The Quitter

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a moving and dramatic little play, reading like a piece of real life and indifferent to the conventions of sentiment. All the characters are Americans, two journalists, Appleby and Tucker, Enright, a music hall ‘artiste’, and Cecil Ames. The latter has joined the RAMC, has been through some of the worst of the war, which he describes vividly, and is in England on a day’s leave. But his nerve has gone through his sufferings, he is hysterical, and his one thought is to get back to America. That, of course, would be desertion. Enright has lent him a civilian suit and he is to sail in an hour. But the two journalists, realising better what he is doing, point out that it will be useless for him to write and lecture about his experiences as he intends; his desertion will be known and nothing will be believed. He is left alone with Appleby. The curtain goes down and an hour is supposed to have passed. Appleby is found alone by Tucker and Enright, who suppose that Ames has sailed. But he comes in from the next room clad again in his bloodstained and muddy khaki. Then, instead of the expected sentiment, he simple curses the others and goes. The language is strong, but I see nothing whatever to object to. It is a fine little play. Recommended for license. G. S. Street. Note - on p16 and 18 the author has made alterations uniform with the Lord Chamberlain’s wishes.