Great War Theatre

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

A strong and intelligently written little study of faith asserting itself. A German officer and soldier come for the night to a hut in Russia where an old Jews sits wailing the death of her husband who has been shot as a spy. The German soldier is also a Jew. The officer mocks at their race in a stupid but not over-brutal way and the soldier answers respectfully. Then the officer goes into an inner room to sleep, the soldier remaining on guard. A groan is heard and a wounded Russian soldier appears at the door. The German Jew calls to him to put his hands up but as he still fumbles at his belt shoots him. He then finds it is not a revolver but a Hebrew prayer book the dying man has. The officer enters and bids the soldier give the man the iron cross to kiss. But the German Jew, till then an automaton, disobeys, kneels and hears the other Jew's dying profession of faith in Israel. Then he prepares to submit to death for mutiny, but the officer, moved, does nothing. It is a play to appeal to Jews rather than Christians but it is, in its unpretentious way, a genuinely dramatic and interesting little work. Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Licensed On: 10 Apr 1915

License Number: 3291

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British Library Reference: LCP1915/7

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66093 V

Performances

Date Theatre Type
15 Apr 1915 Empire Theatre, Hackney, London Unknown Licensed Performance