The Soldier Priest

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The two German villains, Hoffman and Biernstyne, begin their career by robbing jack at cards in an Irish village, and plotting generally. Jack is in love with Winnie, whose wicked half-sister Mary passes as the wife of Hoffman. Their machinations are exposed by Father Pat. With a view to ruining Father Pat, Mary knocks at his bedroom when he has just gone in and pretends, to his horror, to make love to him. Enter Hoffman; Father Pat knocks him down in self-defence and, thinking he has slain him, leaves the village. In Act II he re-appears as a sergeant, and his identity being revealed to the Colonel; explains that the bishop had given him absolution - Act II p.8 - there might be some offence in this but I do not think so. But the colonel tells him that as War has just been declared it was no murder (act II p9) - an odd doctrine and a Colonel should know better, but, again, I think it does not matter. Hoffman of course was not dead and most of Act II was passed in a dug-out where he and Biernstyne are spying, disguised as French peasants; there is a great deal of violent business, with hands upping, and so forth, in which Jack, Mary, and Father Pat take part, and Father Pat discomfits the villains by his nerve and courage. However, in Act III Biernstyne and Hoffman turn up in England again with lying stories of Jack's decease, to be exploded finally by the arrival of Jack and Father Pat, safe and sound. It is fairly well written for the sort of rubbish. In spite of the hero being a priest, I do not think there is anything offensive to Catholics. The character is of course entirely sympathetic, and though, naturally, there is a certain amount of priestly local colour, so to speak - the play ends with the angelus and a prayer - it is quite reverent. Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Researcher's Summary:

No author was listed on the script submitted for licensing but subsequent research has identified James William Whitbread as the author.