“THE SHOW-OFF” IS STUDY OF HUMANS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18062, 24 January 1927, Page 5

“THE SHOW-OFF” IS STUDY OF HUMANS.

BRIGHT COMEDY COMES TO CRYSTAL PALACE. ** An odd paradox, is it not, that at one end of the social scale you have the people whose pride is that they have been made purely by circumstances, and at the other end the people whose boast is that they have been made by themselves—and who are usually extremely proud of their maker? A self-made man is only proud of his ‘ made ’ self because he is ashamed of his real self. The more he asserts his acquired merits, the more he is on the defence of his natural defects.” Such a. character, so ably put forth by Alan Kemp in an English periodical, is played in the comedy drama, “ The ShowOff,” by Ford Sterling, but is played with the humorous side predominating to give the play the happy flavour. The picture heads the programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre this week. Everyone knows the Show-Off. He is in every little town and hamlet as well as the great cities of the w-orld. The man who slaps your back, cracks a vastly aged joke, speaks to you confidentially of his e*normous personal endowments of virtue and good-citizen-ship. In the screen play Sterling

brings, without one faux pas, this blustering person to life in all his vainglory, nis loquacity, his colossal and rather pitifully amusing egotism. The greatest pantomimist in picture, this artist is rapidly becoming one of the greatest actors, and from originally being the leading part in the comedy, he quite obviously, though with supreme artistry, made it a brilliant starring role. The comedy of “ The Show-Off” is of a decidedly new nature on the screen, but by no means original in real life. The freshness and apparent newness of the story is derived from the fact that this particular type is not frequently encountered In plays, and again the quiet, rather surprised manner of his acting leaves just the right impression as to the actual character. It is impossible to speak or write of this picture without eulogising the work of the star. Although a graduate of the slapstick Sennett School, Sterling employs the subtlest means to blend his sheer comedy witli his unconscious pathos, which combination is essential to the atmosphere of the story. His style is unique, and as likeable as it is so, and with the human and humorous story he has at. his disposal, the result is a comedy drama of marked and unusual brilliance, in which t.he affable simplicity of Lois Wilson, in the main supporting role, is a strong feature. Dorothy Mackaill, blonde and beautiful. stars in “ Subway Sadie,” the second attraction on the bill. This actress shines particularly in human roles, not necessarily prosaic, but successfully to reflect her charming personality, her role 3 require to be shorn of all too-glamorous trappings. Such a character is Subway Sadie, a girl with a quick tongue-and a warm heart, around whom all the comedy and romance of the story centre. It is a delightful picture for all audiences, and Jack Mulhall, as leading man, enacts his part with commendable distinction The Symphony Orchestra, under Mr Alfred Bunz, will play a special orchestral programme of music, including the following numbers:—Overture, “The Magic Elute” (Mozart); “Adagio and Allegro' (Schubert); “Le Roi s’Amuse ” (Delibes); '* Crintoforo Colombo” (Franchetti); ”Le Bal Masque” (\erdi); “Rustle of Spring” (Sinding)- “ Ballad Memories” (Baynes)- “ZigZag” (Stamper): “ Moonlight 'on the Ganges” (Myers); entr’acte, “It Was Your Hat” (Flintoft). The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may he reserved.