AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1925, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES.

” THE BRASS BOWL.” TO-NIGHT! TO-NIGHT!

It has lioc 11 established by investigators that almost every himian being Inis :i. counterpart in tlie form of another human being, who boars marks of such close resemblance as to be easily mistaken for the other. Explicitly,, the world is filled with pairs of people who look enough alike to lie victims of mistaken identity. Frequently the newspapers feature events in which odd mix-ups of people occur as a result of their similarity in physical appeal ranees. Evidently Louis Joseph Vance had some of the more interesting angles of this " peculiar fact ” in mind when lie wrote his successful novel, "The Brass Howl.” which William Fox has made into a photodrania and which will come to the Princess Theatre to-night. The whole basis of the story as to do with a coincidence wherein a respectable bachelor i- nißtaken. for a notorious international criminal, because he looks so much like him. As might be expected, complication-, accumulate with rapidity when this mix-up starts to become complex and when the respectable man finds himself in love with the same girl the criminal courts, the situations intensify magically. Edmund l.owe, who, as the star of this picture, plays both roles, is said to have achieved a noteworthy distinction in his versatility, hi- having succeeded in changing ihs "acting tempo” lor each opposite character in such a way that although the two do resemble so closely, they are rc-allv two widely dillcrcnt people—different in natures, in mentalities and in souls. Yet. the police, for instance, were not always able to distinguish any difference. All of their faulty pursuits were based on mere extrinsic appearances of the two men. *• This tiling of mistaken identity presents quite .a- few very interesting studies." .Mr Lowe says. " But. I think the most interesting of all is, the study of human souls, a study which the police should indulge in as a preference over physique, including fingerprints, although, of course, the latter method of identification is marvellous and indispensable. Nevertheless if some scientist could devise some way for the police officials to ' read ’ the spirits of suspects, there surely would be a facilitating of the detecting of the man wanted and still not be that one at all. If his spirit could be discerned. just as accurately as his fingerprints can be indexed, there would lie less delay in ascertaining his status in relation to the crime being investigated.” DENIS ICE I [OK COMPANY. " .MOTHER .MACH REE.” Denis Kelioe. who makes his first appearance in Hokitika with bis company in ".Mother Mach roc ” at the Princess Theatre next Saturday (Boxing Night) is. although a young man. vastly experienced in stage technique. lie left school to go into the east of " School for Scandal,” and ever since has been engaged either as a player or producer of plays. Added to this be has an expert mechanical knowledge of all that appertains to stage craft. Besides playing tile ghost in "Hamlet ” to policeman in the harlequinade in pantomime. lie ha. I< hi 11« I time In study i lolin and singing. In "Mofliei M.arhrer " be lias a play of the period when New Zealand was preparing to emerge from the legendary stage. Its characters are attired in (be extremely picturesque cost nine of the later Oeorgian period and make a bravo showing in their brocades, hoops and kneebreeches. .Much music helps jo liven the progress of the story, and comedy of the brisk, sprightly kind punctuates I lie clever dialogue. In the role of Dan (I’Connor, Denis Kelioe lias made (lose on a thousand appearances, and he is xupoiTod by Helen Fergus. in the title character of .Mother .Maeliree. Frances Kayher. Ronald Riley. .Maurice Lynch, and a number nl other popular artists, some of whom will be renewing pleasant assoieation with West Coast playgoers. The harp used bv Denis Kelioe has an -intorsting history. Originally built by Terence O’Neill, the elder, of Abbey Street. Dublin, an eminent maker, the Slradivarius of his day, it passed from the possesion of its first owner, the celebrated .Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava. to Tasmania, where it was discovered in an .-unique shop in Hobart and presented by some admirers to Denis Kelioe. who naturally cherished il as one of his dearest possessions. As an aeeompaliving in-f rument lor the sweet melodies of Tom .Moore, it establishes a unique link in the memories of many of it- bearers. The plans for the “ Mother Maohrcc ” season are open at. Miss Mclntosh’s. “ The Girl From Comity Clare ” will be presented on Monday evening.