ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 18929, 1 May 1923, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION THEATRE. Two extra special attractions head the change of features at this comfortable theatre to-night headed by D. W. Griffith’s de-luxe drama "Dream Street” and Elaine Kammerstein in "Why Announce Your Marriage.” D. W. Griffith has made a great nine-part picture in "Dream Street,” founded on the story of Thomas Burke’s in the well-known "Limehouse Nights” series. The foundation of the play inevitably challenges comparison with "Broken Blossoms,” but this is a different kind of story altogether, and the ending is happy as sunshine. Carol Dempster, in the leading role is very wayward and notably beautiful, and the supporting cast is so splendid as to deserve special mention. Ralph Graves as the blustering handsome McFadden, the dreaming melody writer, is a genuine poet. Then there is the sly, evil, leering Oriental Sway Wan, wonderfully done by Edward Peil. The whole play is a great achievement and worthy of the fame of the great producer. It screens at 8.20 p.m. There is "something new under the sun” after all, and it has found its way to the screen. Last year Miss Fannie Hurst astonished the literary world by announcing that she had been married for a long time, but that she and her husband had kept the fact secret and continued living in their own apartments, for the reason that they believed too much familiarity was the secret of much marital unhappiness. And this is what Selznick has put on the screen in the new Elaine Hammeratein picture showing at 7.15 p.m. Miss Kammerstein plays the part of a successful artist, who refuses to give up her career to be merely a wife. But she’s in love. And so she marries the man, but they keep it hidden from their friends. Now there are many young couples who have kept their marriages secret, but only because someone would disapprove. In this instance, everyone is urging the couple to marry, although they are married already. But the newly-weds grow careless. And the gossips get busy. And there’s a good deal of embarrassment for everyone until a burglar upsets everything, including the bannisters. Box plans are on view at the Albion (tel. 738).

CIVIC PICTURES. Another bright and entertaining programme is due to make its initial appearance at the Civic to-night when the principal features will be One Wild Week” with Bebe Daniels and the Universal Special "The Man who Married His Own Wife,” featuring Frank Mayo and Sylvia Breamer. "One Wild Week” is one of those snappy comedy dramas with the beauteous Bebe in the role of an eighteen-year-old who broke loose when his birthday came round and indulged in a period of riotous freedom. All who fell foul of her were quite agreed that it was in very truth "One Wild Week.” "The Man who Married His Own Wife” features some thrilling sea scenes and a wreck scene that has never been surpassed. The story tells that John Morton, head of the Blue Star Line, thinks that his wife, whom he met in a shipwreck two years before and married after a strange courtship, doesn’t love him any more. The wreck had left him with a hideous face, and though he had amassed a fortune saw his beautiful wife more and more in the company of a mental lightweight, Freddie Needham. He came to a decision. He put his affairs in the hands of a lawyer and swapped identity with the body of a dead man, washed ashore. Morton then goes back to his childhood home in Boston and resumes his real name, O’Hara Mardsen. He determines to take advantage of the social education he missed when he ran away at sixteen to the sea. The new art of the war, plastic surgery, is called in and his scarred face restored to smoothness. An entirely new man, he goes back to San Francisco to win his wife anew. He finds her badly in love with the dead John Morton! Not telling anyone who he is, he visits the Blue Star offices and finds the firm near the rocks, mismanaged by Needham. Dramatically unfolding a picture of a re-made soul, the story wins on to a vivid climax. A Century Comedy is also on this programme.

THE FAMOUS DIGGERS TO-NIGHT. The Famous Diggers have been having record houses everywhere with their new show—a revue of the laughable type entitled ‘Tip Top.” They will give the one and only performance at the Municipal Theatre to-night and, judging by the booking, a bumper house should result. It is also to be the occasion of a farewell to Joe Valli, Stan Lawson and a number of other well-known artists in the orient company. SCANDAL. MUNICIPAL THEATRE TO-MORROW. When Cosmo Hamilton wrote Scandal he laid a plot bold in construction and built upon it a series of situations that for daring and realistic presentation have not been equalled in stage craft for many years. In America, England and Australia the play has produced wide controversy and has enjoyed seasons of exceptional business wherever it has been presented. The New Zealand tour has been no exception to the general interest and enthusiasm which has been aroused by this sparkling comedy. Invercargill theatre-goers are fortunate in being able to see the leading role interpreted by Miss Doris Duane, an actress whose record of stage successes has been of unusual length. Her suitability for the part she portrays is fully guaranteed by the possession of charm, piquancy, versatility and emotional intensity that are finally utilised in the many scenes demanding interpretative ability of more than ordinary distinction. The Dominion (Wellington) says: “Scandal opened to a capacity house which thoroughly enjoyed this daring and delightful comedy. It contains much saucy incident and mischievous piquancy, but never oversteps the border line.” Cosmo Hamilton’s story is "Innocence with a bit of the devil in her.” The box plan for the three nights is at the Bristol and day sales at Mrs Gawn’s.