THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18672, 22 April 1926, Page 7

THEATRE ROYAL.

"THE SEVENTH HEAVEN." The interpretations of Mr Frank Harvey and Miss Remy Carpen in "Tho Seventh Heaven," are drawing largo audiences to the Theatre Royal. 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. Makitg her first tour of New Zealand, Miss Carpen rises to frreat heights in tho last scene. Mr Frank Harvey makes the mc«t of a strango character, that of a "sewer rat," with the sou! of a poet. Boul, played by Mr 'George Blunt, is another delightful character, while Mr Mayne Lynton is well cast as Colonel Brissac. Mies Gwen Burroughs, aa Nana, has the difficult part of the drink-sodden sister, and in the more tense momenta she scores well. The last performance of "Tho Seventh ' Heaven" was played last night. "THE SKIN GAME.*' A NEW PLAY TO-NIGHT. To-night, at the Theatre Koyal, J. C. 'Williamson, Ltd., will present, for the first timo in Christchurch, John Galsworthy's now world-famous drama "The Skin Game." It is a stirring play, and has been received with the greatest enthusiasm in the great centres of the world. It is claimed that "The Skin Game" has one record that will be very hard to equal, and that is that it has been translated and played in no fewer than ten different languages all over the world. As Hornblower, the principal male character of th? play, Mr Frank Harvey is said to bo seen in tho greatest part of the many he has been seen in in the past. The role, which is a very difficult, one, is that of a self-made man. who finds at length something money cannot buy, social distinction. In commenting on Mr Harvey's performance, a Wellington critic stated that his performance was one of the 6ncst dramatic offerings that had ever beeu seenoosn s a Wellington stage. Miss Carpen, who has made herself a big favourite with Christehurch theatregoers through her fin.performance in "Seventh Heaven," plavs the part of Jill Hillchrist, tho daughter of Hornblower's implacable enemy, and the scenes that eventuate are said to bo most thrilling, m fact it is claimed that the many incidents that follow in quick succession will appeal to the most blase theatregoer. A superb supporting cast includes such names as Mr Mayne Lynton, Miss Gwen Burroughs, Miss Marian Marcus Clarke, Mr Geo. Blunt, Mr Herbert Leigh, Mr John Fernside, Miss Nancy Stewart, Mr G. K. Souper, Mr John Bedouin, Miss Mildred Cottell. and other well-known faces. The Christchurch season will be for three nights only, and the bos plans are now open at The Bristol.