For My Country

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a tragic little sketch of a mother’s sacrifice of herself - or rather of her son - for a patriotic motive, marred in its effectiveness only by the initial improbability of the plot. This depends upon a loving mother’s recognition of a German spy as her son, expected home on leave after being wounded at the front. After her warm welcome of him she suddenly discovers the imposture, and prepares to denounce the spy to the police; but she wavers in her purpose when he explains to her that her son is a prisoner in Berlin and will be shot if his impersonator - chosen for his task on account of their extraordinary resemblance - fails to return after accomplishing his secret mission. Her agonizing struggle between duty to her boy and to her country ends in favour of the latter, for which she sacrifices her son’s life. Strained but strong. And recommended for license. Ernest A. Bendall.