AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1926, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

“JUST A WOMAN.” FINE DRAMA AT THEATRE ROYAL A steel works clerk, who Inter becomes president of tlio company, has ono of the leading parts in “Just A Woman,” which was the premier attraction before ' a large house at the Theatre Royal 1 fc;t evening. Robert Holton is an omce employee in the great Mid-Atlantic* Steel Mills, near New Yoi*, and . his home is in the shadow of the grey walls within which the blast furnaces glow luridly and men direct tho power of the - gigantic machines. With their boy Sonny, and a boarder, George Rand, the Holtons Jive a quiet and happy existence. A peculiar character is Rand, and a slave of stool. - He turns part of the house into a laboratory, and has visions of patents and great riches. Jane js his confidant, and she agrees to suiter the inconveniences caused by his experiments on condition that if they prove .successful she will receive 50 per cent, of tho proceeds. “We’ve got it!” shouts Rand one day, and leaves for Washington to take out patents for a new process. Holten submits these to the company for him, and receives an offer of 100,000 dollars cash, and a dollar a ton royalty, but Jane, secs the directors, and demands 1,000,000 dollars for the patents, a royalty of five dollars, and that Bob shall be president of the company. They refuse, but the success of Rand’s patents later forces them to concede to Jane’s demands. It is at this point that an actress, Clarice Clement, comes into the picture. Her cupidity is aroused by Holton’s wealth, and slid makes appointments with him “to learn about bonds and stocks,” and how to invest her savings, and vamps him in approved style. From here on the interest never wanes. By the aid of an accomplice, Clarice arranges to supply Holton with evidence that will gain him a divorce. The latter leaves Hand and Jane together in his house, and by a trick the evidence is procured. At tho divorce proceedings the question of the. custody of the child induces Holton to reflect on the course ho has taken. He sees that his wife’s evidence is truthful, and the photo-drama closes with a happy reconciliation! The auxiliary films include the "Gaumonfc Graphic,” “A Ride in the Clouds,” a fine scenic, and an amusing Hodge Podge comedy, featuring Lyin Hunt. A tasteful musical programme was played by the Royal Orchestra, under the direction of Miss K. Sherlock (A.T.C.L.) THE GRAND. A GALLERY OF FAVOURITES. “A gallery of favourites” and a rousing good story make the great Metro picture “Broken Barriers,” which opened last night at tho Grand Theatre, one of- the most . entertaining pictures of tho year. Rarely, if ever,

has such a collection of stars been seen in a picture, James Kirkwood plays tho part of Ward Trenton, in love with Grace Durland (Norma Shearer), but unable to obtain a divorce from his wife (Winifred Bryson). Mae Busch appears as a friend of Grace DurJand, and is in love with Tommy Kemp. The latter is impersonated by Adolphe Menjou, and lie again, demonstrates., that his great successes in other pictures were no mistakes. Then there are George Fawcett, aa the girl’s father, Robert Frazer, Ruth Stonohou.se, Robert Agnew, Vera Reynolds, Edythe Chapman, Margaret AlcAVado and George Kuwa. The story is a powerful pictoral discussion of the divorce question—its worth, its uselessness, and the part it plays in the philosophy of the younger generation. When Trenton cannot get a divorce, Gr ace is all 'for, defying convention, but the former realises they are playing with fire. The girl, however, says she will never give him up. She changes her mind the next night when she Jearns from her brother that ho has become embroiled in an affair with, a flapper friend. She goes to say good-bye to Trenton at a-party given by Tommy Kemp. On going back to the city, Tommy, who is intoxicated, overturns the automobile, and is killed, while Trenton is badly injured. Learning that her husband may he an invalid tor the rest of his life, Mrs Trenton alters her decision, and the air is cleared. Tho supporting subjects comprise the “Pathe News,” “A Trip to Mars,” a clever cartoon, “Screen Snapshots,” and a picturesque New Zealand scenic, “Napier.” Of an attractive nature was the programme of accompanying music by the Grand Orchestra. GUY BATES ROST. TO-NIGHT’S GREAT ATTRACTION. The intense and widespread interest which is being displayed in the visit of Guy Bates Post plainly indicates that tho great actor will be given a , splendid welcome at the Theatre Royal j to-night (the final night of the record- ; breaking New Zealand tour). Every- ; tiling is in readiness for the big ! production, “'The Masquerader,” the sconeiy and stage properties having •’ arrived early in the week from ; Dunedin, and tho great actor’s fare- j well performance in the Dominion j promises to be a most brilliant ono I from every viewpoint. “The Masquerader,” which is an adaptation of Katherine Thurston’s “best seller,” “John Chilcote, M.P.,” is the drama in which Mr Post .first won his light to be regarded as one of the great actors of tho English-speaking world. There is a strong supporting company, and such sterling artists as Messrs i Ashton Jarry, Leslie Victor, and Eric j Maxon will make their reappearance | here. The leading lady,- Miss Eileen j Sparks, will be remembered for her : lino work with the Moscovitch Com- j pany last year, and the clever young actress, Miss Cecil Haines, will need no introduction to Timaru, for she is one of New Zealand’s own. I The box plan at,the Bristol is filling

rapidly, and intending patrons are ! udvised to secure their seats during the day. They are also reminded ot the i fact that the dimmed shadowed beauty | of , the prologue to “The Masquerader” | makes it imperative that the charm of its brief story be not disturbed by j the entrance of late-comers. They I are, therefore, asked to be in their ! seats by 7.55 p.m., as'the doors of the theatre will be closed during the j progress of the prologue. I. “CHARLEY’S AUNT” COMING. j “Charley’s Aunt,” with D. B. O’Connor is said to be the funniest I comedy that’s ever been staged. It is a clean, wholesome story, whose great charm and appeal lie in the simplicity |of tho farce and have carried it j through to a hilarious success. The - comedy was originally produced in ■! England thirty-three years ago, and i has played continuously, and in almost | every known language since. D. B. O’Connor has the audience completely [ in his grip right throughout the perfor- ; ir.ance. The simple story of a college i boy, who assumes tho part of an | elderly aunt in order to help his chums I tvin the girls they love, is told in tho 1 “straight from the shoulder” manner which is delightful and refreshing. : There is not a single slow moment- ! from the time the curtain rises till j the end of the performance. The box i plans for the season will be on view j on Friday morning next. i “STEREOSCOPIES.” Patrons of tho Grand Theatre are promised something of a novelty tomorrow night, when the screen’s latest ! novelty, - known as “Stereoscopiks,” will be shown for the first time in Timaru. Last night after the show- I ing of the ordinary programme, a private screening of the new pictures was j given. In order to view these pictures, [ in which illusion plays a prominent part, each member of the audience is j handed a pair of spectacles (so called), ! in which one glass is, blue and the other rod, and through these, “Stereo- , scopiks” are viewed. With the ordinary picture there is length and breadth, hut no actual depth. With i Stereoscopiks, however, the figures j stand out from the 'creen and seem to come right into Be audience. It can bo readily imagined what excitement this creates, especially when tho figure is a. man with a. gun, an angler with ml and lino, landing salmon as fast as thov can he thrown out of tho water, an individual travelling through the air, feet foremost, and a hundred and one other things which deceive the eye and cause a sensation among tho