EVERYBODY’S THEATRE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1926, Page 8

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE

“MY OU.) DUTCH. Picture patrons will go away with a smile on their lips and a larger heart and perhaps a furtive tear in the eye after seeing “My Old Dutch,” the Universal picture which is to be presented at Everybody's theatre to-night. It is one of those rare pictures which is fundamentally and outwardly a bit of life, a poignant and withal laughing drama of a thought so exalted and a theme so simple that it is, by reason of its exquisite simplicity alone, a masterpiece. It may not take a genius to write a atory like “Aly Old Dutch,” but it takes a genius to cateh the spirit of the thing,'to see into the depths of the common heart, to cateh an echo of the heartbeats of the pair who form the central attraction around which the story revolves. It has all the pathos of many other famous picture-dramas but its humour —for there are smiles to make it lifelike—its humour is of a more pronounced type and therefore all the more enjoyable. It is a picture to make one see that, after all, this world must be the very best to live in; that people are not so bad after all; that no one is infallible; that to laugh when the fates are frowning is the truest philosophy of life, and the picture which expounds that philosophy and, what is more, makes it thoroughly acceptable, is a wonderful picture, and “Aly Old Dutch” is a wonderful picture. Pat O’Malley and Alay McAvoy play the leading roles, and they imbue them with a sympathy and understanding that go far towards the innate beauty and exaltation of the story. Mr. Baden Bellringer will sing Chevalier’s immortal song during the screening. A new operatic selection will be played by Everybody’s select orchestra who are featuring this week an arrangement of the newest song-hit “Garden Gate” arranged by Mr. Chas. H. Fox, musical director. WILLIAMSON’S GILBERT AND SULLIVAN- company. To-morrow morning at 9 o’clock the box plane will be opened at Collier’s for the production of “The Gondoliers,” to be staged on Thursday night next, and for the revival of “The Afikado” to be presented on Friday night next. The number of inquiries wliich have been made in regard to the booking arrangements indicates a heavy demand for seats. So to obviate any crushing a staff of ushers will be in attendance from an early hour to form a queue, wihiah will assure that the earliest arrivals shall have first choice of scats. The choice of “The Gondoliers” as the opening production is a happy selection by the J. C. Williamson Ltd. management. If there were no other monument to the famous collaborators, their work “The Gondoliers” would be sufficient to keep their memory green, for never were composer and librettist more in harmony with each other, and never was brilliant satire or sparkling melody more usefully employed, in asserting the legitimacy of comic opera than by these masters of wit and rhythm. The music of “The Gondoliers” is as fresh, as inspiring and as fascinating as it was when first produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, and the libretto as pointed, sa.tiritical and clever as ever it was.

“The Gondoliers” is staged with new and magnificent dresses and scenery. The second and final night will be devoted to a production of “The Alikado,” which is, unquestionably, one of the, if not the most, popular comic operas ever staged. It is packed full with everything that helps to make a night’s wonderful entertainment. A full operatic orchestra and chorus is under the baton of . Gustave Slapoffski.