THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19818, 4 January 1930, Page 9

THEATRE ROYAL.

Frederick Lonsdale's stage success, "The Last of Mrs Cheney," has been made into a "talkie," and it is being presented at the Theatre Royal this week. It is safe to say that the play has lost little in this transmigration of souls, and t Christchurch audiences, who saw the "straight' production when it was presented here by the Renee Kelly Company, will be able to make th« comparison for themselves. The play has been closely followed in the talkie production, in addition to a wider scope being presented to the actors. As Mrs Cheyney, Norma Shearer scores a brilliant success, her speaking and acting being beyond reproach. She shows a fine interpretation of a woman who, in the midst of the gaiety of social life, carries out a liie of robbery and crime. Yet Mrs Cheyney cannot be disliked, and calls forth sympathy rather than reproach even at the time of her denouement as a society "crook.' witn her is Basil Rathbone as Lord Dilling, a determined and reliable character, played with great success Lord Dilling, a man usually possessed with what is known as a "way" with women, makes no apparent impression on Mrs Cheyney until in the last scenes she is willing to show herself as a criminal to save his reputation. The picture is an unusual one, and is more appealing for that reason. Lord l->. ing and Mrs Cheyney are the outstanding characters, but they are ably supported by excellent acting on the part oi the remainder of the cast. There is a vein of humour running through the piece which is a wecome diversion on several occasions, a great amount of this being provided by the eccentric Lord Elton, who becomes deeply and amusingly involved in Mrs Cheyney s affair . "The Last of Mrs Cheyney has come with a great reputation which the production certainly fulfils. Those who see H o»nnot fail to appreciate Jbe advances which have been made in talking films and the splendid acting which is a feature ° f T& e supporting programme includes a Mews Gazette, a number of stftigs by an Americas quartette, a short picture entitled Daj*i" ui tniuftnl contributions.