THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19814, 30 December 1929, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

Holiday audiences are given a holiday programme at the Theatre Royal this week, the management of Williamson Films (N.Z.), Ltd., presenting a bill of great variety. A vivid tale of circus life is bound up in "Dangerous Curves," in which the beauteous Clara Bow is the star. The story proper tells of a troupe of three wire-walkers who gain the admiration of gaping thousands by their daredevil performances. There are two men and a woman, and, naturallv. the spirit of jealousy enters, and produces a- marked effect upon the success of the turn. One of the male members —in love with the woman—becomes birttr through continued rebuffs, and finds a sympathetic appreciation of his art on the part of one of the very ordinary troupers —a fascinating young thing. Tho haughty lady decamps with the other male partner in the act. and thus provides a wonderful opportunity for the wronged man to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the circus world. Tragedy enters during a big performance. The star of the troupe falls from a wire 50ft from Ihe ground, owing to a sudden lack of nerve. The pretty young "super," realising that he is wasting his life in caring for the other woman, decides to perform the act herself. During a rehearsal her antics, produced by fright, delude the house into regarding it as the turn of the year. Larry Lee, the star of the act, recognises that the turn may be made more effective by clowning, and, at the uext performance, makes a great hit. Upon the following night, despairing of hi 3 lost love, he takes to the bottle, and is incapable of making an appearance. The little super dons a make-up, as near as possible to that of tho star, and goes ' through the big act with great gusto. She falls, slips, and slides, but always manages to remain on the wire. The huge crowd below, thinking that Lee is "fooling," and excelling himself, applaud mightily, but it is only by a superhuman effort that the girl reaches safety. Lee, ou being told" of her pluck, realises that his love is for and tliere the story ends.