
The play was a hit from its premiere at the Queen's Theatre, London. After an enforced termination at the Queens', the London production went on a short tour and then opened at the Garrick Theatre where it was performed until July 1919. It then transferred on 12 July to the New Theatre, London. By early 1919 there were two regional touring companies presenting the play across the UK. In early 1919 the rights were given for Australian and South African productions, and discussions were underway for the American, Dutch and French rights. In October 1919 Percy Hutchinson took the play to New York and from there to Canada. In mid-1927 Graham Wilcox Productions acquired the film rights. The film of the play was released in November 1927 and shown widely throughout 1928. It was directed by Fred Paul and starred Evelyn Laye in her debut role on film, alongside Henry Victor. Just over ten years later, in 1939, another film adaptation was released, starring Geoffrey Tone, Judy Kelly and Albert Burdon. It was also screened in mid-1942.
Licensed On: 22 Jul 1918
License Number: 1684
Genre(s):
Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1918/13
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66195 I
Performances
Date | Theatre | Type | |
---|---|---|---|
1 Aug 1918 | Theatre Royal, Bournemouth | Professional |
Licensed Performance
Read Narrative
This was a trial run before the London run.
|
5 Aug 1918 | Queen's Theatre, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
Premiered on Bank Holiday Monday. August 5th 1918 and continued to be performed through to mid February 1919. Percy Hutchinson began in the role of Clive Stanton, V.C. and then returned to the role in January 1919.
|
4 Oct 1918 | Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone | Professional | |
4 Oct 1918 | Pleasure Gardens, Folkestone | Professional | |
26 Oct 1918 | King's Theatre, Glasgow | Professional | |
26 Oct 1918 | King's Theatre, Glasgow | Professional | |
11 Nov 1918 | Theatre Royal, Manchester | Professional |
Read Narrative
Advertised in the Manchester Evening News, 9 November 1918.
|
18 Nov 1918 | Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | Professional | |
23 Nov 1918 | Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | Professional | |
20 Jan 1919 | Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne | Professional | |
3 Feb 1919 | Gaiety Theatre, Hastings | Professional | |
10 Feb 1919 | Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone | Professional | |
17 Feb 1919 | Dalston Theatre, London | Professional | |
24 Feb 1919 | Theatre Royal, Stockport | Professional | |
24 Feb 1919 | Hippodrome, Golders Green, London | Professional | |
11 Mar 1919 | Theatre Royal, Hanley | Professional | |
20 Mar 1919 | Empire Theatre, Preston | Professional | |
24 Mar 1919 | Theatre Royal, Birmingham | Professional | |
24 Mar 1919 | Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon, London | Professional | |
24 Mar 1919 | Empire Theatre, Barnsley | Professional |
Read Narrative
This was the Midland company.
|
24 Mar 1919 | Theatre Royal, Barrow | Professional |
Read Narrative
Presented by the Midland Company.
|
31 Mar 1919 | Empire Theatre, Kingston | Professional | |
31 Mar 1919 | Opera House, Southport | Professional | |
31 Mar 1919 | New Theatre, Cambridge | Professional |
Read Narrative
Presented by Percy Hutchinson's company for three nights and a matinee.
|
31 Mar 1919 | Empire Theatre, Barnsley | Professional | |
31 Mar 1919 | Empire Theatre, Kingston | Professional | |
7 Apr 1919 | Grand Theatre, Mansfield | Professional | |
7 Apr 1919 | Opera House, Southport | Professional | |
7 Apr 1919 | Grand Theatre, Luton | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for six nights and a matinee.
|
14 Apr 1919 | Theatre Royal, Bournemouth | Professional | |
14 Apr 1919 | Opera House, Belfast | Professional | |
21 Apr 1919 | Opera House, Coventry | Professional | |
21 Apr 1919 | Grand Theatre, Southampton | Professional | |
28 Apr 1919 | New Theatre, Crewe | Professional | |
28 Apr 1919 | New Theatre, Crewe | Professional | |
28 Apr 1919 | Opera House, Torquay | Professional | |
5 May 1919 | Royal Court Theatre, Wigan | Professional | |
5 May 1919 | Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth | Professional | |
5 May 1919 | Garrick Theatre, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
Starring Percy Hutchinson.
|
5 May 1919 | Theatre Royal, Rochdale | Professional | |
12 May 1919 | Olympia, Liverpool | Professional | |
12 May 1919 | Grand, Accrington | Professional | |
19 May 1919 | Theatre Royal, Birkenhead | Professional | |
19 May 1919 | Theatre Royal, Birkenhead | Professional | |
26 May 1919 | Opera House, Dudley | Professional | |
26 May 1919 | Opera House, Northampton | Professional | |
28 May 1919 | Theatre Royal, Torquay | Professional | |
2 Jun 1919 | ?, Hartlepool | Professional | |
2 Jun 1919 | Royalty Theatre, Chester | Professional | |
9 Jun 1919 | Theatre Royal, Bradford | Professional | |
12 Jul 1919 | New Theatre, London | Professional | |
4 Aug 1919 | ?, Southend | Professional | |
4 Aug 1919 | New Theatre, Cambridge | Professional |
Read Narrative
Produced for six nights and a matinee and starring Percy Hutchinson.
|
4 Aug 1919 | Opera House, Southport | Professional | |
11 Aug 1919 | Palace Theatre, Clackton-on-Sea | Professional | |
11 Aug 1919 | West Pier Theatre, Brighton | Professional | |
18 Aug 1919 | Theatre Royal, Guildford | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights.
|
18 Aug 1919 | Theatre Royal, Bognor | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights this week.
|
18 Aug 1919 | Theatre and Opera House, Cheltenham | Professional | |
25 Aug 1919 | ?, Bristol | Professional | |
25 Aug 1919 | Pier Theatre, Eastbourne | Professional | |
25 Aug 1919 | Victoria Opera House, Burnley | Professional | |
1 Sep 1919 | Theatre Royal, Norwich | Professional | |
1 Sep 1919 | ?, Taunton | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights.
|
1 Sep 1919 | Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, Isle of Man | Professional | |
4 Sep 1919 | ?, Weston-Super-Mare | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights.
|
8 Sep 1919 | Lyceum Theatre, Ipswich | Professional | |
8 Sep 1919 | New Theatre, Cardiff | Professional | |
15 Sep 1919 | Palace Theatre, Ramsgate | Professional | |
15 Sep 1919 | ?, Worcester | Professional | |
22 Sep 1919 | Hippodrome, Sheerness | Professional | |
22 Sep 1919 | ?, Bath | Professional | |
29 Sep 1919 | Hippodrome, Golders Green, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed by Percy Hutchinson's 'principal company'.
|
29 Sep 1919 | ?, Worthing | Professional | |
29 Sep 1919 | County Theatre, Shrewsbury | Professional | |
6 Oct 1919 | Grand, Lancaster | Professional | |
6 Oct 1919 | ?, Stratford | Professional | |
13 Oct 1919 | Theatre Royal, Whitehaven | Professional | |
13 Oct 1919 | ?, Watford | Professional | |
13 Oct 1919 | Opera House, Belfast | Professional | |
20 Oct 1919 | Grand Theatre, Ayr | Professional | |
20 Oct 1919 | ?, Woolwich | Professional | |
27 Oct 1919 | ?, Paisley | Professional | |
27 Oct 1919 | ?, Hammersmith | Professional | |
3 Nov 1919 | King's Theatre, Greenock | Professional | |
3 Nov 1919 | ?, Penge | Professional | |
10 Nov 1919 | ?, Perth | Professional | |
10 Nov 1919 | ?, Swansea | Professional | |
17 Nov 1919 | Theatre Royal, Inverness | Professional | |
17 Nov 1919 | Theatre Royal, Portsmouth | Professional | |
24 Nov 1919 | Grand Theatre, Hull | Professional | |
24 Nov 1919 | Grand Theatre, Falkirk | Professional |
Read Narrative
Presented for the week
|
24 Nov 1919 | Palace Theatre, Gloucester | Professional | |
1 Dec 1919 | Opera House, Dunfermline | Professional | |
1 Dec 1919 | ?, Wolverhampton | Professional | |
8 Dec 1919 | Theatre Royal, Lincoln | Professional | |
8 Dec 1919 | ?, Richmond | Professional | |
5 Jan 1920 | ?, Swindon | Professional | |
5 Jan 1920 | Grand, Blackpool | Professional | |
12 Jan 1920 | ?, Chatham | Professional | |
16 Jan 1920 | Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone | Professional | |
17 Jan 1920 | County Theatre, St Albans | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed at the weekend.
|
19 Jan 1920 | ?, Crayford | Professional | |
19 Jan 1920 | Theatre Royal, West Bromwich | Professional | |
26 Jan 1920 | ?, Darlington | Professional | |
26 Jan 1920 | County Theatre, Bedford | Professional | |
26 Jan 1920 | ?, Bedford | Professional | |
23 Feb 1920 | Gaiety Theatre, Hastings | Professional | |
8 Mar 1920 | Grand Theatre, Mansfield | Professional | |
22 Mar 1920 | King's Theatre, Edinburgh | Professional | |
22 Mar 1920 | ?, Hanley | Professional | |
29 Mar 1920 | ?, Newport | Professional | |
5 Apr 1920 | Grand Theatre, Hull | Professional | |
5 Apr 1920 | ?, Weymouth | Professional | |
12 Apr 1920 | Theatre Royal, Torquay | Professional | |
19 Apr 1920 | Grand Theatre, Southampton | Professional |
Read Narrative
For six nights.
|
26 Apr 1920 | Theatre Royal, Bournemouth | Professional | |
26 Apr 1920 | Theatre Royal, Bournemouth | Professional | |
3 May 1920 | Theatre and Opera House, Cheltenham | Professional | |
10 May 1920 | Palace Theatre, Chelsea, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
The first of a tour of the halls.
|
17 May 1920 | Opera House, Coventry | Professional | |
26 Jul 1920 | Theatre Royal, Yarmouth | Professional | |
2 Aug 1920 | Prince's Theatre, Bristol | Professional | |
9 Aug 1920 | West Pier Theatre, Brighton | Professional | |
16 Aug 1920 | Isle of Wight Circuit, Isle of Wight | Professional | |
23 Aug 1920 | Art Theatre, Woolwich | Professional | |
30 Aug 1920 | South Parade Pier, Portsmouth | Professional | |
20 Sep 1920 | Worthing Theatre, Worthing | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed Monday-Wednesday with matinee Wednesday
|
4 Oct 1920 | Palace, Watford | Professional | |
18 Oct 1920 | Borough Theatre, Stratford | Professional | |
25 Oct 1920 | King's Theatre, Hammersmith | Professional | |
26 Oct 1920 | Queen's Theatre, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
The play was revived at the theatre when Percy Hutchinson suddenly withdrew 'A Pair of Sixes', reportedly as a result of the coal strike.
|
1 Nov 1920 | Empire, Penge | Professional | |
15 Nov 1920 | Theatre Royal, Bath | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for six nights.
|
6 Dec 1920 | Opera House, Cork | Professional | |
4 Jan 1921 | Town Hall, Aylesbury | Professional |
Read Narrative
For two nights only, 4 and 5 January.
|
10 Jan 1921 | Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds | Professional | |
19 Jan 1921 | Club Hall, Sevenoaks | Professional |
Read Narrative
Flying visit for two nights only, Wednesday and Thursday (19 & 20).
|
28 Jan 1921 | Memorial Hall, Chalfont St Peter | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights.
|
10 Feb 1921 | Ripley Victory Hall, Ripley | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights.
|
16 May 1921 | Prince's Theatre, Bristol | Professional | |
23 May 1921 | Grand Pier Pavilion, Weston-Super-Mare | Professional | |
1 Aug 1921 | West Pier Theatre, Brighton | Professional | |
10 Aug 1925 | Alexandra Theatre, Pontefract | Professional |
Read Narrative
Part of a season by the Venner Repertory company, with Stephen C. Venner in the title role.
|
26 Oct 1925 | Opera House, Wakefield | Professional | |
15 Nov 1925 | Crown Theatre, Eccles | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed by the Broadhead Players.
|
22 Feb 1926 | Hippodrome, Margate | Professional | |
1 Mar 1926 | Queen's Theatre, Dundee | Professional | |
22 Mar 1926 | Theatre Royal, Bolton | Professional | |
19 Apr 1926 | Theatre Royal, Bilston | Professional | |
24 May 1926 | Ambassadors, Southend | Professional | |
5 Jul 1926 | Opera House, Northampton | Professional | |
15 Jul 1926 | Hippodrome, Rotherham | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights
|
21 Mar 1927 | Opera House, Kidderminster | Professional | |
23 May 1927 | Theatre Royal, Hyde | Professional | |
29 Sep 1927 | Theatre Royal, Bristol | Professional | |
12 Mar 1928 | Alhambra, Devonport | Professional |
Read Narrative
Presented by the Dorothy Mullord London Repertory Company.
|
3 Feb 1930 | Little Theatre, Bristol | Unknown | |
10 Feb 1930 | Grand Theatre, Hull | Professional |
Read Narrative
A personal visit by Percy Hutchinson and the full West-End company.
|
17 Feb 1930 | Brixton Theatre, Brixton | Professional | |
3 Mar 1930 | Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield | Professional | |
10 Mar 1930 | Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne | Professional |
Read Narrative
For six nights, starring Percy Hutchison
|
17 Mar 1930 | Gaiety Theatre, Hastings | Professional | |
7 Apr 1930 | Theatre Royal, Portsmouth | Professional | |
12 May 1930 | Royal and Empire Theatre, Peterborough | Professional |
Read Narrative
Presented by Tod Slaughter
|
7 Jul 1930 | Grand, Blackpool | Professional | |
14 Jul 1930 | Theatre Royal, Nottingham | Professional |
Read Narrative
Starring Percy Hutchison
|
31 Jul 1930 | Theatre Royal, Birmingham | Professional | |
4 Aug 1930 | Court Theatre, Liverpool | Professional | |
25 Aug 1930 | Empire Theatre, Coventry | Professional | |
1 Sep 1930 | Theatre Royal, Huddersfield | Professional | |
8 Sep 1930 | Prince's Theatre, Bradford | Professional | |
18 Sep 1930 | Pier Theatre, Eastbourne | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed for three nights with matinee Saturday.
|
22 Sep 1930 | Palace Theatre, Plymouth | Professional | |
6 Oct 1930 | His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen | Professional | |
3 Nov 1930 | Theatre Royal, Halifax | Professional | |
1 Dec 1930 | Grand Theatre, Derby | Professional | |
13 Apr 1931 | Royalty Theatre, Morecambe | Professional | |
24 Dec 1934 | Playhouse, London | Professional |
Read Narrative
A revival with Percy Hutchinson as the VC which ran until Saturday 5 January
|
4 Feb 1935 | Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone | Professional | |
11 Feb 1935 | Little Theatre, Bournemouth | Professional |
Read Narrative
Presented for the week.
|
25 Nov 1936 | Sandown Town Hall, Sandown | Amateur |
Read Narrative
Presented by the Radnor Revellers, as their 48th performance since their formation 4 seasons earlier.
|
20 Mar 1939 | ?, Craigellachie | Amateur |
Read Narrative
Presented this week by the Craigellachie Amateur Dramatic Society.
|
2 Oct 1939 | Theatre Royal, Leeds | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed by the Arthur Brough Players.
|
20 Oct 1941 | Prince's Theatre, Bradford | Professional |
Read Narrative
An entirely new version performed by Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Tod Slaughter and Percy Hutchison.
|
27 Oct 1941 | Theatre Royal, Nottingham | Professional |
Read Narrative
Percy Hutchison returned to the theatre in a new 1941 version of the 1918 play. Evelyn Shillington, daughter of Mrs Clifford Mills, prepared the new version. IT starred Tod Slaughter and Percy Hutchison in his original role.
|
4 Nov 1941 | New Theatre, Hull | Professional |
Read Narrative
Full West End cast including Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Tod Slaughter, and Percy Hutchison
|
11 Nov 1941 | Theatre Royal, Brighton | Professional | |
17 May 1943 | Theatre Royal, Exeter | Professional | |
6 Nov 1967 | Leatherhead Theatre, Leatherhead | Professional |
Read Narrative
Performed from 6 November to 25 November 1967. The Stage (16 November 1967) commented that the revival 'demonstrates more clearly than most plays how fundamentally ideas - and not only theatrical ideas - have changed over the last half-century [...] [it] does not seem quite so topical as one might expect. The sentiments of 1917 would never be uttered, and probably never experienced, in 1967, when, perhaps rather regrettably, they merely seem hilariously funny'. The cast included Patrick Ludlow as the Admiral: he had played the Midshipman in 1917. Others in the case included Graham James, Philip Gilbert, Susan Tebbs, Pamela Lane, Michael Cadman, Philip Morant, and Venetia Maxwell. The set design was by Sidney Jarvis.
|