Illegal Gains

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

An ordinary melodrama, fairly well written in the high-faulting way. The villain, a profiteer and afterwards a trafficker with the enemy, takes advantage of the extraordinary likeness of Tessie to her unknown and disreputable twin sister Rhoda to make the hero think she is false to him. The hero of course ‘tumbles’ to this at once without seeking an explanation. He goes to the Front and distinguishes himself but afterwards takes to opium. There is a scene in an opium den where the villain is hiding in which Tessie learns how she has been wronged and eventually the wooden-headed hero understands it also. The trench scenes, are of the usual sort - the hero kills a German officer who has killed a wounded Englishmen - but are written with evident sincerity and the sentiments expressed are unexceptionable. Recommended for licence. G. S. Street

Researcher's Summary:

The Bioscope, 24 January 1918, reported that a new general manager had been appointed at the Gem Cinema, Maesteg, which was to be reopened, after being completely renovated, as a variety and picture house, but no performance of this play there has been found. Nor has evidence been found that the play was performed anywhere else at any time.