A Cushy Job

A review in the Sheffield Independent, 8 January 1918, noted, ‘“A Cushy Job,” the first work of a new military humorist, Capt. E. C. Baker, is a military sketch in the sense that military figures take part in it, but its sole mission is comedy, and right well is that mission fulfilled. Skilfully acted, its first performance was a pronounced success, and the humour of its dialogue and characterisation gained the approbation of the audience. The author at the close appeared and bowed his acknowledgement of the well-merited applause. Capt. Baker, an old cavalry officer, was with the late Lord Kitchener in the Soudan campaign, and has done splendid work for recruiting for the present war. The cast of “A Cushy Job” includes Howard Law, Fanny Wallace, Andrew Storm, XXX, Mary Allan, Molly Suffield, and Lillian Wallace’. Also, ‘Capt. E. C. Baker’s sketch, “A Cushy Job” - his first offence, as he terms it – which has aroused some curiosity in the profession, was produced at the Hippodrome, Sheffield, on Monday, and was an instantaneous and great success. A slide announced that the captain was in the house, and the close of the production, which ran about 25 minutes, the popular officer, who is well known in variety circles, went on to the stage to be very heartily greeted. “A Cushy Job” has one mission, and that is to amuse. “This is no time for sad stuff,” says the author. “We have all got to laugh and look happy, even if it covers up tears.” The sketch takes a novel line, for it portrays a series of interruptions in a recruiting office, where a captain finds life anything but a cushy job. These events are based on the experiences of Capt. Baker’ (The Era, 9 January 1918). The People, 13 January 1918, mentioned ‘“A Cushy Job,” a military comedy by Capt. E. C. Baker, a well-known figure in theatrical circles, who was with Kitchener in the Sudan. He is a fine old warrior. “A Cushy Job” was produced at the Hippodrome, Sheffield, on Monday, and with better success than was thought possible'.

The Coventry Evening Telegraph, 12 January 1918, advertised on the bill at the Hippodrome next week ‘Capt. Baker & Cecil M. Hadley present “A Cushy Job” (By Captain E. C. Baker), a military comedy, featuring Howard Law and Fanny Wallace’. Also, ‘A sketch full of life and action is presented [at the Hippodrome] by Captain E. C. Baker and Cecil M. Hadley, entitled “A Cushy Job”’ (Coventry Evening Telegraph, 15 January 1918).

‘“A Cushy Job” is the name of a military comedy written by Captain E. C. Baker, and presented by Captain Baker and “C.H.” a London critic, at the Hippodrome, Liverpool, next week. Captain Baker, an old cavalryman, served with Lord Kitchener in the Soudan campaign and early in the war did good work in getting recruits, speaking daily from the Gladstone statue in the Strand and at the Law Courts. With his general he was badly injured while examining shells in the G.P.O., London, about a year ago. He is a huge man, over 6ft. in height’ (Liverpool Echo, 18 January 1918). Also, ‘Prominent in the programme [at the Hippodrome, Liverpool] is a new farcical sketch entitled “A Cushy Job,” from the pen of Captain E. C. Baker. The farce is brimful of fun and caused the audience to shout with laughter’ (The Era, 23 January 1918).

'Laughter reigned supreme [at the Surrey] during the half-hour’s run of this playlet on Monday. The holder of the cushy job is Captain B. who is in charge of a recruiting office. In his absence his place is taken occasionally by the corporal, whose sense of discipline and dignity is somewhat wanting. Two or three recruits, their names – Sebastian, Goldsilverstein, and Young Bill - will describe them, are enrolled. There is an interlude with the charlady, Mrs. Higgins, followed by some light duties in which the three “flapper” clerks play a part, and to crown matters, the office is taken over by the Food Controller. So Captain B. forsakes his “cushy job” and decides to take a rest cure in the trenches. The show is played with real snap throughout' (The Era, 6 February 1918). ‘Captain Baker’s new sketch comes to London after a successful run in the provinces, and is causing much laughter at the Surrey this week ... it runs upon irresponsible lines throughout, the purpose of the author being solely to amuse, without any special effort at plot or story. Under these circumstances no elaborate description of the piece is necessary; it amply achieves its purpose as a laughter-maker, and there are many topical allusions during the course of the action, which takes place in a recruiting office. It is cleverly played by a carefully selected cast ... Judging by its cordial reception on Monday evening, “A Cushy Job” should be in for much extended favour in the variety theatres as a piece of happy-go-lucky, disconnected farce’ (The Stage, 7 February 1918).

‘Hammersmith Palace will next week introduce to West London the screaming comedy sketch, “A Cushy Job” ... This is the first production by a new combination, Captain Baker and Cecil M. Hadley. The officer, a well known figure in theatrical circles, saw service with Lord Kitchener in the Soudan Campaign, while Mr. Hadley, who is a well known variety critic (“C.M.”) of “The Star,” is a lifelong resident of West London. “A Cushy Job” is a crescendo movement in laughs' (West London Observer, 15 February 1918; also the Ealing Gazette and West Middlesex Observer, 16 February 1918).

Advertised in The Era, 20 February 1918, as ‘Messrs. Capt. E. C. Barker [sic] & Cecil Hadley present “A Cushy Job”‘.

Advertised as ‘Capt. E. C. Barker [sic] & Cecil Hadley present “A Cushy Job”‘, and listed in Next week’s Calls as ‘Capt. Baker’s Co. in “A Cushy Job”’, both in The Era, 27 February 1918. The Era, 13 March 1918., reported, 'Last week’s business at Shoreditch Olympia was splendid – pleasing to the management and gratifying to the proprietors of the sketch'.

Advertised in The Era, 13 March 1918: ‘Screams and four or five Real Curtains each House … “A Cushy Job” is a big drawing power now, and that is what you want. Ilford, Surrey, Shoreditch and the Granville tell the Tale. People will go to Halls where they can laugh. This is a Trump Card for Military and Munition areas'. Also, ‘“A Cushy Job” is causing shrieks at the Granville this week, and taking four or five curtains each house ... The funny dance between Fanny Wallace and Howard Law in this playlet gets one of the longest laughs on record’ (The Era, 13 March 1918).

Advertised in the Aldershot Military Gazette, 15 March 1918, as ‘Captain Baker presents his Burlesque Recruiting One-Act Comedy Playlet, A Cushy Job. An Excellent Caste of 10 [sic], including Fanny Wallace, Howard Law, Fred Hill, and Captain Baker’. Also, ‘Messrs Baker and Cecil Hadley presented “A Cushy Job,” a one act comedy by Captain Baker, [which] proved productive of unqualified pleasure and success. The various roles were well portrayed by Captain Baker, the author, Misses Mary Allen, Molly Suffield, Lillian Wallace, and Fanny Wallace, also by Messrs. Howard Law, Fred Hill, and Andrew Storm. “A Cushy Job” was quite a piece to dispel the “blues,” and if for no other reason it deserves praise’ (Aldershot Military Gazette, 22 March 1918).

Listed in Next Week’s Calls in The Era, 3 April 1918.

Advertised in The Era, 17 April 1918, as ‘Capt. Baker & Cecil Hadley present “A Cushy Job”’.

Listed in Calls For Next Week in The Stage, 23 May 1918.

Advertised in the Dover Express, 31 May 1918, as ‘Captain Baker presents his burlesque Recruiting One-Act Playlet “A Cushy Job,” by E. C. Baker’. Also, ‘Another good variety programme is the feature this week at the Royal Hippodrome. Captain Baker is presenting his burlesque recruiting one-act playlet, “A Cushy Job,” by E. C. Baker; Tom E. Hannon gives light comedy songs; whilst Billy Mannie and Fay Toots provide a programme of “mirth, melody movement and mimicry.” The Robertsons (Billie and Gaye), vocalists and dancers, also appear: and Waltini, the mirthful mystic, is a great hit’ (Dover Express, 7 June 1918).

‘After a successful round of the provinces and the outlying halls, Captain Baer’s sketch, A Cushy Job, comes to the Metropolitan on Monday’ (The Stage, 18 July 1918). ‘The bill [at the Metropolitan] is completed by Captain Baker and company, who secure many laughs with the recruiting burlesque A Cushy Job’ (The Stage, 25 July 1918).

‘“A Cushy Job,” a burlesque on recruiting methods, will be presented by Captain Baker and Company at the Hippodrome [next week]. Captain Baker, who has written the sketch from actual experience as a recruiting officer, is 6ft. 4in. in height, and he will provide most of the fun as Little Willie, the prospective recruit’ (Birmingham Mail, 9 August 1918). ‘“A Cushy Job,” which Captain Baker and Co. present at the Birmingham Hippodrome, is an amusing recruiting episode' (Birmingham Daily Gazette, 10 August 1918). ‘“A Cushy Job,” at the Hippodrome, is a brisk burlesque of a recruiting office. It is not without its funny episodes, though the humour is at times a trifle forced' (Birmingham Mail, 13 August 1918).