“OUT OF HELL,"

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1918, Page 4

“OUT OF HELL,"

A WAR PLAY. The writer of “ A Woman’s Letter,” under date London, January 31, comments upon the production of “ Out of Hell ” at the Ambassadors’ Theatre, a new play by Herbert Thomas : This play is quite unique of its kind. It is the first of all a war .play, written by Mr Herbert Thomas, and played b}- his wife, Prances Ivor, and Mr Brough Robson.' There are four acts and four characters only, and all played by these two clever artists. In the first act the English mother, Mrs Ford, is just, bidding her soldier son farewell as he leaves for the trenches.

In the second act, eighteen months later, Mrs Ford is expecting her soldier-son home on leave for the first time, and on his arrival they greet one another But almost at once she perceives there is a change in him. She becomes suspicious, whilst he wanders about, and explains that the war has changed everyone. And then he sits down to the piano and plays divinely. “ You are not my sou. Who are you ? ” and then it transpires that her son is a prisoner of war in Germany, and that, owing to the great likeness between the two men, this one has stolen the Englishman’s uniform, and come through on special service from Berlin, it is a wonderful scene, played magnificently by both artists She tells him she will telephone to the barracks and have him arrested. “If you do this, your sou will be shot.” She hesitates a moment. If I send my son to his death in the service of liis country he will exonerate me.” She picks np the receiver, and says in clear tones, “Is that you, Captain Adams ? Will you send an armed escort to arrest a German spy who has come into my house?” The curtain goes down on that. v ' ■ The scene then changes to the house of Fran il art maun (wife of a German general at the front), in the town of Turgau, into whosle window climbs a British escapee from a.milifcary prison, near by, who marvellously resembles her own long-missing son. Almost at once she identifies the intruder as the sdn of her twin-sister in England, and to him she explains the brutal treatment ot her German husband, and her undying loye for England. She disguises him for escape, but is herself shot through the open window, and as she falls dead her nephew disposes of the murderer with his revolver. The last act shows in touching fashion the re-nnion between mother and son. The plu,y has many thrilling moments.