REGENT THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 131, 27 February 1937, Page 16

REGENT THEATRE

“Sweet Aloes” As is now usual with all successful plays, "Sweet Aloes,” the play in which Diana Wynyard scored decisively in London eighteen months ago, has reached the screen, and the film is now at the Regent Theatre. This play, of unusual inhibitions, is a story of mother love, sadly twisted with a sophisticated setting that permits of a nice display of sartorial elegance in gleaming balls ever so far from Grub Street. Robert Melford, the young son of Lord Farrington, burdened with an invalid wife, has sought consolation beyond the castle walls with beautiful Linda Warren, daughter of a dear old bookworm of fine understanding. Linda, who is ever so sane in all other matters, cannot see her way out of the fog into which she. has drifted. She is about to disclose all to her father and seek his advice, when the old man dies. It is Tubbs Barrow. a friend of the Farringtons and the Warrens, who sees that something must be done to prevent an awful scandal, for Linda is about to become a mother. Lord Farrington's sympathy is sought, and he, desiring an heir .more than 'anything, offers to stand at the back of the girl if she will leave her baby with them and disappear in America. Linda is brought to see reason in this generous offer. In New York she marries again, but gradually becomes a nervous wreck in her suppressed mental misery, until, ten years later, Tubbs Barrow turns up with lhe new Lord and Lady Farrington and heir. Arch plotter, Tubbs soon sees that Linda is eating her heart away, so schemes to bring all the parties together, by which means Linda sees her own child once more and the tension is lifted. Kay Francis is very charming as Linda, a role which gives her every chance to display her natural grace and good taste in dressing. Other performances of merit are contributed by Roland Young (as Tubbs), Henry Stephenson (as old Lord Fnrringr ton), George Brent (as Jim Baker), and Frieda Inescourt (as Rosamond Melford). The programme also includes snaps of Leon Navarra and his orchestra, “Big Time Vaudeville,” and a technicolour cartoon.