Fragments From France

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is a good production, far better than the run of more or less comic musical plays about the War. We follow the fortunes of 'Erb, a coster, and 'Orace, a gentleman down on his luck, who strike up a friendship at an East End 'pub', when they hear that war has been declared. Both enlist, 'Orace under an assumed name, and we have them being drilled by the Sergeant Major; visiting 'Erb's home and wife on the way to France; in billets behind the line, with the usual business of getting letters and so on; rescuing their captain under heavy fire; being thanked by their colonel in the orderly room and told that 'Erb will have the VC and 'Orace the DCM - this scene is well done, the colonel talking naturally, like a gentleman - and finally in Erb's home again where 'Orace is reconciled with his father the earl. The sentiment is of a simple sort but is sincere and there is nothing in the least offensive in the whole play. The sergeant-major swears a little but the military part is not made ridiculous. The songs, it is said, are to come later. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street. Songs now forwarded and passed, EAB.