The Ninth Man (play)

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The Ninth Man
Written by Frederick Jackson
Date premiered19 January 1931
Place premiered Theatre Royal, Brighton
Original languageEnglish
GenreThriller

The Ninth Man is a 1931 thriller play in three acts by Frederick Jackson. A crime drama, the plot focuses on a gang of opium dealers in New York City. [1]

History

The Ninth Man was written as a starring vehicle for Rex Harrison who portrayed Detective Rankin in the original production. [2] Other members of the original cast included John Longden as Costigan, Nora Swinburne as Laurel Prescott, Edward Ashley-Cooper as Legard Draper, Diana Wilson as Nadine Westley, Philip Desborough as Dr. Sindor, Frank Royde as Hotsang, May Beamish as Mrs. Meadows, and Leonard Brett as the undertaker. [3] Brett was also the stage director for this production. [4]

The Ninth Man was supported by the backing of French impresario André Charlot and was produced by Campbell Gullan. [5] The play premiered at the Theatre Royal, Brighton on 19 January 1931. [1] It then had a short tour to provincial theatres before reaching the Prince of Wales Theatre in the West End. [2] It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on February 11, 1931 and closed after 45 performances on March 21, 1931. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 J.P. Wearing (2014). "The Ninth Man". The London Stage 1930-1939: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 92. ISBN   978-0-8108-9304-7.
  2. 1 2 Nicholas Wapshott (1991). Rex Harrison: A Biography. Chatto & Windus. p. 31. ISBN   9780701137649.
  3. Wearing p.92
  4. "The Ninth Man". The Observer . 15 February 1931. p. 13.
  5. Wearing p.92