“THE VOLGA BOATMAN” AT DE LUXE THEATRE

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3614, 15 September 1927, Page 6

“THE VOLGA BOATMAN” AT DE LUXE THEATRE

A BRILLIANT OPENING,

Registering the greatest business in the history of the de Luxe Theatre for a matinee and night performance. "The Volga Boatman,” Cecil B. de Mllle’s gian t Production, opened yesterday. It Is scheduled for two more nights and matinees, concluding on Friday.

Said to be a worthy successor to Commandments,” the theme deals’wlth the love of a humble Volga boatman for a Russian Princess. She hears him sing and falls in love with him. He spurns her, for he cannot comprehend. The revolution comes and in an attack on the palace ot )he princess’s father, a revolutionist is killed. Feodor, the boatman, dcmands the life of the Princess in return for that of the dead man. He agrees to kill her. but when ho ia alone, with her, he finds himself powerless to commit the deed. He pretends to kill her, and carries her to an inn, ■whore he Introduces her as his wife. For this the Prince, commander ot the White Army, orders Feodor to be shot. The Princess takes her place -by his side, determined to die with him, but before the firing squad can act, Feodor is rescued by the revolutionists. Feodor is commanded to fix the punishment of the aristocratic captives, and Inorders them to be harnessed like the Volga boatmen and drag the boat. Later, Feodor, the Princess and Prince are tried by the Tribunal and the two former are acquitted, while the Prince voluntarily quits Russia, an exile. The boatman and Vera find happiness. "The Volga Boatman” is an adaptation by Leonore Coffee of the original story by Konrad Bercovicl. Fllnor Fair, Victor Varconi, Julia Faye and Theodore Kosloff are featured with Mr. Boyd in this highly dramatic and thrilling Do Mille production of Revolutionary Russia. A special score of incidental music accompanies the presentation and is excellently rendered by the Orchestra de Luxe. Reservations and prices are advertised on the front page.