Once a Crook
Written by the husband and wife team of Evadne Price and Ken Attiwill. (Dick Richards, ‘Entertainment’, Sunday Mirror 18th August 1940, page 17.)
When Mervyn Johns joined the Royal Air Force on 9th July 1940, the director took over the role of Hallelujah Harry – and would continue playing the character for nearly a year. (‘London Theatres’, The Stage 11th July 1940, page 5.)
The West End run of this production was interrupted by the bombing raids of the London Blitz. It resumed in March 1941 for 32 matinee performances with four further cast replacements.
Between the two West End runs, the play toured again, including garrison theatres. A film version was also made, starring Gordon Harker and starting at Shepherd’s Bush on 23rd December 1940. (‘20th-Fox starts Once a Crook’, Kinematograph Weekly 19th December 1940, page 20.)
Cast & Crew
Cast
| A Barrister | W E Holloway |
|---|---|
| A Police Constable | Tom Squire |
| A Police Sergeant | Ernest Borrow |
| A Police Sergeant (replacement) | Noel Dainton |
| Andrews | Frank Forsyth |
| Aunty | Margery Caldicott |
| Bessie | Nancy Parsons |
| Bill Hopkins | Patrick Parsons |
| Bill Hopkins (replacement) | Jack Watling |
| Charlie Hopkins | Gordon Harker |
| Estelle Graham | Anna Konstam |
| Inspector Marsh | George Street |
| Joseph | Charles Lamb |
| Old Sea Captain | Fred Withers |
| Old Sea Captain (replacement) | Douglas Stewart |
| The Duke | William Holland |
| The Duke (replacement) | Charles Goldner |
| Hallelujah Harry | Mervyn Johns
(June – July 1940) |
| Hallelujah Harry | Richard Bird
(started July 1940) |
| Hallelujah Harry | Lloyd Pearson
(started June 1941) |
Crew | |
| Director | Richard Bird |
| General Manager | Philip Algar |
| Manager | Ivan Capell |
| Set Designer | Gower Parks |
| Set Designer (tour) | Sidney Gausden |
| Stage Director | Julian Andrews |
| Stage Manager | Alison Colvil |
- Source: University of Bristol Theatre Collection
- Last modified by Chris D.
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