The Cry Of The Children

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a very argumentative Russian war-play, whose dramatis personae discuss a theatrical military mutiny from their different points of view. Thus a gallant general commits suicide out of shame for his troops’ betrayal of their allies; a brave leader of the female ‘battalion of death’ which did so much towards quelling the revolt, appeals to an English journalist; and a German spy masquerades as a Polish Jew. This last puts forward the cry of the children’ (of the starving peasant soldier) as an incentive to the mutineers. His traitorous motive is discovered and exposed by the Englishman, where upon he is condemned to death. The pluck of a bugler boy who has been shot by his revolting comrades is relied upon for the sympathetic interest of the talky sketch. The discussion of the present revolution reads rather like a contentious leading article; about the point of view favoured is the right one, so the drama is recommended for license. Ernest A. Bendall.

Researcher's Summary:

No evidence of a performance of this play has been found.