HUMAN DRAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 3

HUMAN DRAMA.

W. Somerset Maugham’s “Of Human Bondage.” ** The Scarlet Empress ” will be *creened finally to-morrow night at the Kegent Theatre. A feature of the supporting programme is the appearance on the stage of M. Senia Chostiakoff and his Cossack choir. Strange adventures of love, its hopes, its great achievements, its disappointments, form the most unusual drama. “Of Human Bondage,” which will be featured at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. XV. Somerset Maugham, author of the story, invested his characters with a realness which makes an audience feel for all of them. The two central figures are those of an aspiring, romantic medical student and a Cockney waitress. One of the features of the show is the acting of Bette Davis, who is the fount of inspiration for the student and the heartless shatterer of his dreams For all her vampish unfaithfulness she has her penitent moments—when sue :s deserted in turn by an extra lover or so and by the husband whom she is fool enough to marry. The restrained acting of Leslie Howard as the student is admirable. The character he portrays is mortal enough, but the common woman cannot comprehend his virtuous motives, and thereby hangs a sorry tale. The scenes between these two are splendidly done, interpreting every shade of drama and the waitress's idea of melodrama. There is humour in the picture also. Solace for Howard's wounded heart is found in Kay Johnson, whose love for him is unrequited as is Howard’s for Bette Davis. Hers is a tender, sympathetic and sincere role, well taken. The whole thing is cunningly written, leaving to the individual conscience and outlook the judgment upon these strange people who come and go on the screen with such absorbing reality. Box plans at the D.I.C.