AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 203, 1 October 1909, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOME. THEATRE ROYAL, TO-NIGHT.

At the Theatre Royal to-night will see the production of "the play that roused the Empire," "an Englishman's Home." By special arrangement with Mr. J. C. Williamson, the piece is being staged under the management of Mr. Edwin Cieach, who has a very strong company on tour. Of this play an ex' change says:—Such was the unexampled prestige that preceded "An Englishman's Home" that more than a thou sand seats were reserved for the "first night in Australia" at the Theatre Royal. In this way, in place of a typicil holiday audience, the performance was witnessed by a brilliantly representative gathering. None the less the house was stirred by a series of martials airs from the orchestra, and joined heartily in thstrains of the Xational Anthem, by which one and all were linaly placed in an eminently receptive condition for response to patriotic appeal. The appeal 1 in the soul, the living power of the new piece. The play is a stinging satire upon flrcat Britain's unpreparcdncss against invasion. The particular "home" w'hich gives the piece its title is exhihiti'd with photographic accuracy that realise* the commonplaces of suburban family life in a remarkable degree. In fact, the dramatic scheme is such that the casual observer is apt to overlook, in a piece that has any faults and even inconsistencies, a really fine dramatic, achievement on the part of the author—the invention in these late days of absolute novelty of incident combined with economy of stage equipment. He shows us for the first time England invaded in the 2000 th century! The idea, which at the first blush suggests the costliest Drury-lanc drama ever staged, with "the glistening god of war" inspiring the movement of masses towards consummate spectacular effects, is somehow sufficiently conveyed by a handful of actors in the sitting-room interior of a seaside villa! It should be added tha - . Major Cluy du Maimer's play is not in any sense great, though any writer who can work out such an original scheme with success must possess imagination of no ordinary limit. It is very much to the point just now, and that man is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force by witnessing it. Popular prices of 4s, 3s and 2s will be charged and seats may be booked at Collier's Music Warehorsc without extra charge.

THE JULIUS KNIGHT SEASON. THE BREED OF THE TRESHAMS. On Thursday next, October 7th, J. C Williamson will inaugurate a one-night season of romantic drama, when "The breed of the Trcshams," a play that has been wonderfully successful in England and America and recently throughout Australia, will be presented. In this stirring drama Mr. Julius Knight will appear as Lieutenant Reresby ("The Rat"), supported by J. C. Williamson's company. One of the chief elements of] "The Breed of the Tiwhams" is its con-1 tinuous action. From the moment when Lieutenant Reresby, "Tho Rat," swag-1 gcrs into the Gate House at Faversliam and brings about the quarrel and duel' with his half-brother. Cornet Francis] Tresham, until crippled and weakened i by the awful torture to whicli he has been subjected, he leaves the Castle with his humble friend, Batty, declaring that henceforth he will be loyal, there is no abatement of interest, The situations grow more exciting as the play progresses. The period of the drama is 1045, the year of the defeat of Charles 1. at Naseby. a very turbulent time in I England, when the hearts of men and I women were strongly moved, and test of courage and fidelity for King or Pniliament were of hourly occurrence. A more dramatic scene than the torturing of Reresby at the will of John liungerford, to obtain from him the names of the traitors with whom li'> had been acting, could hardly be conceived. The audience cannot but be fascinated by the picture of a judge urging such a request, while—though he is ignorant of the fact—the chief of the traitors is his own son. "The Rat," for the sake of the traitor's sUter. Margaret, endures tile torture. Ileresbv is the very plaything of Fate. His worst ordeal is having to refuse Margaret to tell the secret and to hear her scornful condemnation. The company is probably the most extensive dramatic organisation that has visited Xew Plymouth, numbering over seventy people.

WEST'S PICTURES. TO-MORROW NIGHT. The fourth weekly series of West's Pictures will lie presented at the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening, when an entirely new programme of cin' • matograph novelties will lie screened. The success of this enterprise is due to the fact that all classes of patrons are catered for and no old pictures shown. The programme for to-morrow evening contains a specially fine series of trawl pictures, whilst tile dramatic, comic, and colored pictures are well up to West's standard. As another change of programme is already to hand for next week, this will be the only opportunity of seeing the present fine display. Mathers are reminded that a matinee will be given to-morrow afternoon at 2.30 o'clock.