Within The Law.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 5 March 1915, Page 2

Within The Law.

Mr J. C. Williamson’s famous drama. “ Within the Law” will be staged at the King’s Hall, Huntly, on Thursday, March 11th. drama holds the record for the number of performances-bo th in Sydney and Melbourne and on the occasion of the Dominion tour last year record business was done. Also on the recent tour of the principle centres throughout Australia the company played to full houses without exception. The story is powerful, the action vivid and real and the atmosphere absorbing all the time. Mr E. W. Morrison the distinguished J. C. Williamson’s producer rehearsed as well as selected the cast for this production. He chose the types specially required to faithfully portray the various characters, and consequently a well balanced company is the result. The scenery was painted by the best J. C. Williamson artists, and with this production the greatest attention has been paid to every small detail to keep “ Within the Law ” up to the standard as a wonderful production. There are four acts. The first takes place in Edward Gilder’s private office at the Emporium, the second in Mary Turner’s apartments at Grammercy Square, the third in Edward Gilder’s office. During this act the curtain is lowered for one minute to indicate the passing of one hour. The last act discloses Inspector Burke’s office at police headquarters. The place of action is all laid in New York and the maxim Silencer used in the production is furnished by the Maxim Silent Fire Arms Coy., of Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and was specially constructed for use in “ Within the Law.” It is not allowed to be sold as it is well known it would constitute a danger against mankind. The story centres round Mary Turner, a saleswoman employed by Edward Gilder. She is wrongly accused of a theft and sentenced to three years imprisonment. In the office of Gilder she swears vengeance. Four years later she is well installed in an apartment in Grammary Park, and making a splendid income, morally fraudulently, but legally “ Within the Law.” She achieves her first step in her ambition of revenge on her former employer by marrying his son Richard. Joe Carson is persuaded by a “ stool pigeon ” to rob Edward Gilder’s mansion of a tapestry worth half a million dollars. Most of the principals meet at the house of Gilder and on the tapestry proving worthless the “ crooks ” realise it is a police trap. The “ stool pigeon” is murdered with a maxim silencer. The gang escape leaving young Gilder and Mary Turner‘alone in the room. They are both arrested on a charge of murder, but things are eventually cleared up after a thrilling scene of the third degree type. between Inspector Burke and Joe Carson in the former’s office at police headquarters. Right throughout the piece the power of wealth and might against right is vividly emphasised. Also is the fact proved that the big “ crooks ” keep “ Within the Law ” by reason of their wealth. The play has many light touches which cause smiles, a special feature being the laughable manipulation of American slang terms by Agnes Lynch, a ‘crook’ and companion of Mary Turner's. The season will be for one night only and the box plea will be opened at the PRESS Office where no extra charge will be made for booking.