AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1925, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERY BO DYS PICTURES.

THE BRASS BOWL —WEDNESDAY.

A story of the kind the fans prefer to most others is announced with the showing of “ The Brass Bowl,” starring Kdmuud I-owe at the Princess Theatre <>n Wednesday. Tnis is the second picture William Fox has produced with .Mr Lowe in the stellar role and he selected this Louis Joseph Vance classic because it offers plenty of mystery, action and love interest the devotees to the cinema art dote oil most. The story has to do with the extraordinary adventures of a wealthy bachelor resulting from his close physical resemblance to a master crook. Mistaken identity is given several new and surprising twists and when the hero falls in love with what seems to ho a wicked girl crook ho meets in the course of his being mistaken, the audience is given ample cause to gasp as one suspenseful moment follows another. When the girl turns out to he someone else and the hero is all but doomed because others are convinced he is the crook, something totally unexpected happens and once more the audience is given occasion to gasp. At least all the foregoing is in accordance with the promises of the management of the Princess Theatre, which also lakes occasion to call attention to the fact that critics in the larger cities have been prone to agree that this is a superbly acted picture. Of course Mr Lowe gets the lion’s share of the praise, but Claire Adams, his leading lady, comes ill for a good share of the applause, while the support offered by J. Farrell MacDonald. f.eo White, Jack Dully and Fred Butler is said to lie of the highest order. Jerome Storm directed from a scenario written by Thomas Dixon, j nr., who was particularly curd ill to preserve those numerous finalities which made the Vance novel such a best seller.

On Thursday next a First National special “Enticement” will be the star attraction. DKXIS KFUOF COMPANY. •• MOTH Ft! M ACT llt F F." Speaking of the style of entertainment known loosely as " costume plays” Reynolds Demiistoii, a New Zealand-born actor, recently stated his opinion that the costume play was about to* 1 ' stage a come-back.” Denis Kehoe contends and with good grounds that plays such as "Motor Macliree. which he presents at the Princess Theatre, commencing on Saturday next i Boxing Day) '2bll l December for two nights only, have never gone out. He has played " Mother Macliree ” lor the last six years throughout many parts of the British Umpire, and has never failed to liml a public lor it. This he ascribes to the fact that the play and story are healthy in tone, are sane, humorous in act inn. and make an appeal to the heart, the supreme arbiter. Maurice Wohh'ii, the author of " Mother Macliree ” has not attempted to dissect human nature, or make an appeal to the sex instinct, lie has striven to write a bright play that will leave its auditors the happier for having heard it. Denis iveliuo lias surrounded himself with a company ul clever people, uho arc determined to do their best to lurtber the author’s purpose, and the result is a perlonnanre of uniformly high merit, which has earned the universal commendation of the Press and the public wherever it has been presented. Propaganda and axe-grinding have no place in its scheme of things. Shakespeare’s slogan

—••Tlii' play’s llii' thing”—is the only one Unit counts with them. In his company ho is very lortuinilo in being associated wit!i imi -e>?l rom-ely aide eolcric of artists. Frances Kay|:or. the tall, graceful girl, who will he soon in the juvenile loads, plays with skill, and the charm that conies from youth and a strongly developed dramatic instinct. Helen Kerens is a thoroughly experienced actress, who has ranged the whole gamut ol dramatic expression. Owen Dorise and Aline Dunn are first-class performers in their lines. Of the men, Ronald Riley and .Maurice Lynch are comedians of vast experience in hath light and hroad comedy, respectively, ('has. Keegan. Lester Carey, Tom Ruckley and Bernard Booby are character actors of ripe experience. The costuming and mounting of “ Mother Machreo” arc typical of the period, and the orchestral arrangements are in the hands of Percy Kehoc. On Monday evening ‘JPth December ■ The Oirl From County Clare” will he niesented.

liox Plans now open at .Miss Mclntosh’s.