"LA BOHEME."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19448, 23 October 1928, Page 14

"LA BOHEME."

LILIAN GISH AS rUCCINI'S MIMI. GRAND THEATRE. It is generally agreed that Puccini's "La Boheme," invariably known-in parts as "The Bohemian Girl,'' tells tho sweetest love story of. the grand "opera stage. It lias an*- olemeut of pathos so indissolubl'y woven amongst its lightness, romance,'and typically Bohemian atmosphere, that tho bouquet that it' offers has every flower in the garden of romance. Such is "La Bohcine," which this week is bein# shown at tho Grant! Theatre. The story is well known to all. Its setting is In -Paris, amongst those delightful artists and writers who so cheerfully eke out ac. existence in tho Latin quartet. Mimi is n frail and affectionate seamstress, who lives amongst tlm bnnd of artists. She falls in love with the robust Kodolpho, who ouly too willingly returns her affection. Rodolphe is a young journalist struggling to prove his VortL as a writer of plays. Mimi ! invariably takes tho articles to tho newspaper office) and when. a varticularly poor one is sent, ehe is told that her.lover can.receiveno more work from the paper. But whatever the. cost, Kodolphe's play must be written, so witjioufc telling him of his misfortune, she sets to, and in her love for him, works day and night to provide money to keep him. Roy D'Arcy, a. cynical boulevardier, Is attracted by Minns grejifc beauty, and to win her favour promises to gee that tie play Is givensa chance.. Things become very mixed, and action is rapiu. Rodolpho finds out about the boulevardier, and of course suspects Mimi of being unfaithful to him. Mimi leaves him and flees 'to the. alums of Paris, to try to learn a miserable living. But her long nights and Jtavs of work have undermined her health, and, by nature frail and weak, ahe contracts consumption. However, back in the Latin quarter of the city, matters have cleared, for Rodolphe has found out the truth about Mimi fcud of course is full of regret for his hasty judgment. His play has been produced and, almost overnight, he hae achieved famo. But he is not happy, and to seta out to find Mimi. He finds her, but too late, and! on the night of their reunion she sinks down and dies Lilian ai frail and affectionate Mimi, John Gilbert the robust Rodolphe, and Renee Adoree, Musette. The players have been guided bv King Tidor, and the picture is the best one yet to capture. faithfully the real atmosphere of the Latin quarter of Pans. _Mim Lilian Hanham, the brilliant young Chns ;; church sojfranp, sings 'The Waltz, from the Puccini opera, and the Grand Urchestra plays an excellent programme of musical numbers.