DISAPPEARANCE OF ACTOR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 378, 9 March 1937, Page 5

DISAPPEARANCE OF ACTOR

VOSPER’S FAIL

EXCESSIVE DRINKING.

Tragic End To Shipboard Party.

Press Association— Copyright. Le Havre, March 7,

"I think jealousy and excessive drinking were responsible for V-os-per’s fall,” said Captain Geranderie, commander of the liner Paris, from which the noted playwright and actor Frank Vosper disappeared, apparently through falling to the sea from the balcony of a cabin occupied by Miss Muriel Oxford (“Miss Great Britain” of 1935). “I understand that Miss Oxford and Vosper were attending parties together in the ship since leaving New York,” said, the captain. “After the farewell dance ended a steward took several bottles of champagne to Miss Oxford's cabin, where she was with Messrs. Vosper and Willes.

“The next we knew was Miss Oxford rushing out and shouting, ’Help! Mr. Vosper has committed suicide by jumping overboard.’ ” Miss Oxford denied Captain Geranderie’s allegation of excessive drinking. She did not know how much Messrs. Vosper and Willes were drinking earlier in the evening.

A WEST END ACTOR.

Author of “Murder on the Second Floor.”

Mr. Frank Vosper was only 38 years of age. He wJs the son of Dr. Perby Vosper, was educated at Hrileybury.l and made his first appearance on the London stage as Charles in "The Little Visitors” in 1920. He then joined Herbert Warling’s company for a touG of the West, and on his return in 1922’ appeared in "Everyman” and "Mesalliance.” During the next few years he appeared in responsible parts in such plays as “The Secret Agent,” “The Great Well,” "Hassan,’ and was Simon Iscariot in the play "Judas Iscariot.’ In the 1924* production of “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at Drury Lane, he was Demetrius. At th" Old Vic in 1926 he played such roles as Antony, Romeo, and Orlando In 1927 he visited New York to produce his play, “Spellbound,” and the following year gave one of his' best performances as Joe Varwell in “Yellow Sands.”

Since then he has appeared in "Icebound,” “Blackmail,” “Baby Cyclone,” and in 1928 he appeared as Hugh Bromiiow in his own play, “Murder on the Second Floor,” of which he was both author and producer. He was also the author of “The Combined Maze,” from the novel of May Sinclair. His favourite parts were Romeo, and Sergius, in G. B. Shaw’s play, “Arms and the Man.” Like the late H. B. Irving, he took a studious interest in criminology, and put some of his knowledge to effective use in his plays.