ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16788, 4 May 1926, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA." THEATRE ROYAL TO-NIGHT. Acting a io-minute scene with his hands is the strange feat of Lon Chancy, appearing in the starring role in "The Phantom of the Opera," Uninew spectacle .which commences a four-night season at the Theatre Royal to-night. Chancy throughout the scene wears a mask that completely covers his face—no chance for any expression being registered—and a long cloak that envelops his body completely. "All that I have left to act with are my hands," he declared when he appeared on the scene. But with his hands and his art he "puts over" what Rupert Julian, the director, "calls a remarkable piece of acting. "The scene is a thousand feet long wthout a single title —and Chancy, though masked and shrouded, tells the story perfectly with nothing but the gestures of his hands," says the director. "When one realises that this means fully half an hour of acting without anything but ten fingers to express the story one can realise what a feat this is." There have been several instances of remarkable work with out the use of facial expression—such as the scene Rosic Dione and John Salnpolis played in "Rose of Paris," with with their backs to the camera, but none so long as the scene Chaney has finished. Chaney plays "The Phantom," a weird and mysterious personage haunting the cellars below the Paris Opera, who, because of his awesome face, wears a mask continually, Chaney prepared a make-up for this part, which took months to design, and then wore a mask over it. The face is seen only in a few fleeting scenes, and the actor docs practically a-H his dramatic work with his face covered. The screening of the production will be immediately preceded by a special atmospheric prologue performed by Miss Gladys Denz and pupils, assisted by an unnamed "phantorn." The box plans arc at Jackson's, tobacconist.

NEW STRAND AND FRANKTON

Two pictures of the bound-to-pleasc ivpo were shown at the ahovc theatres last night. "The Man Who Found Himself," starring. Thomas Mcighan, is a high-powered story of the kind that Mcighan fans like best —full of drama and romance and comedy. Adapted for the screen by Tom Geraghty, " The Man Who Found Himself" is a story instense with interest—strong, vital drama with a punch and an appealing theme of love and regeneration, laid against a prison background as was one of the biggest of all Mcighan hits, " The City of Silent Men." Yirgina Valli, who was Mcighan's leading woman in " The Confidence Man." heads the cast in this one, too. Lloyd Hughes and Mary Aslor, two of nimdom's most popular young stars, have Hie leading roles in "The Scarlet Saint." 'First National's romantic drama of New Orleans. Seats should be reserved at Lewis It. Eady and Son, Ltd.. or, by Theatre 'phone, 1422.