Spider’s Web
Jacqueline Smith created the role of Pippa Hailsham-Brown prior to becoming Margaret Barton’s understudy in the West End. (‘Chit Chat’, The Stage 12th January 1956, page 8.)
Elizabeth Bird understudied Margaret Lockwood and later Anne Crawford, taking over the role of Clarissa Hailsham-Brown when Anne Crawford left the cast through illness. (‘Chit Chat’, The Stage 20th September 1956, page 13.) Anne Crawford subsequently died, aged 35, on 17th October.
Elizabeth Bird was unable to play the post-West End weeks at Streatham Hill and Golders Green owing to pregnancy. Margaret Lockwood reprised her original role for these final dates. (‘Miss Lockwood to the Rescue’, The Stage 11th October 1956, page 1.)
Cast & Crew
Cast
| Clarissa Hailsham-Brown | Margaret Lockwood |
|---|---|
| Constable Jones | Desmond Llewelyn |
| Elgin | Sidney Monckton |
| Elgin (replacement) | Stanley Groome |
| Henry Hailsham-Brown | John Warwick |
| Henry Hailsham-Brown (replacement) | Jack Melford |
| Hugo Birch | Harold Scott |
| Inspector Lord | Campbell Singer |
| Jeremy Warrender | Myles Eason |
| Mildred Peake | Judith Furse |
| Oliver Costello | Charles Morgan |
| Pippa Hailsham-Brown | Jacqueline Smith |
| Sir Rowland Delahaye | Felix Aylmer |
| Pippa Hailsham-Brown (replacement) | Margaret Barton
(started 14th December 1954) |
| Sir Rowland Delahaye (replacement) | Edwin Styles
(started 5th March 1956) |
| Clarissa Hailsham-Brown (replacement) | Anne Crawford
(started 25th June 1956) |
| Clarissa Hailsham-Brown (replacement) | Elizabeth Bird
(started September 1956) |
Crew | |
| Decor by | Michael Weight |
| Director | Wallace Douglas |
| General Manager | Verity Hudson |
| Stage Manager | Elizabeth Bird |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Norah Crawford |
| Company Manager | Kenneth Fraser |
| Miss Lockwood dressed by (West End) | Mark Luker |
| Miss Lockwood’s gowns by (pre-West End) | Victor Stiebel at Jacqmar |
| Press Representative | Torrington Douglas |
| Scenery built by | Brunskill & Loveday |
| Scenery painted by | Alick Johnstone |
| Secretary | Prudence Atkins |
| Secretary | Jane Raglan |
| Wardrobe Mistress | Lydia Junge |
- Added by Michael Hope, last modified by Jared William.
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Play description
The action takes place in the drawing room of Copplestone Court, the Hailsham-Browns’ home in Kent.
Photo credits
Observations
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