ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1928, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S. REGINALD DENNY TO-NIGHT. Reginald Denny, Universal’s popular comedy star, tops all his former successful performances in “Good Morning, Judge,” the swiftest moving and most entertaining picture of his career, which will be shown at Everybody’s Theatre to-night, t-o-mdrrow and Wednesday. Denny, filmdom’s best-known farceur, has a role that fils him perfectly. lie is Freddie Grey, young and wealthy, who falls in love, with the owner of a mission for reformed criminals. The star’s ability at comedy was never better shown than in this film. William A. Seiler, who has directed so many of Denny’s pictures, wielded the megaphone on “Good Morning, Judge.” The DennySeiler combination ha’s been responsible for such hits as “Rolling Home,” “Skinner’s Dress Suit,” “Take It From Me,” and others. Their teaming is a certain indication of tlie success of a production. Mary Nolan, the girl who starred for three years in German films, plays opposite Denny. Dorothy Gulliver, formerly of the “Collegiaus,” also has a prominent role. Otis Harlan plays a comedy part while others in the stellar cast are William Davidson, William Worthington, Bull Montana, Sailor Sharkey ami Charles Coleman.

“MR. WHAT’S HIS NAME.” To-night the company say farewell in “Air. What’s His Name.” The Herald Auckland, September 12, 1928, says:— French Farce, adroitly constructed, with its risque situations, daring linos and the novel twists so beloved by the Parisian in any form of literature or drama, came into its own at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. “Mr., What’s His Name,” adapted from the' French by Mr. Seymour Hicks, was produced as the second string to Mr. Percy Hutchison’s bow, and the audience chuckled solidly for two and a half hours.

There is some elusive quality about French farce which, although it can be appreciated by the English, cannot be captured by them. There is a world of difference between Mr. Ben Travers’ English farces and the French variety. Mr. Seymour Hicks, however, is the exception who proves the rule. There is no other English dramatist who can take a play typically French and, still preserving its original flavour, make it something that an Englishman will enjoy. This he has done in “Mr. What’s His Name” with conspicuous success. Designed solely as a jolly good joke from start to finish, it is one of the best things presented on the professional stage locally for some time. . Such a play naturally makes a great demand on the ability of the players interpreting it. Air. Hutchison’s company has passed the. test. In the principal role, that taken by Air. Hicks in London, Mr. Hutchison gives a most polished performance. His dual personality is a fine piece of characterisation. As the first of his wives, Miss Stella Francis comes through a difficult ordeal with high honours, while Aliss Frances Dillon, yet another wife, is overshadowed only by Air. Hutchison in the final act. Air. R. Steuart West, one of the myriad husbands— at least their name seemed to be legion—mingles hesitancy and temper in well-judged proportions. As an aulo-suggestionist, Air. E. Rayson Cousens attempts anything from curing headaches to the restoration of memory in some delightfully natural acting, and an admirable study of a most privileged cook is given by Miss Violet Ley. Miss Joan Rogers and Aliss Mary Brackley add fuel to domestic fires by sharing the same barber, and Air. ’Townsend Whirling makes some delightful faux pas. alcholic and otherwise. Aliss Dorothy Stanward, as a nurse, carries something in a shawl at interval. but the two pairs of twins are kept judiciously in the background. A brilliant play, brilliantly nlayed.

Percy Hutchison achieved a -triumph in “Air. What’s His Name,” produced at the Opera House on Saturday night.

While Percy Hutchison was on the stage*—and he was seldom absent—he kept things moving by the dominance of his personality in a part that fitted him like a glove. He was the pivotal force which kept the wheels rolling merrily along the road to complete success. —Melbourne Herald. Sun, Auckland. “Air. What’s His Name,” is one of the best comedies ever produced in Auckland: