The Airman's Wife

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

Another spy play. This time the German spy and his female German accomplice take rooms in the house of the mother of an airman who has invented a wonderful machine. They fail in getting the plans, thanks to the devotion of the airman's wife, but the spy, who had tried to seduce her years before in Berlin, succeeds in making the foolish airman believe the worst and she, justly indignant, leaves the house vowing vengeance. She returns intending to smash the model of the aeroplane but perceiving the spy, still spying disguised as an Italian singer, she repents and the spy is shot by the female accomplice, as usually happens, and the airman and his wife are reconciled. It is all average rubbish. There is a passage (part I, p.35) about the 'hidden hand' in official positions, which is in itself rather objectionable, but as it is spoken by the villain who would not be believed I think it need not matter. The play begins with some rather undesirable comic relief in the form of jokes about the comic man's kilt - he is only a volunteer, however - but it is not offensively suggestive and is not likely to annoy a Highlander - the joke is too common (I.1-6) Recommended for licence. G. S. Street.