All material from the Eton College Chronicle presented by kind permission of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College.
On page 279 of Andrew's "JMB and the Lost Boys" we read from JMB's letter of 29 March 1918 to Michael:
"Your account of the boys' musical in the Chronicle makes me want to see the M.S. thereof. Would it be possible for you to get the loan of it?"
The following isn't signed but we may assume this is Michael's piece:
Eton College Chronicle
(No 1648 p394)
Thursday March 28 1918
At the play.
We have, up to the present, dutifully fulfilled our role of traditional dignitaries by pouring cold water of silence upon the reiterated efforts of artistic aspirants, but this has been too much for us.
Several times have Mr. Broke and Mr. Whitworth launched their Dramatic Society at our conscientious dullness, and at last they have made a break.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday Mr. Whitworth's Dramatic Society gave performances of an original operetta entitled : " The Raid, or the Reward of Valour," written by Hussey and composed by Strickland-Constable.
The scene, into which Hussey had introduced a great deal of his own many-coloured originality, is laid in a boarding-house cellar, the plot being concerned largely with bombs, beauty and badinage.
Second-Lieut. Robinson, on leave, and enamoured of Col. and Mrs. Killery's engaging daughter, fails to convince the parents of his fine worth. He, therefore, concocts a plan, not unaided by John William, which includes the smothering of a bomb, alias a mysterious water jar. The only difficulty is that they are equally averse to any kudos that might be incurred from the heroic feat. Here Mr. Bovill, a quaint and touching bachelor, comes to their rescue, and swears to take the burden of fame on his shoulders, urged on by Venus - in the form of the landlady. Incidentally his object is, in the light of the exploit, to persuade the gaping mob of his angelic propensities - "a mere mun'll no do forr Mrs. Macphairrson." They are of course successful as all other bold bad men, and the situation is wound up in a true Gilbertian style.
Of the male characters, the author controlled his audience with magnetic ease, and watched his flock with admirable vigilance.
Brand mi sacrificed his figure to his profession (which we are persuaded must be the case) and played the Colonel ad unguem. Nugent and ffrench Blake were pleasing as odd man and subaltern respectively. Maxton-Graham was intensely appreciated in the role of seductive widowhood, while the whole bearing of the players was ample evidence of the trouble taken.
The music was captivating throughout and combined with the humorous wording of the many songs, compels us to insist on gramophone records at any price. In fact, we have been generously and joyously entertained for three evenings at the cost of the infinite pains spent by our hosts, and must ease our conscience by insisting that they themselves derived some enjoyment therefrom.
The only want we feel is that they should be more generous still, and take wing, if Mr. and Mrs. Whitworth will allow it, to a larger stage, whence to delight more numerous, if not more appreciative, audiences.
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