QUEEN’S THEATRE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 9

QUEEN’S THEATRE

A MARVELLOUS SPECTACLE. Following i n a tronnnclous firstweek run at the De Luxe Theatre, “The Phantom of the Opera” commences its second week in Wellington with this evening’s presentation at the Queen’s Theatre. “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.” Thrills and spectacle—these two words are used to sum up Lou Chaney’s successor to “The Hunchback,” Universal’s “Tho Phantom of the Opera.” The thrills are born of the weird cellar scenes, Lon Chanty in liis strangest make-up, chased by a mob of several thousand people, the spectacle is in the great festivals and operatio scenes, all photographed in colour, in a !iuge replica of the Paris Opera House. Then the audience again plunges into dim ratnepmbs and eerie shadowy underground, where the grim “Phantom” maintains his reign of terror. Gaston Le-roux’s famous mystery story is the basis of the bewildering new picture. Lon Chaney plays ihe weird creaturo of the darkness, half-man and half-devil, who launches a reign of terror that holds a city m its throes, and who finally meets a fate as tragic as that he meted out to his enemies. Mary Philbin has the part of the little opera singer for whom the “Phantom 1 ’ defies all Paris, and Norman Kerry, as “Raoul de Chagny,” is a dashing and romantic figure. Arthur Edmund Carcsve, as the mysterious “Persian,” is said to he a compelling, t omeiimes forbidding, but always amazing character, and Gibson Gowland is convincing ns “Simon,” the huge scene shifter, seeking the “Phantom” to wreck a grim vengeance. Snitz Edwards offers the comedy relief, and Virginia Pearson, John Sainpolis. Cesare Gravina. are all -adequately cast. Several thousand people appear in the mob scenes. The entire interior of tha Paris Opera House, and its great stage, on which a complete opera, “Faust,” was presented coincidentally with'ihe mysterious and weird events in tho catacombs below, was reproduced, on a scale rivalling “The Hunchback” production in magnitude.

A matinee will be held on Saturday at 2,30. A ipccial musical programme has been arranged for this masterpiece. Box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company, or ring 22-334 for reserves.