THESPIANS' NEXT.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 21

THESPIANS' NEXT.

Groping his way along a London street in a dense fog, Gilbert Fordyce —lighthearted young man-about-town —passes "No. 17," suddenly, with a hoarse cry of terror, a man runs from the house, straight into his arms. It is Ben the tramp—and he is running from a dead body he has found inside. Intrigued, Fordyce forces him to return to the house, and they investigate together. .. . That is the setting of "No. 17," the brilliant thriller by J. Jefferson Farjeon, which is to be presented by the Thespians early next month. It would spoil the story •to tell more of the plot—but "No. 17" becomes very populated for an allegedly empty house; indeed, very over-populated according to Ben, who is in a constant state of comical terror. Sinister people appear and disappear—friends /become foes—and, perhaps Mr. Gilbert Fordyce is tak-' ing just a little more than a passerby s interest in the affair—is he what he seems? There are plenty of thrills in store for the audience before the final curtain is reached., Recent productions, such as "And So to Bed," Call It a Day," "Lover's Leap," and others, have firmly established the reputation of the Thespians, and theatre-goers will enjoy "No. 17"—for thrillers are always popular! with audiences. The strong cast includes Ola Nielsen, Selwyn Toogood, Constance Bradstock, H. A. Painter, G. H. Bassant. George Aldridge, W. M. Willis, and L. D. Webster. The play is being produced by Evan Harrowell, with Victor S. Lloyd as advisory director; tne stage manager is Myles F. E. Wright, the property mistresses Isabel Burton and Peggy Lucas; and the prompter Susie Painter.