By Liz Armstrong
Set during World War II in England, See How They Run is a high energy British comedy, written to boost morale during the war.
The playwright, Philip King was born in Yorkshire England in 1904. He lived in Brighton, and many of his plays were produced in Worthing, a town about 11 miles west of where he resided.
King began his career in theatre at 16 years old with a small touring company. He then acted at the Repertory Company at the Opera House, Harrogate. Throughout his acting career, he played with well-known stars Sid Field, Frances Day, and Hugh Wakefield.
He began directing plays, and his first professionally produced play was Without the Prince, which was also his first comedy play. It opened on the West End in 1940.
In 1944, See How They Run was first produced. During this time, King was serving in the Royal Air Force. Although he was serving in the RAF, there wasn’t enough space at his base near London, so he was able to live in civilian housing. During the performance, three German bombs (known as Doodlebugs) were dropped nearby. However, no one left the theatre, and actor George Gee joked that the bombs were dropped during his funniest lines. The next day, King chronicled his experience reading the marvelous reviews of his play over a Spam sandwich and tea.
“I went to my usual workmen’s cafe directly opposite RAF White City, and over a pint mug of tea and a Spam sandwich read the notices. They were marvelous! But, as I read them, I suddenly remembered pictures I had seen of Noel Coward sitting up in a wonderful looking bed, in an even more wonderful dressing-gown, a silver tray at his side, reading his notices! And here was I… a pint mug of tea and a thick Spam sandwich. But what the hell? I had a success,” King said.
King is also known for other lively comedies, including Pools Paradise (1961), I’ll Get My Man (1966), and the co-authored West End Farce Sailor Beware! (1960) and Watch It, Sailor! (1960).
Throughout his career as a playwright, King often returned to the stage to act, sometimes appearing in his own productions.
See How They Run was adapted into a film, directed by Leslie Arliss. Another one of King’s works, On Monday Next, was adapted into the film Curtain Up, directed by Ralph Smart. Some of his other works––Sailor Beware!, Watch it Sailor, and Serious Charge––were also turned into movies.
King passed away 1979. After his death, the Disability Acting Yorkshire (formerly the Yorkshire Association for Disabled People), began receiving royalties for several of his plays, including See How They Run, I’ll Get My Man, and Pools Paradise.
Chief Executive Jackie Snape expressed gratitude for the generous endowment, saying, “We are truly thankful for Philip King for his generosity, which is giving the charity a steady foundation of support and lasting impact.”
King is known as “the master of English farce,” and reviews praise his work for “its sharp dialogue, clever and chaotic plot construction, and his ability to provide light, joyous relief.” See How They Run is regarded as a wartime classic and heavily influenced the world of post-war comedies.
