NATIONAL AND LYRIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 23, 19 April 1927, Page 12

NATIONAL AND LYRIC

NEW PROGRAMME TO-MORROW Attention of the man who declared that no successful play could be constructed without a villain is respectfully called to "McFadden’s Flats,” to be shown at the National and Lyric Theatres to-morrow. For the screen production of this feature comedy, like the stage play that endured for more than thirty years of successful and continuous runs is practically without the suggestion of villainy. While more laughs, numerous, unusual and side-splitting situations have been added to the original stage play in order to fit it for the screen, it is as much without the usual “heavy” work of the ordinary play as when it first was produced. “The substitution of many laughs must have made up for the lack of villainy,” said Edward Small, who produced the comedy for First National Pictures. “Newer productions are proving that audiences, the world over, love to laugh and that they don’t mind if the usual rules of production are overlooked in the finding of those laughs. Successful entertainment of the future will run more to humour than sobs, and money will be expended for ideas rather than lavish settings.” On- the same programme Priscilla Dean will be seen in her new picture, “The Dice Woman.” The story con-

cerns a young American woman of wealth who is forced to flee to China to escape arrest for an offence of which she is innocent. There are thrills in every scene and the action is decidedly swift. John Bowers plays opposite the star.