THE STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 June 1927, Page 15

THE STRAND

HUMPHREY BISHOP CO. AND “SHE” To-morrow opens the second brilliant programme by the Humphrey Bishop Company. This will be an entirely new programme. “Scratcher” Ross will give a new version of his “Scratcherisms” as the “Mocking Bird” and “The Pickled Porter,” while Arthur Hemsley has the assistance of Marie Landon in a screamingly funny sketch, “Arguments,” and he will also appear in a new comicality. Charles Albert will be heard in an entirely new role as “Dismal Desmond,” and will, in association with the ballet, present a pretty song scena, “Six Pretty Maids.” Thelma Trott and Doris Pretty have a delightful musical specialty, and John Montfort, with Elaine Maye, has a pleasing duet, “It’s Too Late to Be Sorry Now.” The former will also be associated with Walter Kingsley in another of their popular duets. An item deserving of special mention is the operatic scene from “Tannhauser,” in which Walter Kingsley as “Wolfram” will sing “O Star of Eve,” with the ‘Pilgrim Chorus” by the entire company, with a specially augmented orchestra, and organ accompaniment. There will be a matinee every day at 2.30. The many admirers of Rider Haggard’s stories will remember the popular “She.” The film version, to commence showing at the Strand Theatre to-morrow, will not be the first of its kind, for the same narrative was presented at the London‘Lyceum about 16 years ago. The plot concerns the adventures of Leo Vincey, descendant of an Egyptian priest, who visits the land of his forefathers where a mysterious queen has lived throughout the ages defying death and time in an unheard-of manner. Her name is Ayesha (pronounced Asha), which means “She” in English. Arriving at last in that portion of the country where “She” holds sway, the hero and his retinue are amazed at the beauty of the woman. Vincey is infatuated. As for the queen, she recognises in Vincey the reincarnation of Kallikrates, her lover of centuries before. In the book some of the dialogue when “She” finds Vincey sleeping, and addresses him as Kallikrates, leaves a lasting impression on the memory. The spirit of these scenes has been well caught in the picture. Ayesha takes the party of Englishmen into the mountains where she proposes they should bathe in the “flame of life,” which is necessary to gain immortality Vincey is aghast, for he knows it will mean certain death. Ayesha tells him there is no danger, and decides to put her statement to the test. She steps into the Sames, and for a time is unscathed, but eventually they consume her, much to the horror of the onlookers and of Ayesha herself. Leo and his party then return to their headquarters. The story is said to be most graphically presented, and the scene where Ayesha enters the flames has been filmed in a masterly manner.