Empire Theatre, Kingston-upon-Thames

‘Charles Kitts and Rhoda Windrum and company present a topical and very popular sketch, entitled “The Slacker,” and the pointed appeal made to those who are hanging back goes right home as the result of some clever acting’. Richmond and Twickenham Times, 19 June 1915.

The Era, 6 December 1916, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Red) as On The Road from 11 December at the Empire, Kingston. ‘“The Man who stayed at Home,” the successful spy play from the Royalty Theatre, London, will be played at the Kingston Empire twice nightly next week by E. Taylor Platt’s company. Based on the new life we are living, the play is thrilling and at the same time amusing. It deals with the burning question of foreign spies on the East Coast, and the devices used by the spies in the play are drawn from what has actually occurred' (Surrey Advertiser, 9 December 1916). ‘Of plays about the war none could be more popular than “The Man who stayed at Home” ... It is an intensely interesting story dealing with a feature in the incipient stages of the international struggle that aroused a keen sense of indignation among honest, plain dealing British folk, namely the espionage and treachery of supposed friends ... the large audiences of the week are delighted with it. The play is both thrilling and amusing, and justifies all that has been said in its praise’ (Surrey Advertiser, 16 December 1916).