"FINNEGAN'S BALL."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19459, 5 November 1928, Page 8

"FINNEGAN'S BALL."

A BROAD COMEDY OF LOVE AND RICHES.

LIBERTY THEAT.RE, TO-DAY. Comedies depicting the Irish-Americans as people of incredible innocence and naiveto continue in popularity and favour. "Abie's Irish Hose" started the fever, and the sickness still prevails among all sections of the great ' theatre-going public. "Finnegan's Ball," at tho Liberty Theatre this week, is another feast of rare humour, skilful pathos, and . several incidental romances to flavour tho general theme. A cast of particularly good players, with. Blanche Mehaffey as tha girl, and Cullen Landis as the boy, portray the amusing characters with .great eclat. The immense humour' of' the 6tory seems to have pleased the players, and "Finnegan's Ball" is a picture that appears to. be as. good to play in as to -witness. The story concerns the Finnegans and the Flannigans, a very belligerent pair of families, and it falls upon the son of one and the daughter of tho other to heal .the preach. Thip admirable end is finally accomplished, but only after a great deal has. happened on both siftes. Coming to America, , the fun continues unabated, with brickbats and bouquets .alternating, and the climax being attained when the Finnegans fall heirs to a great estate, movo into the loftiest circles, know not the Flannigans, accumulate enormous bills, and ; then, discover that some, dolt of. a lawyer had made' a. mistake, and it was family altogether. " It is quite a simple story, but it is impossible not to become thoroughly intrigued over the activities of the ; two families, not to be amused at their eccentricities and their ignorances, not to follow with interest the: romantic adventures of the younger members : —in Bhort, not'to find "Finnegan.'s Ball-" a . tremendously .gay and .original, bit. of screen foolery. .Among all ,tho many', comedie's of the. Irish-Americans', not discounting the Cohens and .the Kollys, the Finnegans and the Flannigans stand out pre-eminently as the most amusing. The' programme will be completed with gazettes, news reels, and short comedies. Mr Ernest Jamieson has arranged the following musical programme for the Concert Orchestra:— Overture, "Symphony" (Mozart); "Tragio Suite" (Rosße), "Hyde Park Suite" (Jalowicz), "Shamrock" (Ansell), "Sanctuary of the Heart" (Ketelby), "T'Ohaka" (Montagu King), "On Guard" (Erlonberg), "Ballet Suite" (Nedbal), "Slavonic Dances" (Dvorak). The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may .be reserved.