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]
| The Ninth Man | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Frederick Jackson |
| Date premiered | 19 January 1931 |
| Place premiered | Theatre Royal, Brighton |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Thriller |
History
editThe 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]
References
edit- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b Nicholas Wapshott (1991). Rex Harrison: A Biography. Chatto & Windus. p. 31. ISBN 9780701137649.
- ^ Wearing p.92
- ^ "The Ninth Man". The Observer. 15 February 1931. p. 13.
- ^ Wearing p.92