In 1920, J. M. Barrie's "Mary Rose" had a run of 399 performances. Another long-running production was "Yellow Sands," in which Ralph Richardson gave 610 performances in 1926–27. In 1926 Harrison died, and Horace Watson became the theatre's General Manager. His presentations included 632 performances of "The First Mrs Fraser", by St. John Ervine, starring Marie Tempest in 1929. In 1939, under Watson's management, work began on excavating a stalls bar, but it was not completed until 1941 owing to the outbreak of World War II. Wartime presentations included the London premiere of Noël Coward's "Design for Living" (1939) and John Gielgud's repertory season of "The Circle" (Somerset Maugham), "Love for Love" (Congreve), "Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Duchess of Malfi".