AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 205, 4 October 1909, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

"AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOME." There was only a moderate house on Friday night to greet the Edwin Goach Company and "An Englishman's Home." The company opened with a weak farcical sketch called '■Hector." intended to a curtain-raiser.

Before attempting to r efer to (lie actors in the cast, it is necessary to refer to the play itself. "An Englishman's Home" is iiot an ordinary drama. It is not a comedy in the ordinary sense. The ordinary driinm and the ordinary comedy are intended to pass an evening away," and at the conclusion, there remains but a memory of some pretty faces, pretty dresses, pretty scenery, perhaps some good jokes or some enjoyable singing and some clever acting. "An Englishman's Home" won't fit this bill at all. It undoubtedly provides some humor, 3Qme splendid acting, some <xcitement, but there is no pretence at scenic effect, elaborate costuming (in fact, this is a weak feature), or singing. Unfortunately, the management last niglit did not even provide an orchestra, but left all the musical work to the pianist, a fact that made anything but a favorable impression. But "An Englishman's Home" has a message. It provides food for thought, and plenty of it. As a play it has its faults. As a satire on the unpreparcdness of England for invasion, as an exhibition of the unrea-

soning wrath of the typical John Bull, of his fondness for easting all blame on "the Government," and of his indomitable but misplaced pluck, the play could hardly be excelled, and there is no wonder that when the German scare in England was at fever heat this play was immensely popular. The theme was exaggerated. That was excusable, for it was only by justi- , liable excess that the play could hope to achieve its object. Some of the char-

acters were overdrawn, as characters so olten arc. But the satire was full, rich, and convincing. It was a satire from beginning to end. The rapt attention 01 paterfamilias in the art of manoeuvring "diabolo," and the evidence of Iris careful reading on the matter, whilst he knew naught about a rifle, was a splendid satire, but how true! The derision of the uniformed volunteer by the Cockney football enthusiast and the household generally was "strong," but wc don't have to go out of New Plymouth to find the man who sneers st our cituen -sohllcfsV And, after all, the much derided volunteer was the only one of th.' house party who knew one end of a nlle from the other and was able to uo anything against the German, invaders. Then the muddle and disorder of the English volunteers, the utter incapacity of the officers, and the noisy,undisciplined arrival at Mr. Brown's house, were thrown into strong relief by the orderly, businesslike advance and J general bearing of the men of the Fatherland. "Where I come from," said the German officer, "none of the men are harmless," in answer to the Cockney's plea of innocence and request for liberty. Of the British volunteers who blindly occupied the house and endeavored to "scare" the enemy, the exasperated trained shot exclaimed, "Not one of these men has fired a shot except on a miniature range." Briefly, the story depicts the English family at home, spending a profitless afternoon In amusement and discussion of football, the love of which was witheringly eatiriscd. The volunteer in uniform—a perional friend—on the way to the butts, is scorned, insulted. The Germans arrive, and are heartily sworn at by Mr. Brown, the owner of the house. The family is put under nrresl, and the house used for a time by the enemy as a rendezvous. Then the* British volunteers occupy the house, with orders to bold the position against the enemy. The house is shelled, men are wounded, the house falls about the ears of the troops and the family; at last only Mr. Brown and- his daughter - remain. Seizing a rifle, he frantically loads and discharges it in the direction of the enemy, and is captured and shot for his pains, being told by the Germans that, not being in uniform", he has no right to defend his country. Then the ■ invaders are surprised in "turn, at ths ; point of the baronet, and the curtain i falls.

Tlie acting was good. Mr. Longford, as Brown, "an Englishman," was splendid, his irascibility being reinarkaiuy well feigned, particularly in contrast to the easy-going old gentleman that lie appeared to be at first. Smith, the footiiall enthusiast, played excellent low comedy. Mr. Marion played Captain l-'incß, and was especially good in the scene where he, a volunteer captain, had to depend upon his color-sergeant' and even upon a private for some idea \>f how to proceed. Paul Kobinson (Mr. Vincent) was the eager and trained volunteer, and his was a capital portrayal of the part. Mr. Evans us Lieutenant Jackson had little to do, but what was given him to do was well done. The ladies had not heavy parts allotted to them, but played very naturally right through a very difficult piece of stage work.

"THE BKEED OF THE TfiESHA.MS." The box plan for the Julius Knigi.t performance, " Tile Breed of the Trcshauw." ir.i Thursday evening next will lie opened this morning .111 the Collier Via no Company's. There is little doubt but that morn than an ordinary interest will be evinced in this production. That being Ml the. advanced booking may he expected to be unusually heavy. The remarkable success achieved in' England by li. .M. I)ix and E. V. Sutherland's 17th century plav, "The Breed of the Treshuins," lias led the public here to anticipate something specially interesting. The drama, dealing with a romantic |M-ii..il of English 'history, when Cavalier and iioundhcad fought for supremacy, rails through four vigorous acts, and the plot i« said to be. strong in tragic, emotional elements. Mr. Julius Knight will appear as the Tioyalist adventurer, "The Hat." It is 'confidents asserted that of all the varied and 'excellent things .Mr. Knight lias done in Australia, lleresby is the liest of all. A complex composite rascal is this free lance and dcboirnair soldier of fortune. A man at variance with the world, every man's hand against his, and bis nmilnst evorv man's—cvuical, reckless, devil-may-cnVe. disappointed man, caring not a p.; for the world's opinio:!, but withal' a gentle creature at heart, and full of the milk of human kindues-'. The character has been luouhl"d upon that of-Svdnev Carter in "The Only W'av." and the dominant note is heroic sell'saci'ilicc. The part of licresbv made Martin Harvey, the English actor, famous. Manv competent judges irn-le-itatingly affirm that .Mr. Julius Knight is equally as fine as 51 r. Harvey.