"HIS SECRETARY."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18895, 10 January 1927, Page 13

"HIS SECRETARY."

INTERESTING REVELATIONS. EVERYBODY'*?. TODAY. There is absolutely no truth in the contention that there is no romance in business. Business, we are ready to admit, is probably the most romantic thing in tho world, possibly because the prosaic exterior gives no hint of what foes on indoors, and when the truth is out, the real intriguing picturesqueness of tho commercial world becomes more glamorous in comparison. Of course, there are bound to he dissentients, those who . smile, virtually, superciliously, those who openly scoff. To be mire, commerce is innocent until proved guilty (although there is really no guilt in romance, only gilt), but it takes the motion picture to state a case and win it, and this it does in "His Secretary," the astonishingly revecling and highly amusing comedy drama to he presented at Everybody's Theatre this week. Many arc the interesting little secrets betrayed in this Picture, many are tho uproariously amusing situations when suspicious wives, plausible husbands, and innocent, and not so innocent secretaries hold the stage. "His Secretary" treats of a theme which very simply may nave been mishandled, a story which could easily hnve !>ecoine indiscreet and lacking in all the little subtleties which are indispensiblo in such a pleasantly sophisticated concoction, hut thanks to directorial discretion and the sense of proportion possessed by the artists participating in the piny, it is a comparatively restrained piece. We are of the opinion that the writer of ' 'His Secretary" must have consulted, with all his twentioth-century prejudices and outlooks in full play, the Book of Revelations, become steeped in the informative stvle of its chapters and verses, then turned his enquiring and facetious eye upon modernitv, as represented by n legal firm, and fell to with ,1 re- • i -£ rivatc secretaries, with "broadminded chiefs must be the most worldvjvise in existence, but after seeing this picture, we are prepared to admit that the most interesting are the bachelor and his doting and homely secretary. In such a pair the possibilities for comedy acting of the higher order are immense; they permit nf much onesided intrigue; eventually the situation leads the doting duckling to her banker, her beauty specialist and her dressmaker. As an afterthought, or an aside, it also brings her late to the office in tho morning. As for the complement of this duo, it fends him frantically to his oculist, and then to tho florist. And the sccretnry, being that motor of illogic and well-thought-out inconsistency, woman, will proceed to smilo upon the janitor, the liftman, the brondminded partner, anyone but the bachelor. Do these things occur in tho business world! Assuredly, and

"ITis Secretary" has taken them up, given them tho spice of intrigue, and alluro of drama, and the hilarious inclusion of what tho careful and astute world often omits, the aforementioned suspicious wife. "His Secretary" is brilliantly satirical and courteously discreet, a rarely met with and clever combination. Jt is nil vastly amusing, humour of that rare typo which evokes n sheepish grin and a sidelong and uneasy glance to see does sho catch the import of it all, and a wary and highly uncomfortahlo movement in tho seat—theso latter premises, of course, depend entirely upon with whom ono is seeing "His Secretary." One may bo bold and unconcerned—or one may not. Tho cast assembled to piny the lending roles in this production was selected with particular care, both for natural nbility and type. In tho title rolo is Norma Shearer, an unusually competent actress with a marked inclination to humorous drama. r,ew Cody and Willnrd Louis are the legal firm, the one unattached, critical, and altogether 100 observant, the other describes himself as "hroadmindod." Mabel van Burcn is inimitable as tho latter's wife, and Gwen Lee is light and vivacious as his platonic secretary.

The second item on the bill is "Puppets," a Vivid, colourful drama of "Little Italy," with Milton Sills playing the lending role. This actor's versatility knows no bounds. In "Puppets" ho is romantic, picturesque, sanguinely temperamental, and as in every character he has ever portrayed, ho has a fight or two to keep tho action merry and fast. It is »• very dramatic story, with a stark realism in some scenes which makes it powerful fare. Gertrude Olmstead plays opposite him and acts with understanding and sympathy. The "Select" Orchestra, under Mr W. J. liellingham, F.S.M., will play a special programme of orchestral music, including the following numbers: Overture, "Tho Naval Review" (How-gill); suites, "Oossacbs Wedding Fete" (Krein); "From Italy' '(Friml); "Scenes Ncapolitaine" (Massenet); opera. "The Snow Maiden" (RimskyKorsakov); Scherzo, "The Flight 'of the Bumble Bee" (Rimsky-Korsakov); valse, "Vnlse Triste" (Sibelius): entr'acte, "There's n Boatman on the Volga" (Donaldson); fox trots, "Precious" (Pasternnc). Tho box plans are now open at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.