"SEVENTH HEAVEN."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18668, 17 April 1926, Page 11

"SEVENTH HEAVEN."

♦■ ■ FIRST PERFORMANCE THIS EVENING. To-night promise* to provo an outstanding one in the theaUjcal history of the Theatre RoyaJ, as it will witness the initial appcaiancc here of the famous and brilliant young French actress, Miss Rem? Carpen, who haa not yet made her debut in cither Sydney or Melbourne, the re&pparance of the very ropular and very talented dramatic star, Mr Frank Harvey, and the first production of "Seventh. Heaven," one of the outstanding dramatic triumphs of the past decade, which is to have its Australian premiere in Sydney at the of the present New Zealand tour. It is not often that the J. C. Vrilliamson, -Ltd., management gives plavgoers of Christchurch a chance to criticise an actress or a. pls\ before theatre-goers of Sydney or Melbourne, and that the occasion is being regarded as an exceptional one has been demonstrated at the box office, and the cKances are that Miss Carpen vvjll he welcomed, as she was in Wellington, by a large and representative "house. me scenery and effects for "Seventh Heaven airived on Monday last in rharge of a large staff of mechanists and electricians so that, there is no possibility of any hitch occurring this evening. In order that "Seventh Heaven" might be staged on the same complete manner that characterised its -New York presentation, the management sent, Jii George D. Parker thero to sec it, and ho is at present in Christchurch to supervise the local production. That Miss Ecmy Carpen is an ac ress far above the average that visit us fiom over the seas is evident from the fact mat it was her magnificent portrayal of Diane, the street waif of the Parisian slums, that greatly assisted in making Austin Strongs drama one of the most successful staged in New York in recent years. Also tho act that Miss Carpen is a protege cf the late Madame Sarah Bernhardt has, naturaii>, invested great interest in the young French actress. Frank Harvey has given us a number of brilliant characterisations but it U said that he receives greater opportunities than ever for the display of \w drama lie genius in the role of Chico. the seucr ""Seventh Heaven" is one. of tho.-n l>la?<j that depends a great deal upon the true characterisation of every part, no mattei how small it may be, and, therefore, great c*rc has been taken by the management in the selection of the. artists to portrav ; The companv to support Miss Carpen and Mr Harvey includes Miss Gwcn Burroughs, who recently returned from a successful visit to America; Miss Marion Marcus Clarke, who has also appeared successfully in Jncw lovii: Miss Xancvo Stewart, dauihter of Miw Nellie- Stewart: also Messrs Mayne L™ton. the.talented English actor: George Blunt tho clever character-comedian: (jeraid t\ay Souper, Fred Conyngham, Redgo Carey, Vivian Edwards, Herbert Lcisri. John Feinside, John Bedouin, and Alfred Jenkin. Onlv four performances can bo staged ot "Seventh Heaven," and on Thursday next "The Skin Game" will be produced, the plans for which are now open.