OCTAGON THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18347, 10 September 1921, Page 6

OCTAGON THEATRE

A fine picture which possesses all. the mysticism that is always associated with me East, entitled “The Palace ot Darkened Windows,” was enjoyed by a large audience at the Octagon Theatre last night. A brief synopsis is as follows:—Arline Eversham and her niece, Alice, while travelling in India, meet a native prince. Rajah 6i an East Indian province, who marked attention to me younger" Miss Eversham. Bilk- Hill, a young American, and Captain Falconer, ot tho British. Army, meet the Evershams at a hotel in Benares, and both the men fall in love with Arioc. The Rajah invites ■, Arleo to visit his palace, which is known as the Palace, ot Darkened Windows, and she accepts his invitation without letting anyone know whore she is going. In order to detain Arlee in {tho palace, the Rajah has a native announce that the plague has broken out, and that consequently the palace is under quarantine, so that no one may come or go. When Arlee fails to appear at her hotel to, keep appointments she had previously made with Captain Falconer and Billy Hill, the latter is worried and realises from the talk of a native fakir-that Alice has been restrained against her will in the palace. On tho following day Billy haunts the vicinity of the palace, hoping for an opportunity to rescue Arlee. While the search is in progress, Alice, who is accompanied by Azade, is taken from the palace by boat on the water-way loading from tho grounds to the Ganges River. The fakir sees Arlee being taken away, and making hia way into the palace, finds Billy. They have great difficulty in getting out, but finally manage to piake their escape. The Rajah invites Arleo to visit his palace, known as the Palace of the Desert, where he has arranged to have her taken. Billy, oh his escape from the palace, starts by boat in pursuit of Arlee, and finally locates her in a pretentious desert encampment with the Rajah, who has just started to make most unwelcome advances to her. In self-defence, she snatches up a candle and sets fire to the tent just as Billy, with drawn revolver, arrives on tho scene. Tho Rajah, perceiving Billy, and fearing that he will bo shot, dashes from the burning tent, while Billy is forced to cut his way through the draperies and canvas walls to safely with Arleo. Tho picture is noteworthy from an artistio point of vtew as some of the scenery is magnificent. The second picture features Edith Roberts in “Thunder Island,” and the story, which is exceedingly well produced, is as follows: A fabulously wealthy Mexican rancher is married on his deathbed to Isola Garcia, a little shepherdess. Ho brings about the marriage to repay her family for their kindness to him, by leaving tho child his legal widow in order that she may inherit his fortune. Ho dies, but a designing employee of his impersonates him, tells the girl that his recovery was sudden and attempts to claim her as his wife. She escapes with the aid of a rich young American who is cruising in Southern waters in search of pearls. Good supports and orchestral music are also provided.