A Gold Stripe
Examiner of Plays' Summary:
The comedy sketch of a Tommy who returns to his proud and loving wife decorated with a purchased gold stripe and full of a bogus story of having killed ten Germans. During his temporary absence an old comrade calls and tells the truth about the supposed hero, who it seems was never at the front killing Germans, and who got his wound merely through an accident at the base. The sadly disillusioned wife gives ten pounds to her informant for squaring him and other pals who, he says, know the secret of the fraud. Later on the ‘hero' learns of his wife's gift to his dishonourable comrade and grows suspicious of its motive. But his jealousy dies away in penitent shame when he finds out that his wife has been blackmailed into preserving his good name. It may perhaps be held undesirable just now to illustrate the failings of soldiers. But they as well as civilians may sometimes fall to the temptation of borrowed plumes; and as the sketch is quite reasonable in its possibilities as well as wholesome in its pathos and humour it may, I think, safely be Recommended for Licence. Ernest A. Bendall.
Researcher's Summary:
The title alludes to the two-inch strip of gold braid that soldiers who had appeared in a War Office casualty list were permitted to sew onto the left sleeve of their service jacket. Only three performance weeks have been identified, as part of variety bills.
Licensed On: 12 Feb 1918
License Number: 1396
Genre(s):
Keyword(s):
British Library Reference: LCP1918/3
British Library Classmark: Add MS 66185 V
Performances
| Date | Theatre | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Feb 1918 | Palace, London | Unknown | Licensed Performance |
| 18 Feb 1918 | Palace Theatre, Tottenham | Professional |
Read Narrative
‘This capital little comedy of Cockney life - which comes from the practised pen of Matthew Boulton - had a very reception on its production at Tottenham on Monday, and should find a place on many future programmes. Quite up to date in its idea, it deals with one Ted, expected home from hospital at any moment, the wound having been a “Blighty” one. Before his arrival, however, another khaki-clad figure enters, in the shape of his friend Bill, who promptly proceeds to demolish the tale told by Ted to his hero-worshipping wife, in which the sudden end of ten Germans figures largely and the strength of which story she has received £10 from her former mistress, a sovereign for each supposedly slain foe. Bill retires presently with this £10, which he obtains as hush-money to silence Ted’s other so-called friends, who might give the game away. He also obtains a further £2 from Ted for the same illegitimate purpose. Bill has further told Ted’s wife that her husband is not entitled to a gold stripe, his wound having been received while attending to an incinerator far behind the fighting line: but the entrance of Ted, wearing the coveted stripe, causes some trouble. This is accentuated by the mutual discovery that each has been swindled Bill, and general recriminations ensue. Ted confesses all to his wife, and after proving that the authorities consider him entitled to the stripe, the bullet embedded in his body having proved to be of German make, she forgives him, saying that he is at any rate a hero to her. The playlet contains many amusing lines and topical references which hit the popular fancy, and is put together with some ingenuity. It is played in the right spirit by Florence Steventon, Amy Lorraine, Fred Fraser, and Stewart Dawson, all of whom speak their lines clearly and with the requisite humour. The rest of the programme is made up of turns by Charles Chard, Dora Dare, Bert Elliott, Tom Morton, and Maggie Bowman (in some amusing “Slices of Revue”), Wilfred Burnand, the Girls from the Golden West (with a smart instrumental, act), the Three Canadians, and the Three Sisters Macarte’. The Stage, 21 February 1918.
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| 4 Mar 1918 | Hippodrome, Aston | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Birmingham Daily Gazette, 4 March 1918, advertised twice nightly at the Aston Hippodrome a bill that included A Gold Stripe, a comedy in one act. The Birmingham Daily Gazette, 4 March 1918, reported that A Good [sic] Stripe was well received. The Evening Despatch, 5 March 1918, reported that A Gold Stripe ‘by a capable company of artists, found full favour’.
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| 25 Mar 1918 | Empress, Brixton | Professional |
Read Narrative
The Era, 20 March 1918, included Kelson Trueman’s company in A Gold Stripe among the turns listed in Next Week’s Calls at the Brixton Empress. Also The Stage, 21 March 1918.
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