"VIA WIRELESS" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14098, 18 July 1911, Page 8

"VIA WIRELESS" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Lieutenant Sommere of His Majesty's -Navy, had invented a gun, which was being constructed at the Durant works, and naturally the lieutenant was on the spot to watch over the progress of his infant. But ther© was a greater attraction in the Durant neighbourhood. Miss Frances Durant was a very star among steel magnates' daughters. She was beautiful and good, and she had a fine taste in mechanics. Among other things she understood wireless telegraphy. Now on© Edward Pinknev, manager of the Durant works, also wanted Miss Frances. It was not surprising; that young person was so very attractive that every man in the works might well have been in love with her. Pinkney did not want the Sommers gun to succeed. Not only did he want to "cut Sommers out," but the firm was making a rival gun, for which it had just received a large order. This gun was ostensibly the invention ol a German named Rheinstrom (to make a shot at the name), but it really came from the brain of a draughtsman named Marsh, in th© firm's employ, who was being robbed by his manager of his just reward. In th© hope that his rival's gun would be spoiled. Pinkney allowed the drawing from the furnace and the tempering to be supervised by a drunken foreman. This is one of "the "big" scenes of tho play, the interior of the steel works being shown with highly interesting realism. The plan was only too successful. Tho gun burst, killing two men and maiming others. Lieutenant Sommers was recalled from Madeira to appear at a court of enquiry. When are we coming to tbe wireless telegraphy? To tell the truth,'there is less wireless about "Via Wireless" than the title implies. Th© whole of the wireless incident could be cut out without interfering with the story. Still, it provides a first-class thrill. As on© might anticipate, Lieutenant Sommers was not alone at Madeira. Miss Frances and her mother and Pinkney were there too, and Sommers, anxious to get to London nnickly, took passage by their yacht. The vessel ran on a reef, and the wireless apparatus called for help. The signals were picked up by the great liner and we had a novel scene in her wireless room, in which instruction was blended with thrilling interest. Tho Mongolian headed for th© wreck and picked up on th© way all the shipwrecked folk save two—Sommers and Miss Frances, who for some reason we could not grasp, had stuck to th© ship, though 6he was breaking up fast. Sommers called for help, while the lady kept the dynamos running; she was, indeed, an ideal wife for a naval officer. A fine tableau showed the heaving deck of the yacht, with Sommers in tbe unstable wireless room tapping out calls. In tho background the lighted liner loomed up magnificently, "like a grand hotel," and as the yacht went to pieces under the pounding of the waves, Sommers and his companion went over th© side, to swim for it. This scene was a triumph of realism. The curtain rose quickly again to disclose Sommers and his beloved, "clothed in white samite, mystic,, wonderful," in a beautiful pose on the. waves. What was a mystery from the dress circle was explained by enquiry. It was not fancy swimming; the two were clinging to a rope thrown from th© liner. As an example of dreadful anti-climax the scene would be hard to beat. The last scene took us back to England. Under the skilful cross-examination of a detective the defrauded draughtsman revealed every, thing, and heroic virtue came to its own. This tense and moving sceije, admirably acted, was much th© best in th© play, and must have sent everyone away feeling satisfied. This exciting drama got a very satisfactory interpretation from the.. Williamson Company. Mr Lionel Atwill and Miss Evelyn Kerry were all that a hero an 4 a heroine. i&'this class .of play should be. Mr Vivian .Edwards glayed the villain for a change, and Mr ■harles Blackall, instead, or impersonating vice, had to jbriok' it down, I which he did with neatness and despatch. Mr Eardley Turner made Miss I Frances's father an admirably natural ! figure and Miss Temple' spoke her few lines with that art for which she is well known. Mr Ambrose Manning again showed his versatility by playing th© old draughtsman with touching fidelity to nature. His acting in the \ last scene was a perfect bit of work. ! The most peculiar performance was Mr Stewart Garner's as the drunken foreI man. -Drunkenness takes peculiar j forms, but anything remotely resem- | bling his roaring voice and semaphore movement of the arms w© have never seen on the stage or off it. We have I mentioned the staging of the sensational scenes; it only remains to be said that the other scenes left nothing to be desired in this respect. "Via Wireless" will be repeated to-night and to-mor-row night. -