AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 6 April 1926, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

“EXCUSE ME!”—AT THE GRAND. An hour full of joy is to be had at tlio Grand Theatre to-night in Rupert Hughes’s “Excuse Afe.” It is the hilarious adventures of a young naval lieutenant, who endeavours to get married and join his transport in a very short' space of time. Harry Mallory has just made a hero of himself, and has been promoted to lieutenant, and ordered amay immediately to the Philippines. He calls on the Newtons to acquaint his sweetheart Marjorie, of the news, and she determines that he shall not go alone. So they elope. On their way to the minister’s the taxi crashes, and it is all they can do to reach Harry’s train in time. They are parting, when Harry sights a. minister boarding the train, anti suggests that Marjorie come along and he married on the train. She agrees. The minister is on a vacation, and when he settles down he discards his clerical collar, and Harry searches for him in vain. This begins to worry Marjorie as well, especially when her suspicions are aroused by a strange letter Harry receives, which he hides from her. Thus their first quarrel is provoked. The letter is from Francine, a. girl Harry met in Franco. She tells him that she has divorced her husband, and has brought her little boy to America, and wants Harry to marry her. He is dumbfounded when he runs into Francine on the train. At the next station a trainload of ministers come aboard, hut by the time Harry has convinced Marjorie that her suspicions are groundless, the ministers have alighted again, at the next station. Harry lushes off after one, and the train leaves without him. Supprts include the “Pathc News,” a New Zealand scenic, “Screen Snapshots,” and a lengthy animated cartoon. Seats may be reserved as usual. Telejihone 486. CORTNNE GRIFFITH IN “CLASSIFIED”—AT FULLERS. Corinne Griffiths’ remarkable versatility has been tested in many superior class photoplays, but in “Classified” this young star proves that she can go from society drama to high-class comedy with wonderful skill. This evening, at the Theatre Royal, the charming Corinne, supported by Jack Mulhall and a strong cast, will be seen in an adaptation of Edna Ferlier’s story “Classified.” Dabs Comet prides herself on her skill in getting "lilts” in the very “swaggerst’' cars on her way to work every morning. Rut one morning, already a little late, not a Rolls or a Renault in sight, she condescends to accept the invitation of a grimy-lookiug young man in a queer sort of home-made car, which he has constructed himself. Babs doesn’t caro much for the chariot, but rather likes its owner. Babs works in the want ad. department of the “Daily Boromcter.” The grimy-lookiug young man is Lloyd Whiting. He learns that Babs is a sister of his pal, Mart Comet, and that ©veiling ho calls at the Comet flat. The Comets live on West 66th Street, and' it is Babs’ ambition to marry money and change “west” to “east.” To that end, she spends her entire salary on clothes, adopts the maimers of a young duchess and cultivates the acquaintance of all the moneved men she comes in contact with. ' She likes Whiting, but is reluctant about • admitting, a inero mechanic to her circle of friends. But Whiting changes all that. It’s not long before they’re sitting out on the Comet fire-escape moonlight evenings, eating peanuts and holding hands. They plan to have dinner at a smart roadhouse one night, and Babs waits for Lloyd to call for her. Ho is delayed, and she, infuriated, goes oft with Spencer Clark. Llovd, sorely hurt, decides to wait for her. Twelve, one, two o’clock —and Babs hasn t appeared. Desperntelv anxious. Lloyd starts ut to search all the roadhouses and cafes. What follows would be unfair to tell in advance. “THE FARMER’S WIFE.” London’s most popular comedy since tlio war, "The Farmer’s Wife, by the well-known author Eden Plnlpotts, is to bo the next J. C. Williamson, Ltd. attraction at the Theatre Royal, Tnnaru, on Friday evening next, for one night only. “The Farmers Wife, still a big success in London, where it is playing its third year at the Court ’Theatre, made an instantaneous hit in America, and again in Sydney nnd Melbourne was acclaimed by I ress and public “the biggest laugh of yeais. Mr John Tait, who personally selecttxl tlio play for presentation in the Dominion, was so impressed by the English company appearing in London that he chose many of the original oast for the tour of Australia anti New Zealand. Alias Doris Johnstone, who appeal's as Aruminta 'Dench (the farmer’s wile) is a tall and typically English actress, who has portrayed many of Shakespeare’s leading roles. Graham Stuart appears as Richard Coker. He took the same part in the English production. Townsend Whitling, who is the farmer, and also producer, is accompanied by his wife, Violet Ley, who portrays an important ro le Kdwiii 13rett, us Cliiirdlos Ash, was’ a big favourite here, some years ago as Air llook in Aliss Hook ol Holland.” Susan Richmond, as Ihirza 'Tapper, a pernicketty spinster, is responsible for much hilarity. A big cast includes Emmeline Ortord, I ranees Cave, Reginald Newson, Aetty Landau, Millie Engler, Eardley Turner, and Arthur Greenaway. In these days of supcrllous women in England,' a prosperous Devonshire farmer might expect reasonable success in his search ioi a life partner, but the farmer of 111® Farmer’s Wife” receives sad blows to liis vanity as each lady oil lus mitten list of cligibles either hesitates or refuses to accept him. 1 lie comedy furnishes excellent fun in relating tf farmer’s affairs, and holds additional interest in the story of Ins two daughters and their rustic lovers. Its unusual wit, quaint characters and Devonshire dialect, keep the audience laughing all through the three acts. The play will be staged on the same scale of completeness as m Australia. The box plans open to-morrow O' ednesdav) at the Bristol.