Title: Peace comes to Peckham
Subtitle: a comedy in three acts
First published: 1948
Description: A Post World War 2 look at the way  East End families lived their lives. The Gilpins and the Palfreys are neighbours and the interaction between the families is typical Farce. Coming to terms with life after the war, they can't help but remember what they had gone through. The two younger Palfrey children had been evacuated to the USA at the outbreak of war and were now back in Peckham, much to their dismay. The play has romance, comedy and pathos all superbly written into the story. One character, 14 year old 'Erbie Gilpin, is dashing around causing mayhem wherever he goes.
This play is typical of the period, a time when Britain, still recovering from the effects of 6 years of war, needed something to lighten the spirits of the people. This play succeeded in that task. 
A student of this period will find plenty to occupy themselves, sorting out the nuances of the period. Maybe it will not be seen as such a brilliant comedy, the 1940's humour being different to todays, but there will still be sufficient nostalgia for any 'ancient' reader, or watcher of Theatre Comedy. Let's hope that plays like this are never forgotten, and that one day some enterprising group will once again perform it and give the audience a taste of what the East End of London was like during those momentous years.
People: Gosh, this brought back some memories! I am the original 'Erbie of the 1946 London production - possibly the sole surviving member of a brilliant cast. I can't take issue with any of the above - with one minor exception. Peckham is a working class district south of the river Thames and technically not in London's East End. But what the heck!
LC classification: PR6007.E36 P4