GRAND THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18921, 9 February 1927, Page 6

GRAND THEATRE.

Tte Don Cossacks, that great musical combination of Russians, first brought into popularity in Christcliurcii the famous "Song of tho Volga Boatman," and since then the melody has been heard long and oft, through more mediums than one. And now we have a picture under the title of "The Volga Boatman.' 1 'Die tragic resignation ami utter hopelessness of Russian peasant liio is thrown into vivid relief, and the gilded lives of the aristocrats contrast strongly with the complete despair of the downtrodden serf. The happy medium was unknown under the Tsarist regime, but even so, tho producer of "The Volga Boatman" ha?, with the touch of genius, tinged stark tuigedy with a certain amount of relieving humour. Tho picture is not pretty; it is not meant to be. There is no charming little lovo story running through it, but there is the story of a great and all-powerful love. Briefly, the plot deals with t lie meeting of a Princess with a boatman who eventually becomes a, leader in the Red Army. When the. latter {3 about to sack a castle he meets tho Princess and saves her from tho blood lust of his follower?. They fly to an inn, which is raided by tho Whito Army, and the boatman is 'alien prisoner, and ordered to face the firing squid. But the Princess, before the ladies and soldiers of her castle, saves his life. The Ked Army then takes charge, and the boatman and Princess are pardoned by the tribunal.