The old lady shows her medals

"The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" by J. M. Barrie is a play written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Mrs. Dowey, a charming old lady who is a character of unexpected complexity, navigating the trials of life during wartime in London. Along with her friends, the play weaves humor, community, and the poignant reality of conflict as they discuss their sons at the front while hiding a secret about one of their relationships. At the start of the play, we meet Mrs. Dowey and her friends in a casual tea gathering, filled with light-hearted banter and camaraderie amidst the backdrop of the war. The atmosphere is lively as they share tales of their sons fighting overseas, showcasing their resilience and friendship. However, the crux of Mrs. Dowey's story lies in her secret: while she pretends to be a proud mother receiving letters from her son, she has created an imaginary son, Kenneth, to cope with the isolation and stigma of not having anyone to send to war. The opening sets the tone for a blend of humor and tension, inviting the audience to explore themes of loneliness, deception, and the push for belonging during difficult times. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several successful novels and plays. There he met the Llewelyn Davies boys, who inspired him to write about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens, then to write Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, a 1904 West End "fairy play" about an ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy who have adventures in the fantasy setting of Neverland.