The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliot, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon character Old Bill, an infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather.

In the musical, Old Bill intercepts a spy's plan to destroy a bridge, trapping a French regiment after they cross it.

Bill saves them by blowing up the bridge before they pass; his actions are misunderstood, however, and he is arrested for disobeying orders and holding an enemy document.

The original London production in 1917 was a hit, running for over 800 performances, starring Arthur Bourchier as Old Bill.

[4] After the success of the London production was apparent, a provincial touring company was formed, led by Martin Adeson as Old Bill.

Besides Coburn in New York, these productions starred De Wolf Hopper, Maclyn Arbuckle, Edmund Gurney and James K. Hackett as Old Bill in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Canada, respectively.

His mission fulfilled, he finds himself under arrest for disobedience to orders; he is further compromised by the possession of an incriminating enemy document; death by a firing party at dawn appears to be his imminent fate.

[13] The success of the musical led to a West End sequel, Old Bill, M.P., which opened at the Lyceum Theatre on 12 July 1922.