ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11394, 15 December 1922, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

“ THE CREAT LOVER " A ROMANTIC PLAY LOUIS BHNNISON’S COMPANY. At the Grand Opera House last evening Mr Louis Bennison and his company gave their first presentation of “The Great Lover.” By Leo. Ditrichstein and Frederick and Fanny Hatton, this play was written round the famous French baritone, Jean Paurel. It was one of the Broadway successes of a season or so past a -id it certainly has many of the qualities of a great play. The characterisation is wide and varied, and the principal figure in the plot, a volatile French celebrity singer, is finely drawn, though on somewhat conventional lines, save in the big moments when he attains to dignity and character. The humorous side of the dialogue also is well to the fore, though there is never the artificial fencing so beloved of “society” playwrights, in which one character has frequently the opportunity to score off another. Yet the play has one defect, which is of its nature. This is in the incessant entries andi exits wlhich. though excusable in the first act because of their comic side, and in the second because of the fact that it is set in the star’s dressing-room, becomes rather trying in the third. It speaks volumes for the tensity of tho play that this is not noticeable sooner in the performance. ' The play opens in the office of the manager of the Gotham Opera House, New York, where, after an amusing exhibition. of the trials and squabbles of singers, Paurel appears. He meets Ethel Warren, a young American lyrio soprona, who is anxious to sing in a forthcoming production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” but has been refused. By influence, he obtains the part for her, reconciles the soprano Giulia Sabbatini, with whom he has a long-standing feud, and marches out to lunch with Ethel, quite oblivious of the fact that sho is breaking an engagement with Carlo Sonino, a young Italian-American baritone, with whom she is more than friendly. The second act shows events moving swiftiy. . . From his dressihg-room wo hear Paurel singing Don Giovanni, against his doctor’s orders. He is afraid of Sonino, whom he knows possesses a glorious voice and is determined to give him no chance, and to be, in his own words, “the only frog in the pond.” Sahbatini maliciously tells Sonino of the misconstruction which is plaoeu upon Paurel’s interest in Ethel; and following a soene with Carlo, Ethel agrees to marry Jean. Learning of Salbatini’s Sart in the matter, the great baritone rags her , into the dressing-room and there is another scene, during which Paurel’s voice fails him. The curtain find Sonino taking his place in the opera, and being given a great reception;

Tho final act is in a minor key. Paurel learns that he will never sing again, hut bears the blow wonderfully., well. He is preparing to leave America with Ethel for Italy when Bianca, an old flame and his first love, appears. Sihe begs him to release Ethel and tells him, when he refuses, that Carlo is his own son. The curtain is characteristic. Paurel releases the girl, but_ takes no credit to himself for it. ' He is broken—but a pretty woman asks for him on the. telephone, and we leave him planning another tion.

As played by Mr Bennison, Paurel was purely a romantic, full of fire, verve and vision. He has no illusions about life, ie -frankly-selfish; and - has attained his fame by trampling others under foot, but he is as winning as he is ohildlike, and one can feel the attraction which has earned him the name of “The Great Lover.” In his great moments Mr Bennison’s Paurel was moving, but still human. In his relation of the cause of his feud with Sabbatini, in the scene in which he wins her round to the managerial will, and in the seoond act where he. works himself into an almost unbelievable passion, he was fine indeed, though at times his accept wore thin aud we heard. l the American beneath. Miss Marjorie Bennett was a charming edition of Ethel Warren; her playing was oold, but it was the fault of the part which is the least strong in a wellwritten play. As Carlo Sonino, Mr Lou Vernon was at home and made him a fine, manly young fellow, if rather more American than Continental. Miss - Marie Baton was never better than in her role of theiflming, melodramatio Sabbatini, while Mr J. 81.B 1 . Atholwood made quite a character study of Potter, Paurel’s confidante and general factotum. Around these the play is built. Mr Vivian Edwards is a cool and capable manager to the life, while. Leslie Victor made a confidence-inspiring doctor. As Bianca Sonino, who loads Paurel with some rather unnecessary moralising, Miss Gwen Burroughs was satisfactory. Others who performed were R. B. Homans (Maestro), George Blunt (Dt. Mueller), Roger Barry (Fornald, a breezy young secretary), H. H. Wallace (Ward), Leonard Nugent (Kartzig), George Bryant (Carl Losseok), Nellie Mortyne (Madame Treller-Beinbrich), Edward Moncrieff (Signor Bosansky), A. Barbares . (Signor Sparaj4ani), Dorothy ©eacombe (Mrs Peter Van Ness). Lilian Nightingale (Mrs Fred Schuyler), Barbara Stuart and Hale Jackson. Mr Labia Barbares performed the solo work in the opera, while Mr George D. Parker acted as producer. The performance will be repeated this evening. STRAND “HURRICANE’S GAL.” Allan Holubar’s latest First National attraction, “‘Hurricane’s Gal,” is the Brincipal feature on the new programme at th© Strand this morning. Dorothy Phillips, star of many Holubar productions, returns to tho screen in this exciting romance of the sea, which is a combination of thrills, suspense, love, hatred and humour, with swiftly moving sequences. Miss Phillips is cast as Lola, who, through a chain of circumstances, becomes captain of a smuggling vessel. Complications arise when a stowaway is discovered in the hold. He is young and handsomp, and for the first time in her romantic life Lola falls in love. -later, however, she discovers that the stowaway is a 6py, and he betrays the smugglers into the hands of the Government. Many stirring adventures follow before the path of true love becomes smooth again. “Moral Fibre,” a Vitagraph feature, also on this bill, furnishes Corinne Griffith with material to display her versatility. The star makes a departure in this production by appearing as a fourtoen-year-old girl in the first half of tho story. She is exceptionally clever in child parts, and should win many friends. An exceptionally strong cast is in support of Miss Griffith in this production, and such names as Catherine Calvert, William Parks jun., and Alice Concord are found in the list. Beautiful sets and exquisite scenic backgrounds give the picture bn atmosphere, and the story is one of unusual twists which is seldom equalled in screen production. As well as the above an exceptionally fine supporting programme will be screened, and will include a Vitagraph comedy, “Troublo Hunter,” starring Jinny Aubrey, and the latest Patho Gazette.

“BEAUTY AND THE BEABT” MISS HELEN GARDNER'S PUPILS In the Concert Chamber last evening, Miss Helen Gard’ner presented a performance by her first-year pupils and the adult and juvenile studio classes. “Beauty and the Beast" was the chief part of the performance, and was a pretty little concert, the following taking .part:—Hate Semiloff, Maisie Inetone, Moira "Walsh, Ola Neilson', Jean Marshall, Gladys Meiers, Jean Bradley, Gwen Walsh, lan Purdie, as principals, while the fairies were Joyce .Denison, E. Adams, H. Henderson, I. Wilson, J. Sharpe, I. Eggers, K. Hall, G. Pepper, S. Wilioby, O. Miller, and June Adams. The Daisies and other Flowers—B. Clark, Roma Burge, Dulcie Neilson, Iris Bunny, Kathleen McNab, Norah Nancy Hunt, Gwen Carr, M. Carbury, M. Wilkie, M. Morrison. Miss Ivy Middlemass played the accompaniments for the songs and choruses. In tho first part of the programme a eoene from "Cranford" was given bv the adult class, the parts being taken by Miss Sutherland. Miss Sameon. Miss Tingay, iMiss <E. Venaißles, Miss E: Norwood, and Miss Marion Samson. A song in character, “The Toy Soldier” was rendered bv Irene Wilson, a pretty little scene, “Nancy’s Nightmare,” was given by Joyce Denison as Nancy, and Glennis Pepper Zeno Henderson, Kathleen Hall, and Lily Charles as the toys she has ill-treated. "Bubbles” was recited by Hilary Henderson; “Tatters," a eong, given by Martin Cartoll; "Granny’s Picture” was given by Joan Gardener and Joan Maunder; Billy Cooley Tecited “A Call to London”; Joyce Denison gave “The Littlest One’’; “The Glad New Year” waa given by Kathleen White, Isobel Eggers, Roma Burge, Zeno Henderson, Olive Muller, Glennis Pepper, Mary Moran, Nellie Sharp. 010 and Joyce Neilson, J. Kathleen Hall, J«Jhn Maundeir, land Lily Charles as the months. A song, "Jemima,•’ was given by tlhe babies: J. Dennison, I. Wilson, E. Adams, H. Henderson, S. Wilioby, J. Adams; and a eong and chorus, “Four Jolly Sailormen,” by B. Cooley, M. Carroll, H. Haigh, R. Boocock, R. Edwards, M. Breen, and A. Jones. Miss Gard’ner was assisted in the costuming by Mrs James Hannah. “LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY” AT THE KING;S. Eleven reels of splendid screen art are seen in "Little Lord Fauntleroy," the United Artists special production, which will be introduced at the King’s Theatre this evening. Mary Pickfordi is the central figure, as this play has long been a dream of hers, and on its production no trouble or cost has been spared. The picture is remarkable for its faithfulness to the book The characters seem to have walked out of the printed page. Mary Piokford herself takes a dual role. Firstly, of course, she plays the little lord, and is the boy of tho book to the very life. A 6 "Dearest,” the gentle, loving mother, is perfection. Mention must also be made of the wonderful characterisation of the old Earl by Claude Gillingwater. Other specially good figures are Hobbs the grocer, and Mrs McGinty the old applewoman. Tho Bettings are superb, created regardless of cost, and tellingly English in every way. The story is enlivened with choice bits of fun, and it sparkles with quaint, whimsical humour. It is a veritable classic. The massive exteriors of Dorincourt Castle, tho Ebglish cottages and lanes, the imposing interiors, all go to show the wnzardy of the cinema art in this great picture. The group known as "United Artists” }ias cause to be proud of this.fine addition to the art of the photo-play. Mrs Buxnett’e beak has

been read by millions, .but how -many more millions will see the moving picture? The characters of the story are all true to life, even to the big mastiff who was the Earl of Dorincourt’s solitary friend until the arrival of Cedrick Errol. In eleven parts the magio story is unfolded, and nothing of the charm of the 'widely-known book -is lost. There will be an excellent supporting series. HIB MAJESTY’B A SPLENDID PROGRAMME. His Majesty’s Theatre was well attended last evening, when the current ’programme was again presented by Fullers Yatfdeville Company. The American Revue Company’s musical playlet, “Hermie’s Trip Abroad,” created much merriment, while the musical items and picturesque dances received hearty applause. Mr George H. Ward has not been seen in a more laughable role. He is well supported by Mr Harry Burgess, Mr Chas. L. Sherman, Miss Curley Sherwood, Miss Mabelle Morgan, Miss Ida Merton, and Mr Richard Butler. In the first part of the programme are the sensational.cycling act, "The Globe of Life.” by the Staig Sisters, the clever child impersonations by Little Lorna, the artistio vocalisations bv Miss Ruth Bucknail. and the song and patter "turn” bv

Slavin and Thompson. The programme will be repeated this evening, r