AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 96, 24 August 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

THE MAN WHO STAYED AT HOME.

The success achieved by “The Man Who Stayed at Home,” the stirring spy drama, to bo staged by J. £J. Williamson’s splendid dramatic company at the Town Hall on Saturday night, has never, it is stated, been eclipsed by any previous theatrical production in Australasia. The story oi' “Tho Man Who Stayed at Home” depicts the nefarious practices resorted to by German spies in England since the outbreak of war, and demonstrates in three stirring acts how they are defeated by the man, who, in spite of the contempt and insults of his friends, stayed at home to serve his country in a capacity requiring both courage and brains. There is a powerful company of dramatic and comedy artists. Mr Frank Harvey’s lightning changes from the monocled “Johnnie” of the drawing room to the swift witted secret service agent and again to the tender manliness of the lover, are, it is stated, magnificently handled. Miss Violet Paget has a very strenuous role to enact as Miriam Leigh, and she rises to the occasion when she is confronted with the spy’s evidence connecting her with the Secret Service Department. The intencity of the dramatic situations is relieved by some genuine comedy scenes. In addition to the four German spies and the two British secret service agents, the characters include Mr John Preston, fussy and pompus justice of the peace, who is as ready to declare that the country is going to the dogs, as he is to take anybody else to task who dares to utter such an attack on national efficiency. There is his pretty daughter Molly, who would not have her sweetheart go to the war, and is yet keenly sensitive of the hints and suggestions of everybody else that ho should at least do something for the national cause. There is Daphne Kidlington, a young woman of a typo that having ceased breaking windows to secure the vote, is now armed with a basketful of white feathers for the young men not prepared to volunteer, and Miss Myrtle, who is concerned with the shortage of food supply in Germany. The ladies, wear some charming costumes. The box plans will bo opened at Grubb’s at 8 o’clock j on Thursday morning next. j