"EAST OF SUEZ”

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12024, 30 December 1924, Page 6

"EAST OF SUEZ”

MURIEL STARR AND FRANK HARVEY AND A TALENTED COMPANY. The character of Daisy, the beautiful and seductite Eurasian, is wonderfully created and admirably sustained in Somerset Maugham's dramatic vehicle, “Bast of Suez,” which again attracted a delighted audience to the Opera House last night. Miss Muriel Starr, who takes the role of this incredibly . merciless woman of the East, has a powerful character to interpret, and she deals With it in a masterly fashion. None who once see it are likely to forget the drama of this piece, for it brings to the forefront a problem of the day—the touching of the East by the hand of the civilised West. Daisy, around whom the action concentrates, ie - tdrn asunder as it were by conflicting thoughts; the, one of England, the other of China, and they are thoughts which form a queer combination. Bred in ' England,' and pitifully eager to remain a daughter of the West, she is claimed by the inexorable hand of the land of her mother’s ancestry. “I don’t know duty, I only know love.” she exclaims when a friend urges. her to. “do the right thing,’ ’ and in that exclamation is revealed the oore of her character. Associated with her in Peking are her; husband, blindly in love with her, and George Conway, an officer of the Diplomatic Corps, a liberal,- tolerant man, and a great friend. . His honour, his ambition, his friendship with Daisy’s husband are thrown ’ into the scale against his own love for the Eurasian, and through four acts of the. play, the audience watch the conflict. The woman fights to-the end, even after she confesses herself beaten,' and the &udi 7 ence are gripped by something close to terror as 'they behold the mart, restricted by the code of European morality, slowly succumb to the onslaught of a woman bound by no code, regardless of opinion of. her own safety, of everything but the object of her consuming passion. Gradually there comes the realisation, to the audienoe and to Conway, that for, him there can be only one decision, ’ one “way out.” He',takes it. and then—hut “East of Suez”* is to be played many times more in Wellington, and the betrayal/ of the nature of the list dramatic movement would, spoil the eujbvment of the hundreds of people who will yet ,6eo the play. The company is a' powerful one, well suited to carry to* a successful Conclusion a drama which, needs force as well as resource on the part of the performers. Miss Muriel'wtarr is a true artist, who gives life and a strange fascination to Daisy, this strange 'creature of the East. George 'Conway is a true born Englishman, and the interpretation of his personality' is in safe: hands with Mr Frank Harvey. Hr Harvey takes a difficult part with unusual: excellence of acting. There is character acting of the finest in Mr Harvey Adams’s interpretation of a Chinaman, Tee Tai Chung, who-knows and hates Euroue, and does .not hesitate to say no. . Mr Roger Barry is responsible for the-few light moments of the play, the typical English “Johnny” being well acted by him.. The, unfortunate husband, of’Daisy,' Henry Anderson; is well., played by. Mr. .Maurice Tuohy, Jessie Page- bandies well Hi.e character of the detestable Amah,. Miss Knox plays an English' girl : well',’ while Mr Fred CopO is an unobtrusive but likable manservant. The production of the play (by Mr. George H. Parker) is unifonnly excellent; nothin® so.strikingly artistic has been seen here, for 6ome years. The same may be said of the orchestral prologue.' without which, the play would lose much of its pouter. “THE GARDEN OF ALLAH” NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT. ' The dramatised version of Hichen’s famous novel, “The 5 Garden of Allah,!’ will be presented at -the Grand'Opera House on Thursday evening “next. Something of the mystery of the Orient' his been imparted to the play, and the colour of the atmospheric effects on Hie Sahara, the beauty of. the dresses, and the picturesquenessof’Arab haikr and burnous are all: strong: features ’ of- the not unlike Robert Uioben’s other Eastern romance, “Bella, Donna,” but in this the dramatic interest * is much', stronger. In the preparation of the play for the stage, Robert Hichen had the assistance of'the famous Mary Anderson, who,' after a long success on the stage, has taken to play-writing. She Was in America when she helped Robert Hichen with the drama, but since then has acquired a beautiful farm; in Warwickshire, which she made , quite a financial. success. In this famous play Miss Muriel Starr will appear as Domini Enfilden,, and Frank Harvey ' as Boris Andfovsky. The piece will be staged for five nights only, for which the box plans -will open at the Bristol to-morrow -morning. Fori the last two nights of the season, “Bought and Paid For” will be revived. “THE SEA HAWK" THOUSANDS ON CAST. ' The Do Luxe Theatre -will usljet -in the New, Year iii a fitting manner with the presentation, on a scale not yet attempted in this .part, of the world ofa production that /.oines with the hallmark of the-keenest,, critics of the.’-en-tertainment world, speaking in prajse of it. The oast, is, the' greatest that has ever been assembled. tor one picture. Patrons ha ve seen motion ’ pictures in‘which thousands were emploV-. ed. ■ In “The Hawk” so remarkable are the “crowd”, scenes that oneis.apt to conclude that tens of thousands were used. As a matter of fact the actual number of- artists is officially given as three, thousand and nineteen, not including eighteen principals. So cleverly has Director Frank Lloyd utilised these' people, that the “tout ensemble” appears more like thirty thousand-. The importance pt the .event is realised to the full by tlio Do Luxe management and, in view of the- immense applications - for reserved seats, they have decided to give :an extra performance every day during the season. This will'take th'e form' of daily matinees. The prologue, in which are used the costumes identical with those worn by the principals in' the making of the' picture, will be «jen> on. the Do Luxe stage in Hie course of the stage presentation. A unique idea will be used here in the special atmospheric display to be arranged outside the theatre during the screening of “The Sea, Hawk.” This will feature a, band, , of “plundering pirates” derived from local talent, who will act as guards to the theatre while the film is -being run .through. ' The costumes to bo worn by these piratehave been sent from the home office of Flint National Piet-mrer j

“SECRETS** , SUPER ATTRACTION Ay.jXHjMPS. Norma Talmadge has the ;lead“»f|thc leading feature at the Kibjg* jig. jflSjßfee this week 1 .. In “Secrete,’’ the;'audience is trcated.to a magnificenHy acted Atia faulUesßly staged film. Norma -T“‘ madge surpasses all her other , flawless achievements, and .throughout the'. picture the audience is held with e, 'moat unusual concentration. - Eugene O’Brien, who, plays the male jead,isseen at tis best, and besides bis art, .-which aloiie captures the audience,' the -’bldp fashioned dress, customs, and -manners appear to suit him superbly. The Etory starts in England, goes back by. way of, the heroine’s diary/to, th® romantic days of 1860. moves; to, the frontier “ Western America, and winds Up where, it began, in the I-ondon of. modern times. The super attraction is acbompatfied by a bright supporting ; programme. whilst distinctive muiic : is rendered bv the > King’s Select; Orchestra .under the conductorship of Mr A. H. Jerome. | “UNGUARDED WOMEN” . AT QUEEN’S THEATRE. This popular theatre is being remarkably well patronised . this week. A fa-rC mating romance : of a- Man’s struggle to redeem a -woman’s soulis told in “Unguarded. Women,” them star feature. The. „ story U -full of the . . intrigqe-.- ,of the .Orient, and the vivid charm and colour of the East., both in costumes and setting* makes a, most delightful background. These' advantages, Rallied with flawless photography, go to make one of the finest films screened; in Wei-. lington for some months' past. The picture allows Bebe Daniels', -ample scope for her talent, in which, she is amply supported by Richard • Dix, The minor pictures are of more than, usual interest, and include a Burton Hilmes’ travelogue, a gazette, crammed'full of topical subjects, and ' a real' laughterraising comedy, “Stay. Single. The well-known Queen’s' Orchestra, under the; baton of Mis W. Wright, will- render- a real holiday programme of music. The box plan is at the. theatre, .where, scats may be reserved by telephone. - “TH R 8 U G H ROMANTIC TO BE SCREENED IN WELLINGTON. At an early date, the latest triumph' m 1 cinematographic art, “Romantic India.,” will be presented to-a Wellington audience for the first -x-imo,. wbCn the connecting story of this fine production of East, will ho- told.by the distinguished and interesting ’ personality in Colonel Eldred Pottmger, D.S.O.j F.R.G.Soc., “Romantic,lndia’ , ! is described by the London press' as i something which eclipses everything pt thiii kind hitherto presented. , ,Col. Pottinger speaks with first-hand knowledge of India, and the travelogue takes-one-from east- to-west,'and south to north, and visualises in a most remarkable way—one of " the 'most interenting countries in the - worm: ihe narrative is supplemented by heautiful coloured pictures, which are stilted, to bo a revelation in coloured photo-

graphy, which, the London ‘Graphic” says: “Compared to all ethers like a Turner- landscape, compared with a ‘crude poster.’ In producing ‘Romantic India' Mr Lowed Thomas and hi" camera penetrated' to many little known- corners' of India and to Afghanistan, .where he took photographs of people and plaoos in districts rarely visited by whits men, catching both atmosphere. and character, showing in sh.vp contrast the' life in cities and the life in the plains and the hills. Curious religious customs, animal life and human life, scenes which seem to belong to’a world different from onr own—are shown with arresting realism. Many of the ing those which show scenes of the Prince of Wales’s journey throngh India—are mx-sent-t in colour, the tints of nature are. far Letter sucgesteel -than is generally the rase «ben an attempt is made to show oolour on the film.