HIS MAJESTY’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 482, 11 October 1928, Page 15

HIS MAJESTY’S

“SEXES AND SEVENS” TO-NIGHT A social commentary charged with wit and satire, Somerset Maugham’s “Our Betters” entertained a large audience -at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. It w. j Auckland’s last opportunity of seeing Margaret Bannerman in the role of Lady George, a celebrated part which she created in London. Miss Bannerman’s personal grace and superb acting ability are called upon to the full, and with the exercise of both, comes delight to the- spectator. The other parts are excellently cast, and the oroduction of “Our Betters” will be one of the year’s theatrical memories. This evening, and on the two following evenings, the J. G. Williamson, Ltd.. management will present Anthony Prinsep’s company and Margaret Bannerman in the brilliant comedy. “Sexes and Sevens,” which was adapted by Arthur Wimperis from the French of Alfred Savoir and in which Miss Ban nerman attracted large audiences during a long season in Sydney. The plot of “Sexes and Sevens” is very interesting. and it is said to be particularly humorous. The daughter of a wealthy banker. Mado ‘"Margaret Bannerman). who has inherited her father’s ability, carries on the business after his death. Woman, she contours, is man’s mental superior, and she has no intention of baring her bosom to Cupid's darts. Having found an insipid, alleged man, who agrees entirely with her theories, she is on the verge of mating with him far the sake of posterity. But when ho proposes 1o her. to her own amazement she finds herself irresistibly impelled to refuse him. Analysing her instinct, she traces it ,to a violent and uncontrollable attraction she feels fo»a young man who, “by conviction, pro fession and inclination, belongs to the leisured class,” but, owing to a financial deodcle, consequent on his foolish speculations, he is, at the moment, a mere penniless shopwalker. Mado makes him a proposal, which to him is outrageous, but to her perfectly logical, whereby she offers him a liberal allowance to be her companion. As he is reallv deep Win love witli her, he accepts her proposal, and from here cn the humour is genuinely funny right up to the fall of the curtain. In “Sexes and Sevens.” play-goers will witness Miss Bannerman in one of her best characterisations. “Miss Bannerman.’ wrote a critic, recently, “scintilates throughout the performance. Her acting is remarkably light and clever, her movements are aiw ».vs graceful, and her gestures are most expressive—she can be really eloquent by merely flicking her fingers.” Mr. Ellis Irving <*as a splendid part to enact as Aloert. Others in the cast are Kerry Kelly Arthur Cornell. Herbert Millard, Pirie Push. Cicely Jonas Frederick Hughes, Geoffrey Millar, Dorothy Dunckley, Lily Titheridge, and G. K. Souper. “Sexes and Sevens” will be staged for three nights, and on Monday and Tuesday next “Diplomacy” will be staged. REGINALD DENNY’S LATEST Reginald Denny. Universal’s popular comedy star, tops all his former successful performances in “Good Morning, Judge,” the swiftest moving and most entertaining picture of his career. Denny, filmdom’s best-known farceur, has a role that fits him perfectly. He is Freddie Grey, young and wealthy, who falls in love ‘with the owner of a mission for reformed criminals. The star’s ability at comedy was never better shown than in this film William A. Seiter, who has directed so many of Denny’s pictures, wielded the megaphone on “Good Morning, Judge.” The Denny-Seiter combination has been responsible for such hits as “Roiling Rome,” “Skinner’s Dress Suit,” “Take It From Me,” and others. Their teaming is a certain indication of the success of a production. The character of the Mad Tsar, Paul 1., which the famous Paramount actor, Emil Jannings, portrays in his latest Paramount picture, “The Patriot,” is the second role of his career in which he plays a Russian Tsar. The first monarch Jannings recreated for the screen was Peter the Great, the man who did more to raise Russia from the mediaeval ignorance with which it was burdened than any other of the Tsars. In the supporting cast of “The Patriot” are Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton. Florence Vidor, Vera Veronina and Tullio Carminati.