STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 197, 9 November 1927, Page 16

STRAND

“CALLAHANS AND MURPHYS” A very popular laughter programme is now being shown at the Strand Theatre, featuring “The Callahans and the Murphys,” the all-Irish comedy, in which Sally O’Neil, Lawrence Gray, Marie Dressier, and Polly Moran are starred. The story concerns two Irish families, each with a beautiful daughter and each with a grown son. The brothers and sisters are in love with each other—the mothers always in a neighbourhood fight—and Marie Dressier has a whole brood of smaller children always around her feet except when across her knee being spanked. The fun is fast and furious, and the cast is excellent. Frank Currier, as the old grandfather; Tom Lewis, as the newly-rich Mr. Murphy; Drew Demarest, as the bootlegger; and Blanche Payson, as the reducing expert, are all part and parcel of the frolic; and Rags, the dog, is a comedian all by himself. An excellent supporting programme has been arranged, and includes a Strand Magazine of the latest topical budgets; an Aesop Fable, “Farmer Alfalos’s Cat”; a'New Zealand scenic, and a Hal Roach comedy, “Your Husbands Past.” The Strand Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Eve Bentley, plays various selections from Irish gems, among which are selections from “Eileen” and “Eyes of Irish Blue,” an Irish comedy overture, “Legend of Erin,” and Irish dances. A very popular musical interlude is “Little Nellie Kelly,” which never fails to raise enthusiastic applause.