Scenes from Jack Straw (A Farce in Three Acts), written by W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), and produced at Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 26th March 1908.

   Scenes from Jack Straw (A Farce in Three Acts), written by the British playwright W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), and produced at Vaudeville Theatre, (Strand) London, on 26th March 1908.

   This play is one of Maugham's most successful comedies. This comedic work revolves around themes of social class, deception, and the folly of pretentiousness, focusing particularly on the character Jack Straw, a clever and resourceful man who assumes the identity of a royal figure. 

   Jack Straw, a play by W. Somerset Maugham, first performed on 26 March 1908 at the Vaudeville Theatre, later revived in 1923, and more recently saw the light of day again at the Elmwood Theatre as a production of the Linden House Theatre Company, was written in 1905, after Lady Frederick was repeatedly turned down by managers and out of frustration Maugham changed his strategy of writing a part to attract a leading lady to a leading man instead.

 Jack Straw (1908), one of Maugham's most successful comedies: Charles Hawtrey seated and Lottie Venne centre

Jack Straw (1908) - Act I  W. Somerset Maugham

Jack Straw (1908) - Act III  W. Somerset Maugham

   In the United States, Jack Straw : "The New Comedy" by W. Somerset Maugham, produced by Charles Frohman at the Empire Theatre (NYC - 1908) starring John Drew, Mary Boland, Edgar L. Davenport, Jefferson Crane, etc.