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Comic dialogue and sound effects within sketch.
"Tell the Truth, John."
Maurice Freeman is now playing straight. A captain of the A.E.F. has returned, and his wife and colored cook endeavor to account for his late sleeping in the morning. He enters for breakfast dressed in full military uniform, with two service stripes showing. His wife accuses him of receiving attentions from girls in France and of having mail in his possession from the girlies over there. He, however, wants to eat his breakfast and orders the cook to use two canes and play a tatoo on the leather chair and his wife to drop the tray so as to make a noise of a booming cannon and the machine gun rattle. A German landlord is introduced to translate the letters found in his luggage, and he translates them as ordered by the husband. The wife is not convinced, and as she is about the depart to have the letters translated by a French teacher the postman brings a letter from France, which explains that the letters belong to the colonel of the regiment and were accidentally taken by the captain. Excellently played by Mr. Freeman, who tries to make the most of an impossible situation. The cook is the laugh winner, and gives a capital performance. The wife has not much to do. The German landlord role is in capable hands. The story goes astray through an evident attempt at red-fire speeches. It is inconsistent at times and at others borders on burlesque, and less competently handled might not have won the extra curtain it received at this theatre.
Source:
Variety, 53:10 (01/31/1919)