**
** The play opens,* Newspanel how nice the summer of 1914 is.
* The (M. C.) comes on and introduces the play and ad-libs. He welcomes everyone and there is input from the Pierrots.
* Newspanel how Britain will not go to war.* The M. C. introduces people from different countries of Europe: Britain, France, Germany, and Russia. They are all talking about war, how big their empires are and their national anthems are played.
The Germans reveal the plan for the attack on Paris. The countries then state how big their armed forces are.* The Serbs and Austro-Hungarians talk about the shooting of the Archduke Ferdinand, they question who did it and come up with a ridiculous long list of people who could have killed him. The Austro-Hungarians declare war on the Serbia and Russia is mobilised.* Britain declares war on Germany.
* Germany mobilises and tries to attack France through Belgium who are neutral but Belgium hold them off. A song is sung to jeer at Germany about how Belgium beat them.* The battlefield is described as being unbelievable with heaps of corpses from both sides. Also how bad the war is and how bullets and shells are always exploding and the wounded are groaning.* Songs are sung to keep the spirits of the troops up.* A drill sergeant is introduced and he drills the young men who have just recruited and one goes over the top and chases an ice cream girl in the audience.
The drill sergeant makes sounds as if he is speaking but it doesn’t actually make much sense. A song about how the ladies will make a man out of the recruits if they join up. A very convincing reason to join up!* Two British field marshals and their Aide are travelling to an Allies meeting. They are late and the French are wondering where the British are.
The British arrive and French (one of the field marshals) tries his hand at speaking French which he does badly, they discuss the Germans’ tactics for attack and when the British will send troops to help France and whatever Britain can do they will. French is constantly putting down Wilson blaming him for the reason his French is not all that good and the reason the meeting is not going smoothly. French presents Lanrezac from France with a medal from the king.* The first British wounded arrive at Waterloo. The high-ranking officers have transport provided but the other soldiers don’t luckily though someone convinces lorry drivers to take the wounded to hospitals.
* Trench Warfare begins and scenes of what life was like in the trenches are acted out, some soldiers play games others write home. The Allies here the Germans singing and talk to them over the trenches. They send over gifts to each other. They two sides down weapons and decide to meet in no mans land and chat.* The act comes to an end with the newspanel reading: Allies loose 850, 000 men in 1914. Half the British Expeditionary force wiped out then a song and finally the newspanel: Welcome 1915.
Happy New Year that will bring us victory. Act Two.* Newspanel opens the act saying about the British losses and the Germans using gas and how we are gaining nothing.* Song ‘ Oh what a lovely war.’* M.
C. announces Conscription Act. Women are told to send their men to become heroes.* During the war 21, 000 Americans become millionaires.
* Some munitions providers from Britain, France, Germany and America are out shooting they are discussing why munitions didn’t get shipped to America due o the blockades by the British navy. In between they shoot grouse and other game birds. They talk about how they hope that peace won’t come, as shares will drop and how America might have to join the war if peace looks like it is coming about. The Ghillie tells of how he has 6 of the family on the front line and wonders if the war will soon end. The powers don’t think war will end and say it will make men out of those on the front.
Germany says how he makes weapons and sells them to the Allies so his own people get killed by his products which is why the Kaiser wants to kill him. America offers everyone a handout about machine guns but Switzerland declines as they are neutral.* Back in the trenches with a sergeant furiously getting his troops to put up a barricade, machine gun fire is heard. The commanding officer enters and congratulates the troops on how well they’ve done, he complains about the stench of dead bodies and how there is a leg nearby as it is an obstruction.* A ball is going on with important British commanders. They are all introduced and discuss the royal’s surnames.
French talks to Wilson about how he has to please Asquith and how French is giving the position reserved for Wilson to Robertson as he ‘ refuses to mess with him.’ Wilson is obviously downhearted about this but French tells him to cheer up. They all talk behind each other’s back about how well each is suited to his position. The evening draws to a close and they all go home.* Haig suggests that to beat the Germans and advance then the soldiers should walk in a line towards the enemy. He suggests this as he thinks the enemy will flee in terror at the bravery of the British.
Any man ducking or hiding in a shell hole is to be court marshalled.* Newspanel: Total loss one and a half million men.* Haig is determined to break through no matter how many men are killed. The Irish arrive and are straight away ordered to attack.
They get quite far towards the enemy line and are counting how many trenches they captured and slightly exaggerate the number from 9 to 12. They are shot at by their own side so the sergeant tells one of the soldiers to go back and tell them. All 3 are shot and killed but the sergeant is relieved that he’ll get out of the war.* A letter is read about how peace has been proposed by both sides and how politicians say no, even the people say that they still want war despite family being on the front line.* Newspanel: Somme British loss 60, 000 on the first day.
* Haig’s plan for defeating the Germans is decided.* Two British women are talking about how they are melting dead German for glycerine. Two German women are saying the same about the British.* Frantic orders are given out to those on the front line. The men at the front line describe the wounded calling as cattle at a market.
* Haig discusses the losses of the attacks in the night, also how long a soldier at the front will live for and the plans for attack by having more soldiers left than the Germans.* A Chaplin announces how the Archbishop allows the soldiers to fight and eat meat on a Sunday now during wartime. The Chaplin, Haig and a Nurse pray for the war to end before America arrives and to help the wounded to heal.* Newspanel carries on announcing deaths and it is thought that bodies will soon have to be burnt.* The condition of the trenches is described as being terrible.* Newspanel says how the British gain ground and how the Germans starve to death due to British blockade.* Each country announces the prospects of war being won in 1918.* France makes a last advance.* Play ends with song ‘ I don’t want to be a soldier,’ and finally ‘ Oh it’s a lovely war.’
