"THE EYES OF YOUTH"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 17, 15 October 1919, Page 10

"THE EYES OF YOUTH"

TRIUMPH FOR MISS EMELIE POLINI "Tlio Eyes of Youth," a piny in three acts and four episodes, by Max Marciu and' Charles Guernan. Cast: Kenneth Ashling John Feruside Abu Ashling S. A. Fitzgerald Rita Ashling Esther Mitchell Louis Anthony Nonnun I'earco Peter Judson Morgan Shaw Robert Goring Horcourt Hare Paolo Salvo Harmon Lee Gina Ashling Emciie Polini A Yogi Arthur.Grcenaway Joan Geor'sjii Harvey Picquard Raymond Lawrenco Goritz John Dc Lnccy Alfred Brooks George Chalmers Percival Lake Victor Fitzhcrbert Judge Singleton Charles Hertal Clarence Morgan Charles Brown Dick Bromwoll John De Laeey Singer Jean Wasn-w "Do Luxe Annie" revealed Miss Uinetio Polini as a clever actress; "The Eyes oi Youth," a vastly different play, discloses her ns a consummate artist. _ Perhaps it is only another way of saying "The play's the thing,'' for whilst the former was pleasantly distracting "The Eyes of Youth" is a play that grips and absorbos, of a type new to New Zealand playgoers with its episodic adventures which may be likened to a moving picture serial, so vivid are the contrasts in localo and character, and so rich the opportunities for the display of versatility in the leading role. As Wnm AshKng Miss Emelie Polini within the limit of a couplo of hours or so etched with a firm, unswerving touch a young girl on the brink of life, a frowsy, tired dispirited 6chool mistress, a swollenheaded singer in grand opera, and a. drug-stricken outcast. That is Miss Polini's work in "The Eyes ot Youth," and it was a. gallery of stage portraiture that will he difficult to crasa from the memory. The vehicle that enabled the brilliant actress to gain the acclaim of last, evening's audience is a striking one; surely the- author in conceiving so daringly original a theme must nave pondered awhile- on Bnnquo's line (in "Macbeth"), "If you can look into the seeds of ttme and 6ay which grain will grow and whicli will not,'" for that is the thought that haunts the brain of Gina Ashling, when as . a young girl with a glorious voice she is being tempted to an operatic career by Paolo Salvo, the iinpressario. Gina, a hcaMhy natural girl with several ardent suitors, is perplexed as to her future way of life, when an Indian hawker of jewellery—a Yogi—is guided her way, and hearing her desire, grants it by producing a crystal, which, if looked into with exultation of spirit and a clean heart, shows lie future. Tho girl gazes into tho globe, and as she concentrates the 930n0 fades into blackness. In a few seconds the curtain rises to find her tho weary, broken-spirited teacher of n nvmber of waywa.nl children, obviously out of hand, due to tho inefficiency of the teacher. It is five years hence in her life. Poverty and wretchedness have been her Sot, and a vigorous dramatic scene shows how, in doing her duty, eho. has lost all—hope, love, joy have all been stifled by her sense of misguided duly to others. Again the scene cluviges, and she is discovered, bewildered, stilt gazing into the ';crysHil and ever so thankful that tho picture it has shown ■is not true. The Yogi bids her look ajain, and the soeno became the dressingroom of a grand opera star. The managers are distracted at the non-arrival to time of the prima donnn, and as they rave Gina enters in a brilliant toilet, having been dining too well but not wisely. Her looseness, flippancy, boldnesß. and coareo f.cvity show plainly the way she treads. It in a peerless bit of mumming, when she eajoles nnd fonlk her limpressario, and finally elects not to sing at all because an understudy baritone lins been appointed to sing with her. On lines that are conventional she holds up the show, and when eventually an understudy is heard singing in her ptrpd, to the evident delight of the audience the "woman scorned and beaten" makes a pretty dramatic denouement, Vicious disclosures as to her life follow a heated scene with her brother, who finally shoot* the impressario. Again the "black out" and once more Gina is revealed holding the magic globe, nnd shaken to pieces with the sceno she has just witnessed. This act and the acting in it roused the audience to great enthusiasm. Robert Coring, seeing the cifect of the crystal, tries to induce the Yogi to help his suit with Gina, and once more the crystal shows what wealth may bring. Tho sceno is an American divorce court, in which a sordid plot has been "framed up" against Gina by Goring. Nauseous details are entered into, and tihe plaintiff succeeds, and Gina. utterly broken by her social downfall, becomes a poor doped wojnan outcast in ??e\v York. In the part of the wretched woman, bereft of all 'hope in life, Miss Polini gave a performance that absolutely convinced. But it was only a crystal picture, for a few seconds later, Gina, still her young sweet self, returns to tho surface to fall thankfully into tho eager arms of Peter Judson, the ono-timo lover, wibich the crystal has sho\Wr to bo the genuine article

The company supporting Mis.? Polini is in every respect a good ono. and it needs to ho. Mi. Harmon Lee, in tho responsible rolo of Paolo Salvo, is strongly dramatic when occasion calls, )>ut hardly (senses correctly the Italian maestro, handicapped perhaps by Ihis strong American intonation. Quite in the picture, however, was Mr. Eaymond Lawrence, as the Jfrench manager, M. Piquard, fiound in accent, gesture, and makeup. Mr. Arthur Grccnaway, as the Yogi, has a difficult mission, but his gravity and sincerity lent an air of conviction to the important role. Mr. John Fornside was a forceful Kenneth Ashling, and Mr. S. A. Fitzgerald as Gina's sceptical father had lines and homely touches that caused titters of laughter. Mr. Victor Fitzherbert was excellent as the big hectoring lawyer in tho court scene ' njul-Mr. Harcourt Haro was well suiteu as Goring. Others who contributed to tho perfection of the pictures were Miss Georgia Harvey (as Joan), Miss Esther Mitchell (a B Eita ashling), Mr. John de Laccv (as Morit'j), and Mr. M. Shaw (as Peter Judson). The music of Charpentier's "Louise" in the operatic act was alluniiK to n degree, and part of tho bitr aria was well sung by _ Miss. Jean Wasrner. The production gains in value troui the speed with which the scenes cliange, the whole of each scene being built upon a revolving platform, which enables ono scene to be played on ono side whilst tho next is being set. Mr. K. J. Walford controls an efficient orchestra.

"Tho Eves of Youth" will bo presented until further notice.