LEADING BOY OF 15 PLAYS IN “AFTER DARK”

Shannon News, 3 December 1926, Page 3

LEADING BOY OF 15 PLAYS IN “AFTER DARK”

LONDON AWAITS NEW. BIG MYSTERY DRAMA LONDON, Sep. 18. Billy Speechley, a boy of fifteen, is to take one of the two leading parts in “After Dark,” the new mystery play, by Mr. Jefferson Farjeon, to be produced at the Garrick Theatre on Monday evening. Though Billy has appeared before in small parts in the West End, this in his first big chance. He is to partner Mr. Horace Hodges, of “Lightnin’ fame, who makes his reappearance in the West End after a long interval. I found Billy, writes a “Westminster Gazette’’ reporter,, on the stage of the Garrick Theatre yesterday. He was dressed as a newsboy, which is the part he is playing in “.After Dark.’’ “I’ve never had a long part, like this before,” he told me, “but somehow I don’t feel nervous. The other? tell me that sort of feeling will come when I’m older and understand more what is at stake. “Playing with Mr. Hodges is great fun! He plays th e part of a nice old gentleman who is left at home while his family goes to the theatre. “Suddenly a newsboy—the part I pl a y__bursts into the room and says he has seen someone climbing up the balcony. Mr. Hodges and I decide to investigate. Then the fun begins.” 1 Billy Speechley is a Boy scout. According to Scout etiquette he must have a chaperon during his visits to the theatre, so a special small part has been included for ohe of the Scout masters at his camp, and this officer escorts him to and from the theatre. i . Mr. Hodges also is very enthusiastic about his new partner. . “I think he is going to astonish the first-night: audience,” he said. “He has a tremendously long part ana seems quite expert in it already. Mr. Hodges gave me the interesting news that his next role may be in a modern version, of “The Pilgrim s Progress,” written by a very welL known public personage, whose first play it will be. Mr. Farjeon is anxious After Dark,” shall not be taken too seriously. “It is a fantastic AUce-in-Wonderland’ sort of affair,” he .says, “and I don’t want audiences to think I shall be hurt if f they laugh, even at the most thrilling moments.” The play has a fine cast, including Donald Calthrop, Norah Robinson, Malcolm Keen, and Gilbert Ritchie, in addition to Mr. Hodges.