The Profiteers

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This play is a mere translation with different names of a French farce called Gozague, by Pierre Veber, produced at the Ambassadors' Theatre, in the spring of 1917. The fact is not mentioned in the script: if the play is presented as original, it is an impudent proceeding. Gonzague, now called Dubois, is a piano tuner, whom the Parkynsese, vulgar rich people, 'profiteers' ask to dinner to prevent the number being thirteen, and the fun of the piece consists mainly of his always being prevented from getting any food. He is presented as a marquis. One Lopez is jealous of his wife and thinks Dubois is her lover, whereas one Blythe is really the man. Eventually he actually discovers Dubois who is slightly tipsy, making love to her and is going to kill him, when one of the girl guests claim her as her fiancé - having fallen in love with him at her school - and Blythe, to quiet Lopez's suspicions, promises him money to marry her. The fun of the original evaporates in the heavy English translation, and the married-women intrigue business, which went with a light touch, becomes rather unpleasant. There is no sufficient reason, however, for interfering with it. The piece is merely a farcical absurdity. Recommended for licence G. S. Street.