INMAN DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 206, 3 September 1897, Page 3

INMAN DRAMATIC COMPANY.

"HELD BY THE ENEMY"

L^?T EAI£ A °f fche sensational type, espec.ally when the military aleme/t is predominant, can alway ß command a good house whea efficiently Btag6 d. i * therefore, -not surprising to see fche Opera House comfortably filled laafe evening, i n Tu 6ia°l the boisterous weather, when ileld by tbe Enemy " was staged by the Inman Company lor the first time in Auckland. Lovers of the sensational will find little to cavil at in the new piece. There is something wanting, howerer, which makes tnia melodrama seem strangely unfamiliar, me time-honoured villain is conepicuoua by his absence. There is nob even a character who mie-hb be mistaken for him. The plot is ratber thin, and thera is no mistake butthat the good old villain is badlymissed. me scene is laid in Virginia at the time of the American War of Secession, and the hero is a Coioael Preecott, of the Federal Army, then occupying Virginia. He fallß in love with the heroine Rachel McCreery, of a Confederate family, who returns his affection, relinquishing her former sweethearb with surprising readiness. The latter, a Confederate soldier, has not much chance of interfering with the course of true love, aa he is caught by the Federals and condemned to death as a spy. He escapes, but is mortaliy woouded. The hero also gets wounded in battle, and is nursed by Rachel, and there the curtain descends, leaving the gallant colonel in the Confederate house, asking "what greater blessing could fee wish for than to be thus held by the enemy." There is an absence of motive about the "plot, bub somo of the situations are very etrong, notably the death of the Confederate spy, in Act IV. v"

The play loses nothing in ita represents* bioD. Mr Inman is well placed as the hero, and his impersonation is at times very powerful. An exceedingly fine performance ii thab of Misß Maud Appleton, who won the sympathies of the house as the devoted heroine. The Confederate Bpy is admirably represented by Mr Newton Carroll, who plays a difficult part with groat judgment. Miss Alice May and Mr T. E. Leonard are well cast as a pair of Yankee sweethearts, the latter supplying most of the comedy io his role of war correspondent A capital performance is that of Mr Hodaon, who played the part of the old negro retainer. The pathetic icene in which the old man offers his life to save his young master from being shot aa a spy is admirably done. The other parts are all well taken, and the piece is excellently staged. Effective music wa» supplied by the orchestra, and mention must ba iu&de of the fine trombone solo rendered during an interval by Mr Fred. Gardner. "Held by the Enemy" will be repeated this evening.