MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 100, 19 July 1927, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“THE SCARLET LETTER” “Making Musical History Nightly” describes the magnificent performance of the Majestic’s new orchestra. Never before has the Majestic echoed with such enthusiastic applause—never before has such an ambitious programme been so artistically rendered. The well-known overture, “Zampa,” has created a furore. Every night the audience gives it tumultuous applause, and demands an encore, and even a second encore. All the emotional moods of this great overture have been played with magnetic force. The new conductor, Mr. John WhitefordWaugh, has already demonstrated his strong personality, and high musical achievements. There is no doubt that his ambition to make the musical side of the programme one of the attractive features of the Majestic is already being fulfilled. Aucklanders are music-lovers, who quickly respond to the appeal of good music. The musical accompaniment alone to “The Scarlet Letter” is worth a visit to the Majestic this week. The reorganisation of the orchestra and the addition of the finest players in the Dominion, already give rich promise of a musical future. The picture programme at the Majestic Theatre features “The Scarlet Letter,” and portrays Lillian Gish in one of the most successful performances in her career. She has a splendid support in Lars Hanson, known as the Swedish Barrymore. The story is full of emotion. It is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s wonderful story of love, sacrifice, and intolerance in the days of the Pilgrim Fathers. The film version is historically accurate. Technically perfect though the picture is, it is the inspired acting of Lillian Gish that lifts it to the heights. Entering with amazing whole-heartedness into the theme of the story, she brings before one’s eyes Hester Prynne herself, the joyous impulsive girl, who. surrounded by intolerance and repression, is forced to carry a badge of shame through life to shield the man she loves. In such scenes as the amazing pillory scene, where her lover, under the pretence of exhorting her, voices his love and remorse, while she vows deathless love, the poignant drama ot the situation is so intense as to be almost unbearable.