The Glorious Day

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This piece is chiefly spectacular, on a very ambitious scale. So far as there is a story it proceeds on the familiar lines of melodrama about the war. Thus, it begins with a village scene just before the war. One Billy is nearly induced by a female German spy to promise to go with her to Germany and foolishly is entrusted with an important packet. Then the news that war is declared arrives and billy enlists, still with the packet. Later on he arrives, after months, with a wounded comrade in a Belgian house and is hidden; enter the German captain (previously a spy in the village in England) with the female spy and soldiers. Belgians are brutally shot for refusing to disclose whereabouts of English; Billy, discovered, refuses to give up packet; arrival of English and fierce fight. So much for the story which we have had essentially many times before. The more ambitious and spectacular part includes, in Act I, a scene of the departure of troops from Waterloo; l in act II, 3 tableaux of the transport of our troops to France and their arrival there, the bombardment of Rheims, a symbolical scene of Egypt and a great naval battle between England and Germany. The latter is a forecast and the whole concludes with a forecast of the end of the war; a scene in the 'palace' at Berlin in which ' 'the prince' and 'the chief commander' refuse to give way to popular clamour to accept terms: at the very end 'the capital has fallen, the allies are marching through our gates' and 'Tipperary' is heard. This agreeable prophecy may be premature and a little boastful, but I see no harm in putting it on the stage. In accordance with rule however, the management should be required to guarantee that in the lasts scene the emperor and crown prince must not be personated. Most of the songs appear to have been published: if any once, not given, has not been, the words must be sent in for approval. Recommended for license. G. S. Street.

Researcher's Summary:

This production was a hit in 1915. An advert in 'The Stage' on 29 April 1915 noted only three remaining weeks available in the schedule. The advert listed key features including: '30 people travelled. £1,000 of new scenery and dresses. Full of Fine Comedians, Pretty Girls, Splendid Musical Numbers and Magnificent Scenery. Musical Comedy terms only entertained. This is not a hashed-up war drama but the famous original musical comedy show. Average Saturday night £100'. An autumn tour was soon planned and in advertising for theatres Mortimer highlighted that this would be the 'third edition' with six new scenes 'built on bright comedy and real moments'. It was, he emphasised 'an optimistic revue of the times...makes you glad you are British...Not a Morbid War Drama' (Stage, 24 June 1915) Mortimer submitted the new version for licence under the title 'Don't be Silly' and it was licensed on 14 August 1915. By the end of September however he decided 'on account of so many 'trashy' revues with comedy titles - now touring - and thinking his really dignified and really musical production may suffer and be misunderstood under the light comedy title' to change it back to 'The Glorious Day' (Stage, 30 September 1915). Only two notices appear in the newspapers for performances under the title 'Don't be Silly' and from the end of September the new version was performed under the original title of 'The Glorious Day'. Performances for all versions of the play are listed below.