This new piece is about a curious incident when three would-be thieves hid in the Garrick Theatre at the close of an evening performance, and after sleeping in the manager’s office attempted in the morning to break open the three safes containing the takings from Love on the Dole, which was playing to full houses at the beginning of its long run. The three failed to open the new and strong safes and instead stole a number of personal items belonging to the theatre manager, to the actress Cathleen Nesbitt, who was playing Mrs Hardcastle, and to Walter Greenwood – in his case a rare book. However, the three made their escape and were never caught, and the stolen property (most of it highly traceable) was never recovered. The article traces what we know and do not know about this odd case, reported by just three newspapers.
Enjoy! Chris.
Walter Greenwood: Not Just Love on the Dole 