The Private Secretary

The Private Secretary is a 1883 farce in three acts, by Charles Hawtrey. The play, adapted from a German original, depicts the vicissitudes of a mild young clergyman, innocently caught up in the machinations of two irresponsible young men who are bent on escaping their creditors.

When the play opened in London the notices for the piece were hostile, and it was seen as a stop-gap in the schedule of the theatrical company presenting it. Despite these predictions the play ran in London for 1,469 performances. The critics found much more to praise in the performances of the cast, with particular praise for Herbert Beerbohm Tree as the meek clergyman, the Rev Robert Spalding. He was succeeded in the role by W. S. Penley, who received equally good notices, and played the part in several productions. The play was frequently revived in the first half of the 20th century, and was adapted for film in 1935.

The play was adapted by the young actor Charles Hawtrey from the German Der Bibliothekar, a comedy by Gustav von Moser. The play ran at the Cambridge Royal Theatre in 1883, was brought to London in 1884, and ran there until 1886. Hawtrey revived the play twice, in 1892 at the Comedy Theatre, and in 1895 at the Avenue Theatre. His profits were estimated by The Idler to be around £100,000.

Actors who played the Rev Robert Spalding included Herbert Beerbohm Tree,W. S. Penley, and Frank Thornton.Edward Everett Horton played Spalding in the 1935 British film version of the play, directed by Henry Edwards.

Two impecunious young men of good family, Harry Marsland and Douglas Cattermole, plot to escape their creditors with the unwitting help of the innocent young clergyman, Robert Spalding. Harry's uncle has engaged Spalding – whom he has not met – as his private secretary; Douglas takes Spalding's place, passing himself off as Spalding while leaving the real one in London to take charge of Douglas's chambers. Cattermole senior, Douglas's uncle newly returned from India, calls at the chambers; he takes Spalding to be his nephew and is disgusted at his meek and mild manner.

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