AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1916, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

"UNDEII FIRE." LAST NIGHT'S PERFORMANCE. This thrilling and topical war rtrnji'i was presented Inst nipht. at the Theatre Royal, to a house that was almost packed in every part, the dress circle being the only place where seat* \ver<3 vacant. Tt is rather difficult to clnsnifv "Under Fire." It h melodrama, but it is melodrama that should servf a purpose—one which its author. l;oi Cooper Megrue, probably never thought of when writing his play. And that purpose is—: the need for men. Another purpose it served was to bring to ua nearer home the grim realities of war. The play il quite modern, for it is founded on tH present world struggle between the Allies and Germany and her puppets. Th# story opens in London a few days before liie war commences, when a govcrno* of the family of Sir George, W<yptaff, of the British Admiralty, is intrigued .into marriage with Henry Rtreetman, a supposed agent of the French Secret Service. The latter attempts to secure tli» movements of the British Fleet, but rumours of war brought Captain Larry Redmond, her lover, back tci London, a"d he reveals to Streetman's alleged wife that her husband is a German spy. Then follows the thrilling incidents that go to make the drama bo powerful, Tt shows how a British officer joined the German Army and obtained valuable information regarding the movement* of the Germans through Belgium Into France, with all their frightfnlness, and how that officer was able to avoid danger to the First British Army.

The plav contains war in all its detail* and we witness the Germans and their appalling methods of dealing with their innocent victims in each town as they pass through. The rßitiali soldier is shown in every phase of war, from .vivid work in the trenches to a comfortable bed in the hospital being truly depicted. The play was magnificently staged, and perhaps the most thrilling incident of the lot was the appearance of a German aeroplane overhead, when a bomb is dropped and th etrench blown to atoms. A strong lenven of romance and humor is combined with sensation. The leading [character, Captain Larry Redmond, waar taken by Australasia's great favorite, Mr. Julius ivnight, and he played th? .part of the true-hearted Irishman with all his customary versatility. One of the features of the performance was the clever interpretation of Charlie BrowH| a Yankee reporter, by Mr. Ix>uis Kimball, an artiste new to Xew Zetland audiences, and he was responsible for much humor. It was a fine delineation of the newspaper man "out for news." Mr. Hugh Huntley also gave an excellent rendering of a spoiled English "gussie," who, when tlie time came, proved-hie mettle. Mr. Boyd Irwin, as the German secret service agent, was masterly and effective, and scored a distinct success. As the Belgian innkeeper, 1 the veteran, Mr. J. B. Atholwood added another leaf to his already over-crowded , laurel wreath. Miss Lizette Parkes is convincing in the part of the governess whom the German spy attempts to use in his nefarious schemes, andMissee Eileen Sparks (a new-comer t6 New Plymouth audiences), Emma Temple (an old favorite), and Rosslyn Vane, were ad" mirable in their respective parts. A capable orchestra; with medleys of National airs and choruses helped considerably t$ the success of a very flue performance. -