NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 619, 22 March 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

"THE TRAIL OF ’9B” “The Trail of ’98,” which opens its extended Auckland season at the New Regent Theatre this evening, is a very human story of typical men and women who made up the great rush to the Klondike goldfields in 1898. The story, which abounds in dramatic situations, opens with the news of the gold strike in the Klondike, which is announced in San Francisco by Jack Locasto and other miners. Soon hundreds of people of every class embark by every available boat bound for Alaska. Among them is Larry, a young man who hopefully stows away on the City of Topeka. On board he meets a beautiful girl, Berna, who is accompanying her aged grandfather and her relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Bulkey, who plan to open a store on arrival at Dawson City. On tie trip out, Berna’s grandfather dies, and although this event quickens the attachment of Berna and Larry, Jack Locasto takes the opportunity to sympathise with the Bulkeys, and promises to help them on arrival at Dawson City. . .. The rivalry of the two men for the love of Berna, and the lure of the hidden gold, cause a series of thrilling situations, which are brought to a climax when the whole city is burned to the ground, leaving Larry and Berna to rebuild their lives together. The scenic effects are the principal feature of the production. An avalanche of thousands of tons of snow, burying in an instant a horde of goklseekers, the perils of the rapids, and the lawlessness of the camp ci-ties which sprang up overnight, are graphically depicted. Dolores Del Rio is well cast m the role of Berna, as is Ralph Forbes as Larry. Karl Dane and Harry Carey have excellent roles, and are supported by 20 other principals and 15,000 extras. . A special musical accompaniment is provided by the Regent Operatic Orchestra.