Several scenes from The Truth about Blayds (a play in three acts) witten by the British playwright A. A. Milne (1882-1956) and opening on 20 December 1921 at the Globe Theatre, London, and running for 121 performances, until 5 April 1922. London, in 1922.
In the early 1920s A. A. Milne, best known so far for his humorous articles and verses in Punch, was establishing a reputation as a playwright. His Mr Pim Passes By (1919) ran well in the West End and on Broadway. The title role in that play was played by the actor-manager Dion Boucicault, and Milne wrote The Truth About Blayds in 1921 with Boucicault and his wife, Irene Vanbrugh, in mind. They accepted it and the play was put into rehearsal, opening on 20 December 1921 at the Globe Theatre, and running for 121 performances, until 5 April 1922.
The Blayds family discuss what to do, 1921 London production. Left to right: William (Dion Boucicault), Marion (Irene Rooke, Royce (Ion Swinley), Isobel (Irene Vanbrugh) and Septima (Faith Celli)
The all-important will: Royce (left), with Marion, Isobel and William, 1921 London production
Ion Swinley (27 October 1891 – 16 September 1937), born Eric Ion Swindley was an English actor, known for his appearances in classics and modern dramas and comedies.
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, January 21st, 1922, a Photograph from "The Truth about Blayds" at the Globe Theatre.
This witty comedy by Mr. A. A. Milne deals with that humbug Blayds (Mr. Norman McKinnel), who has stolen a friend's manuscript poems and has thereby become the most famous poet of his day. He is shown above (at the age of ninety) just before he confesses his theft on his death-bed. Our characters seen are his married daughter (Miss Irene Rooke), his self-sacrificing spinster daughter (Miss Irene Vanbrugh), his satellite son-in-law (Mr. Dion Boucicault), and his grandchildren (Mr. Jack Hobbs and Miss Faith Celli).
Blayds and Isobel, Act 1, 1921 London production
