"THE VOLGA BOATMAN."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 12 February 1927, Page 19

"THE VOLGA BOATMAN."

SEASON" EXTENDED. GRAXD THEATRE. Although we presented ' The Volga Batman" on Monday with every confidence of a season of capacity hemes, we believed thit the customary week would suffice for the patrcr.s cf the Ci'.y. To c.ir pleasure, howover, -.1-4 find it supreme;}- necessary to extend the season for another week, and this great epic will again be screened at the Grand Theatre next week "The Volga Boatmen" has lived up to its reputation. Everything waicu was said oi it lyx* been wholeheartedly endoiscd by the public. This picture performs one of the most difficult tasks that could be eet a picture, tho faultless depiction 0! Russian peasant life, with its eternal paradoxe?, its ruthless tragedy, its fantastic, Sj.av humour, its barbaric colour, and colossal drama. There is a touch of toualisni in the structure of the theme, and where it is infrequently apparent it ia a raging, breathing force, showing the unbridled passions of serfs suddenly the masters, a vibrantly emotional story, with civil conflict a primary factor in the development o: the plot, a nation of Caucasians and Tartars tho background, a noble princes and a Volga boatman, the two souls who hold the engrossed attention from the moment the first scene flickers on to the screen, a perspective of the human beasts of burden dragging the barges along the banks of the Volga, harnessed to their tasks, till ihe drama ends in t burst of triumphant, sombre humanne«e. The stoi-7 ;a one of contrasts. The pic-tur; opens with a, scene in an aristocrats palace, strikingly reminiscent of tales of the Kei?n of Terror in France; it depict* Czarist? revelling and making merTy while outside the spark of rebellion has been eet to the pile of Bolshevism. With the advent of the rebels, all out for murder, loot, and revenge, tho drama, of "The Volga Boatman," swings into its stride, and running the entire gamut of emotions and visions and ideals, it concludes with a scene of rare power, in which simplicity and dramatic effect skilfully blend. William Boyd plays the title role, a character which calls for the ability to restrain, the ability to portray, by varying facial expression the conflicting thoughts and temptations which assail the serf's soul who finds himself wielding' "the lasb over the hated aristocrats, confronted by the mysteries and delights of lore, a character who, in ignorance, cannot understand. Elinor Fairs has the role of a princess who permits love to overthrow caste; Julia Faye plays a Tartar campfollower, an unconventional but delightful creature who provides much comedy and not a tittle emotional drama. The Quality Orchestra will play a special programme of orchestral music, "The Song of the Volga Boatman" predominating. The box plans are now open at The Bristol Piano Co., where seatß may be reserved.