THE SPY PERIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1915, Page 4

THE SPY PERIL.

"THE MAN WHO STAYED AT HOME." The stage has done much to hasten the bout of a people's pulse, and to mirror human failings for all the world to see, but few plays have gripped the people with such certainty, or have told their story with such realistic effect as "The Man Who Stayed at Home"— a powerful drama which throws a stream of penetrating light ou the completeness and cunning of German espionage as practised in Great Britain. The comprehensive network of spies which Germany has thrown over the world has been one of the outstanding revelations of the war, and to have laid bare, as this story does, the minute detail and clever scheming of a party of German spies brings home one of Britain's greatest menaces. The pJay strikes a somewhat similar note to "An Englishman's Home," but whereas "An Englishman's Home" was received by people living when the world was at peace, "The Man Who Stayed at Home" comes at a time when peoplo's emotions are deeply stirred by the reality of the war. "The Man Who Stayed at Home" is not a, shirker, as the title suggests, At the commencement of .the stojry we flqdj that his apparent pusillanimity forcesa young lady to present him with a white feather. He expresses his delight with "the pretty thing," and proceeds to clean his pipe with it. That he has important work to do at hqme is flie, only excuse that he can. offer fo£ not enlisting, and in order not to offer the slightest clue as to what his business is he clothes his real character and his true purpose by acting in a most cheerful spirit of idiocy and carelessness. Of course he is a much misunderstood man, but by so posing ho is enabled to methodically draw his net around the German spies, who regard him as the last person with sufficient intelligence to upset their plans. This is, baldly, the story of "The Man Who Stayed at Home." The incidents of the play touch thrilling episodes of the hour, and the drcuna is crowded with strong dramatic situations, that moved the large audience which saw it produced, by the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company at the Theatre Royal last night, to an unusual dogrec of appreciation. A play of such striking quality would fall to tho lowest piano of dullness If not acted by a powerful company, hut the cast in last night's production was a very strong one, and some of the scenes will be remembered as the most convincing acting that has been witnessed in New Plymouth. The title part is an unusually difficult one, for the man who stayed at home, while fulfilling an exact and sober character in carrying out his mission, tins to continually break up his temperament and fill the role of a competent fool. His serious purpose has continually to be interrupted by his indulging in the most hopeless forms of irresponsibility. Mr, Frank Harvey, as Christopher Brent, gave a remarkably good characterisation, and, while delicatoly handling Urn humorous work, he showed himself to ho a fine actor of the more serious school. Mr. Austin Milroy, as Carl Sanderson (one of the spies), acted splendidly, and added many valuable touches of dramatic strength to some of the most impressive scenes. As John Preston, J.P., Mr. Arthur Cornell l'"'l abundant opportunities to score on the broad comedy side, and he made the utmost of his opportunities. Miss Dorothy Cumming, the fiancee of the much-wronged man. played a difficult part with considerable animation. Mis 3 Violet Paget appeared as a lady helping Christopher Brent to get the better of the spies, and her performance was characterised by clever acting. Miss Florence Gleeson, Miss Emma Temple, Miss Tempe Piggott, and Mr. Leslie Victor, in various capacities, each contributed finished acting, while Mr. Kenneth Brampton, ft "Tommy," and Miss Mattie Brown, who distributed the white feathers, acted well. The incidental music was inuch appreciated, especially the various national anthems.