Palace Theatre, Tottenham

‘This capital little comedy of Cockney life - which comes from the practised pen of Matthew Boulton - had a very reception on its production at Tottenham on Monday, and should find a place on many future programmes. Quite up to date in its idea, it deals with one Ted, expected home from hospital at any moment, the wound having been a “Blighty” one. Before his arrival, however, another khaki-clad figure enters, in the shape of his friend Bill, who promptly proceeds to demolish the tale told by Ted to his hero-worshipping wife, in which the sudden end of ten Germans figures largely and the strength of which story she has received £10 from her former mistress, a sovereign for each supposedly slain foe. Bill retires presently with this £10, which he obtains as hush-money to silence Ted’s other so-called friends, who might give the game away. He also obtains a further £2 from Ted for the same illegitimate purpose. Bill has further told Ted’s wife that her husband is not entitled to a gold stripe, his wound having been received while attending to an incinerator far behind the fighting line: but the entrance of Ted, wearing the coveted stripe, causes some trouble. This is accentuated by the mutual discovery that each has been swindled Bill, and general recriminations ensue. Ted confesses all to his wife, and after proving that the authorities consider him entitled to the stripe, the bullet embedded in his body having proved to be of German make, she forgives him, saying that he is at any rate a hero to her. The playlet contains many amusing lines and topical references which hit the popular fancy, and is put together with some ingenuity. It is played in the right spirit by Florence Steventon, Amy Lorraine, Fred Fraser, and Stewart Dawson, all of whom speak their lines clearly and with the requisite humour. The rest of the programme is made up of turns by Charles Chard, Dora Dare, Bert Elliott, Tom Morton, and Maggie Bowman (in some amusing “Slices of Revue”), Wilfred Burnand, the Girls from the Golden West (with a smart instrumental, act), the Three Canadians, and the Three Sisters Macarte’. The Stage, 21 February 1918.