ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 10 February 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

"EAST OF SUEZ." A SPLENDID PRESENTATION. "East of Suez" as presented by the 3. C. Williamson Dramatic Company at the Opera House last night, is a powerful and convincing dramatisation of a social _pro.blem in a rare setting. The theme is at the same time commonplace and yet out of tho beaten track. The primary element is the mixing of tho Hood of two widely diversified races—the hopeless attempt to reconcile East with West. In brief it centres about Daisy, tho beautiful daughter of a British merchant and of a Chinese woman of tho lower cast. Versed in all tho arts of Western refinement learned in an education abroad, 6he returns to China to find her father dead, and her mother whom sho had not seen since infancy, a repellant member of the Chinese raco. She falls in lovo with George Conway, a civil servant, who leaves her lest his association with a half-casto prejudice his career. In Pekin she meets and marries Henry Anderson, who holds; a responsible position with a leading shipping firm, Conway, whom she had again met in tho capital, having failed to dissuade hor from a union which ho felt meant disaster. Daisy's Chinese mother lives with her incognito as tho Amah. Tho half-caste girl's lovo for Conway never dies and her passion frr him reaches a climax when she nurses him back to health after he has been stabbed in mistake for her husband through a plot originating from Leo Tai Chung, an educated Chinese to whom, after Conway first left her, she had been sold by her mother. Chung's prediction that, in the end her ,Chinese blood must triumph, is verified when sho stoops to deceit and trickery to have her husband divorce her so that she can marry Conway. Jn the last act thero is a poignant denouement when Conway, who still loves her. discovers what she lias done, and he suicides. Miss Muriel Starr as Daisy, lived tho rolo. The passionate, unreasoning devotion of the half-casto for the lover of her youth was portrayed in masterful fashion and never more so than when she pleaded with Conway to disregard all social barriers ojid give her tho only happiness sho could ever know. An arduous role, calling for the highest in drama, she endowed it with a power and meaning not easily forgotten. As George Conway, Frank Harveywas cast in a rolo which he exploited to the utmost. His denouncement of her, when he discovered what her passion for him had led her to do, was a cameo of histrionic talent. The dramatic oratory of Harvey Adams as Lee Tai Cluing, the unprincipled Chinese merchant, versed in all tho "barbaric civilisation" of the East, was an elocutionary accomplishment which held tho audience in its grip. It would be indeed difficult to imagine the role more powerfully directed than by him. Maurice Tuohy, as Henry Anderson, Daisy's husband, was well cast, while Jessie. Page as the Amah, the secretive scheming old Chinese woman who watched eternally over her daughter while seeking to profit herself, was no less successful. In the role of a blase, good natured, humorous young man who regarded Eastern life lightly, Roger Barry capably endowed the play with its lighter mornonts. Marjorio liardie as his sister, and Fred Coapo as Wu, a Chinese manservant, completed a cast of groat ability. The orchestration, which was in keeping with the Eastern setting, was of the high order which characterised the stage work itself. Tim gowns and robes were magnificent. The six scenes which formed the settings for the four acts formed a realistic background to the Oriental play. "GARDEN OP ALLAH." To-night the company will stage "Tho Gulden of Allah." Tho glamour of the East and the passions of the people are all said to bo excellently portrayed in this powerful drama. As Domini F.nfilden, Miss Starr is superb, and her acting at times breathes the atmosphere of the mysterious land in which tho plot of ' rho Garden of Allah" is unfolded. Mr Frank Harvey gives a very fine character study of the escaped monk, pursued by doubts and fears, and for a time completely overwhelmed by his love for Domini Enfilden. The box plans aro on view at Outes' music shop.

"MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE." FINE FILM AT PARAMOUNT. A large audience at tho Paramount Theatre last night witnessed with keen delight the first screening in Palmerston North of ".Monsieur Beaucairc," the Paramount super-production featuring Rudolph Valentino. Briefly, tho story concerns the lovo affairs of Louis Phillipe do Bourbon. Due de Chatres, dashing hero of tho profligate court of King Louis XV. . Gallant and strong-minded, but with a weakness for pretty women, Chatres at last meets one who fails to notice him. Commanded by royal edict to marry, he is told by the girl that nho would sooner marry a lackey as long as the latter was a man, with the result that Chatres defies tho king and has 10 flee from France. Proceeding to England, he goes to Bath, where ho becomes barber to tho French Ambassador, who keeps the identity of "Monsieur Beau-carr-e" secret. Posing as tho Due de Chateaurien, he meets Lady Mary Carlisle, the belle of Bath, whom he becomes enamoured of. Strenuously opposed by a rival, the Duke of Winterset, ho is denounced as u bafber by the latter, sovon of whose hirelings attempt to give hirn a severe hiding for his imposture Bcaucairo's skill with tho rapier stands him in good stead, but the result of the disclosure of his identity is such as to earn him tho 'scorn of Lady Mary. Recuperating from injuries that he received in tho fight, ho realises that the only girl he had ever truly loved was the ono who had spurned him in France. How he receives a pardon and wins as his wife the girl in Franco are the concluding incidents of a great story. The picture will be screened at the Paramount for the next two nights, and a special musical programme is being rendered in coUjuac-" lion therewith. PALACE. ROBERT W. SERVICE STORY AND VIOLINIST: It is not often that entertainment seekers are rewarded with such thorough enjoyment as that which is . afforded by the latest Master Picture, "Poisoned Paradise." Robert W. Service, famous poet and author, who has lived in Monte Carlo for many years, has boon inspired to transfer his impressions of this famous gambling resort into a story through which he has weaved romanco as well an excitement. His impressions aro so faithfully recorded that tho publication of tho book is forbidden in Europe, but its vogue, in other countries assured its use as picture material. Admirable teamwork, which goes toward making "Poisoned Paradise" the fine picture it is, is contributed by tho members of its all-star oast. A football special, "Ail Blacks v. Wales," a good clear picture, "Flip Flops," an exceptionally good comedy, and a news are also showing, while those who have not yet had the pleasure of hearing Maggio Foster on her violin will be able to do so as she appears again to-night for the last time. Her playing last evening of tho intermezzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Drdla's 'Souvenir" was delightful, and the charming young lady had to respond to several encores. This programme is a credit to the management. KOSY. "THE CYCLONE RIDER" AND BABY PEGGY." Reed Howes, in "The .Cyclone Rider," now showing at the Kosy, makes his little red racing cor behave like a stunt rider with an aeroplane. It leaps across twelve feet of space from a river pier to a 'ferry boat like as it had wings. It dashes madly along a 200-foojt precipice just like it was on a paved boulevard; it leaps in between two speeding express trains and beats them to tho mark; it jumps a fence much like Tony, the equine movie star, does with Tom Mix on his back, and it flies along the racecourse so fast that it would make speed cars look like were standing still. Howes, incidentally, is the handsome hero in this Lincoln J. Carter thrillodxnma whioh was directed by Thomas Bucking-

ham. Others in tils cast -who pla? prominent parte are- Alma Bennett, Evelyn Brent and Charles Conklin. "Captain January," a six-reel drama of the sea, made specially for Baby Peggy, is also showing. This is a delightful story with Hobart BoSworth as the old lighthoitskeeper, and Harry Morey and Irene Rich in prominent parts. A good comedy arid interest film help to make this programme all th&t the management claims.