THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

"THE SEVENTH HEAVEN." Mr Frank Harvey, Miss Reray Carpen, and their excellent supporting company are drawing large audiences to the Theatre Rojal •where they are producing the melodrama, "The Seventh Heaven.'' The interpretations ot both the slurs are dignified and restrained, and they present thepp ly w j t i, a || its nautral forte and appeal. There is wit enough in the play to keep it from becoming heavy, and, skilfully handled as it is, it takes a high place among recent productions that have visited Christchurch. Making her first tour of New Zealand. Miss Carpen rises to great heights in the la*t scene where her little world falls about her, and' she reviirs the Deity for His mismanagement. Mr Frank Harvey makes the most of a strange character, that of a "sewer rat" with the soul of a poet. Boul. played by Mr George Blunt, is another deiightful charade], while Mr Mayne is well ea.*: as Colonel Brissac. Miss Gwcn Burroughs! as Nana,-has the difficult part of the drinksodden sister, and in the more tense moments she scores well. "Seventh Heaven" will be played ania to-n'.ght.

"THE SKIN GAME."

It is no polite comedy of manners no smart society play, no click and facilo exposure of American ways,, it is none of these accustomed dramas thi« John Galsworthy thinks worthy of his audience. ''The Skin Game," to be produced at the Theatre Royal to-monow night for the first time in Christchurch is a slice of English, really two slices. The old gentility of old England, with all its snobbishness and graciousncs?, is sharply contrasted with the newer England of the self-made man, hard, domineering. and with his usual fairmindedneas the author holds tho balance even. Throughout the flay many tense scenes are met with, and ot Mr frank Harvey, who plays the purl of "Honiblower," an Australian critic says:- "Of the many b'g parts that Mr Harvey lias been seen m, it is without doubt, that, his 'Hornbiower' is his greatest succes;, and that eays a great deal." Supporting Mr Frank Harvey and Miss .Remy Cnrpen (who plays Jill, a most lovable parti, is a company that has boen specially selected to fill the various types of characters, a matter that is most essential to ensure tho success of the type of play of "The Skin Game." "The Skin Game" has been ono of the outstanding successes of the l'.nglish stage, aud the prospects are that tha Christchurch season will be a big success. Only three performances can be given in Christchurch. The box plans for "The Skin Game'' are now open at The Bristol.