Beauchamp And Beecham

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

Except that this play is called ‘a comedy in khaki’ and that the two young men in it are convalescent soldiers, it is very old fare indeed - the old story of transferred identities. Mrs Body invites two convalescent private form local hospitals to stay in her suburban villa. One is the Hon Robert Beauchamp, the other Robert Beecham, a linen draper’s assistant before the war. The former has saved the latter’s life and they are great friends. Beauchamp is already in love with Constance, Mrs Body’s niece, who has visited the hospital. Wishing to be loved for himself alone he persuades Beecham to change histories with him. So we have the humours of the supposed linen draper knowing nothing about the business and the supposed aristocrat talking cockney and flirting with the maidservant. At the end of act II Constance’s father arrives from India. He is an absurd snob, is dressed as a major in an antiquated volunteer’s uniform, and orders the two privates to go to the kitchen. In the third act the misunderstandings go on, Constance’s father furious with her engagement to the supposed linen draper and is in an absurd scene of making himself useful cleaning windows and so forth. Beecham is promoted lieutenant. In the end Beauchamp’s great-aunt, the countess of Castlevain, arrives and of course everything is cleared up and the lovers made happy. Some innocent fun is got out of Mrs Body’s being a eugenist. The linen draper’s ‘swanking’ as an officer (act III, p.23) might be thought a little unfortunate, but a picture of such an everyday experience now can hardly be interfered with. There is not the faintest intention of ridiculing the army; on the contrary, the play is thoroughly patriotic in tone: Constance ‘turns down’ an old admirer for not joining the colours and the housemaid insists on the butler’s doing so. It is all pleasant, if ancient, fun. Beauchamp not being Lord Beauchamp’s family name there seems to be no harm in its use. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street