AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18900, 15 January 1927, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE MARRIAGE CLAUSE." | $ I A DRAMA TO THINK ABOUT. | LiLERTY THEATHE. MONDAY. Perhaps there is ;.o subject under the sun more disclosed. both verbally and in print, than matrimony, ur. to delve deeper, than marriage. Without getting embroiled :n fur.damei,tale, .one can but stale that the ruuoi-r. is dimple and obvious, a reason that bo::an in UiO Garden of F.den mid has continued down ;o this year of grace. It is but banal tu dub marriage dramatic, but it is; it id equally so to say that one can extract a vast amount of humour out of it. but one can; it is brutal and unkind to avir thai marriage, alter a few months, sheeta its gaiiiicnU of lomanco, and assumes the piosaic garb ot reality, but it dees. The average man shies clear of drama, the average woman embraces it, hut that is not to say that the average man .-hies clear of matrimony. Vet there are some, who, desirous oi avoiding its eternal paradoxes, still cling to lumanec, and when that is eo events of momenloa a interest occur. Such a. situation is, to b<> perfectly candid, found more frequently between the pages of the dramatist's manuscript than between the pace* oi Life, but in the hands of competent artists, skilful authors, and sympathetic directors, a wonderfully convincing play can bo evolved from the (heme. Such « phiy is "The Marriage- Clause," the Universal production, which has been secured for presentation at the Liberty Theatre next week, and if Urn Universal Corporation never made another film, they would be remembered for "The Marriage Clause" just as long as the industry survived. In this age of competition, of strife, of the theory of tho r-urvival of the fittest carried into all arenas, the plot of this picture might not- bo encountered very frequently, but a generation back it was a dramatic commonplace, in which shattered romance and broken dreams were the predominant (actors It is it bold, sincere, effective story, essentially serious drama, to which is imparted the balance of light and delicate humour, the colour of inmance, the always attractive combination of tragedy and triumph struggling foi tho honours. It is a story of the theatre, tho lives of a company of artists being traced with a ruthless hand, livce that flow new serenely, now lurbulently, a theatrical play which is vivid and descriptive with all tho glamour of the footlights, and nil the stark realism of backstage Playing tho leading role i 3 Miss Billio Dove, who' has deserted tho mediocre roles so long offered her in the past, and blossomed forth as a, dramatic actreS3 with a distinctive flair for the emotional. Sho is both strong and artistic, and is »n active factor in the success of tho picture. She is supported by an excellent cast, in which Warner Oland, in a typical role, is, perhaps, the most notab'e. Th-? comnlement of tho programme is "Ramshackle House," a Master picture, starring Betty Compson. For ingenious mystery, sensational thrills, and pleasant human interest, this picture stands well to the forefront, and tho acting of Miss Ccmppon, which is always cf a high order, is, in this Floridnn romance, polished, and dramatic to a degree. John Davidson, who came to the frontr in "Monsieur Beaucaire," plo-ys an important part with eommendab.e finish. Tho Liberty Concert Orchestra, under Mr Krncst Janiieson, will. play a special musical programme, including tho following Overture, "Light Cavalry" (Von Supoo), Symphony No. 1 (Schumann), "Fantasie" (Mevcrbcer), selection, "Sullivan s Operas" (Cl'utsam), suite, "Belsazar" (Sibelius), entr'acte, "The Prisoner's Song'' (Mnssev), "Indian Suite" (Dvorak): son? hits, "Ukelelc Lullabv," "Save Your Sorrow, "Ninette -Ninon," "Pearl of M-labar." The box plans are now open at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be received.