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In any case, the Aldwych films mostly survive their limitations to remain pleasant and entertaining examples of a bygone form of entertainment.The Aldwych farces of the 1920s and 1930s provide a classic example of a fruitful collaboration between a playwright — Ben Travers — and a team of actors, headed by Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare and Tom Walls, who managed and directed the company. The highlight is undoubtedly Robertson Hare’s horror at being forced to shave his moustache and try on wigs to disguise himself as the burglar! Some touring players, such as William Daunt (1893–1938) who played the Ralph Lynn roles, made considerable personal successes in the 1920s playing Aldwych farces in the provinces. DIRTY WORK stands slightly apart from the other farces in that Tom Walls doesn’t appear , though he still directs.

Farce releases inhibitions, offers a holiday from conventional morality, and permits both outrage and the triumph of the carnival spirit. My discussion of these farces will focus on three in particular, Rookery Nook (1926), Thark (1927) and Plunder (1928), as representative of Travers’s work at its best and most characteristic, and on the three leading members of the company already referred to, who seemed especially to stimulate the dramatist’s inventive flair. Ideal foils were provided by monocled silly-ass Ralph Lynn, and bald, timid, bird-like Robertson Hare, who inevitably found himself mixed up in the middle of things, wailing “Oh Calamity! A series of now-legendary stage comedies from the 1920s and '30s, the Aldwych Farces broke theatre box-office records and made the transition to celluloid with a run of hit films making stars of Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare. Lawrence Grossmith had acquired the rights to Travers' farce A Cuckoo in the Nest and sold them to Walls.As at 2013, the only other of the twelve to have been revived in the West End is Thark, in 1965 and 1989. With a bit more pep, it could have been a classic, but just misses the mark despite some funny moments. Two classic farces from the golden era of Aldwych, "A Cuckoo in the Nest" one of the most famous of the series, displaying the talents of Ralph Lynn, Tom Walls and Robertson Hare to particularly splendid advantage.

Meanwhile, Ben Travers' first play, The Dippers, based on his 1920 novel of the same name, was produced and directed by Sir Charles Hawtrey. Though only ten adaptations were made on film, the influence of these enduringly popular films was great and can be seen in some of the key British comedies from the first half of the 20th century. Of the three main principals, Robertson Hare had the most enduring career, appearing in partnership with Alfred Drayton and as a supporting actor.Bought to watch at Xmas -the best time to watch a farce -as the BBC broadcast a great version of 'Turkey Time' on radio about 25 years ago which I listen to every year and Robertson Hare was a legend. The following table shows the opening and closing dates, and the number of performances given, in the original productions of the Aldwych farces.