NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 239, 29 December 1927, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“MANON LESCAUT” TO-MORROW Based on the world famous romance, written by Abbe Prevost, the story of which Massenet put to music in his beautiful opera of the same name, “Manon Lescaut,” a dramatic romance of France in the days before the Revolution, is due to have its premiere at the New Regent Theatre to-morrow. Manon Lescaut is the name of a young and beautiful girl, played by Lya de Putti, who, to escape from the puri-x. tanical ideas of her maiden aunts, just as they were placing her in a convent, gets into _ a series of tragic incidents involving ’not only her own life but the life of the Chevalier des Grieux, a son of one of the highest families of France, in fact, the son of the Marshal of France. Her beauty and purity drawn to this handsome, manly youth, rouses the jealousy and hate cf the Marquis de Bli, and it is the evil machinations of this diabolical and unprincipled old roue, using liis wealth and influence against this young couple, that is the cause of all their misery. The picture gives Lya de Putti, who has been aptly described as the Cleopatra of the Ages, ample opportunities for her histrionic powers. One moment her Vivacious gaiety sparkles out only to find her the next moment in heart-broken tears. Whether in pique or pathos, in love or in tragedy, Lya de Putti proves in this, her latest production, her claim to be the greatest actress on the screen today. An interesting insight is given to prison life of the day, in the scene in which we see Manon cast into gaol among the common herd, and working at the treadmill. By way of contrast, some of the dresses worn by Lya de Putti in this masterful production, and some of the scenes depleted are the extreme of richness. “Manon Lescaut” is a picture in a class by itself, a production that will remain in one’s memory as did “Variety” and “Faust”— an intense story, a great love, magnificent spectacle, and of interest historically, it is a picture that none will want to miss.

In response to numerous requests, the Regent management has arranged to bring back for one week only Russo and Bradford, the operatic vocalists who scored such an enormous success recently. Signor Russo, whose fine baritone voice blends so well with the contralto voice of Madame Bradford, will sing “Lolita,” the ever-popu-lar Spanish seranade, while both artists will be heard in duets: “The Blue Lanube,” “I Want You Beside Me,” duet from “II Trovatore,” and a Spanish duet, “Aja, Aja, Aja.”

Maurice Guttridge and the Regent operatic orchestra will render a particularly well-chosen programme of music, including selections from Massenet’s opera “Manon.” Eddie Horton at the organ in special numbers, a pathe-colour review, a Mutt and Jeff cartoon, and an interesting English Gazette will complete the programme.

United Artists have received a cable from New York, detailing the premiere of Louglas Fairbanks’s latest feature, “Over the Andes.” Presented at the famed Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, the picture which opened on the 4th day of November, had daily broken records up to the time the cable was sent. “Over the Andes” was accorded lavish presentation and won unanimous press praise, being rated as one of the I most colossal of recent productions.