The Bully Of Berlin [The Beast of Berlin]

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a revised version of 'The Bloody Beast of Berlin' for which a license was refused by the Lord Chamberlain. The new title, though an improvement upon the old one, still seems needlessly thought not perhaps prohibitively offensive. From the play have now been deleted the passages to which objection was taken as being calculated to inflame the passions of an audience against alien-enemies, as bread-poisoners and so forth. In their place we have attacks upon 'the C-prince' as looter and instigator of the bad treatment of 'poor Belgium' and refugees generally. We have highly coloured illustrations of the German spy system, of attempts at concealment of nationality and of efforts at train-wrecking. The chaotic affair is almost incredibly silly and ignorant as an expose of the militant politics of our enemy who is represented as not less idiotic than brutal. But as here modified its errors are merely those of judgment and taste; so 'The Beast of Berlin' - preferably under another title - may now be Recommended for license. Ernest A. Bendall.