QUEEN'S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17322, 23 May 1918, Page 3

QUEEN'S THEATRE

The leading drama, in the new programme shown at the Queen's and King Edward Theatres deals in a novel way with a fascinating and up-to-date theme. The story is based on the custom which grew up in France, and , afterwards spread to other countries, of ladies adopting soldiers at the front as their godsons. In this case tile heroine, Jeanetto Contreau, is a typiste in a New Yoik office, and she adopts and cares for three prisoners of war at Wittenourg Camp. In writing to them she poses as an old rheumaticky invalid, and in this way hears many confidences that would not otherwise have been confessed to her I'he curious title of the picture, "The 1< lames of Chance," refers to the fact that a certain invisible ink becomes legible when subjected to heat. By accident one of Jeanette s godsons discovers that the letters she is sending are being used by a spy to send news of the United States navy to Germany. Eventually one of the three, Harry Ledyard, secures his freedom and returns hotfoot to New York to probe to the bottom the source of the mysterious messages. The devices that Jeanette uses in order to pose as an old invalid woman in the presence of Jack complicate the situation not a little, and open the way for sensational surprises as the German plot is gradually unravelled. Jeanette herself is arrested as a spy at one. stage before the ■way of future happiness is made clear. The part of Jeanette is most charmingly and cleverly filled by Margery Wilson The programme also includes the twelfth chimter in the Neglected Wife serial, and The Adventurer," featuring Charles Chaplin.