Arizona republican., 1921-04-04
LAWRENCE PLAYERS
 SET HIGH LEVEL IN
 NEW SHOW AT ELKS

A performance that was almost perfect plus perhaps the whltest shoulders in Phoenix, put the openin~ of Wedding Bells" by the Del $. Lawrence players at the Elks theater last evening even before the high level that has been set by the com pany during the last four or five weeks. The shoulders belonged to Wilma Steck. as does a major share of the success of the Fields comedy which delighted a crowded house last night.
 There is always an element of in terest for all mankind in a matrimo- nial tangle-and there are more mat rimonial tangles in Wedding Bells than Bluebeard ever dreamed of. In | fact, the entire cast was involved in various alliances and mesalliances, with the exception of Fuzisaki, the Japanese servant, played by Mir. Hood, and Spencer Wells, the best friend" played by Jay Allard, and the reason in these two exceptions was | that Fuzisaki had his mind on a | Christian heaven and Wells had an eye to his own heaven here on earth- although 1t seemed that he, too, was to become badly involved before the end of the second act.
 The play is one of joyous surprises | that keep the audience in continual | expectancy and laughter. And while Wilma Steck carries the chief share of the load, she and el DLawrence have snch better and more finished support than has been the case even with this excellent company in the past, that it Is difficult to single out individuals. Victor Gillard, as the much married valet. is as finished as ever; May Roberts is perfect in lines and acting, and Billy Billingsley has a part that brings out his ability bet ter than has any other during the month. Ida Mae Coke handled a diff ficult part easily, and Miss Spencer was delight. The play is well worth going to see-especially for married
 people, unmarried people and those
 who are not certain of their status l. Wedding Bells" will continue all
 this week, with the usual Wednesday
 and Saturday matinees-
 Passion" Scores at Strand Passion" is unduesionably one oi the big photoplays of the decade. and it is big in every conceivable way only a few of the leading triumph. of the screen being comparable to it Next in importance is the fact thai
 1t brings to the silent stage a re. markedly brilliant star, who is new , to this country, Pola Negri, a conti mental actress of the rarest charm , and most pronounced ability quit, , all her own. It is said she is destined
 to become one of America's favorite,
 of the first rank because she display,
 what America admires namely ge nius of a high order. Her portraya
 Of the character of a little French [ miiliner who by dint of willfuI capri ciousness and ingratiating manner
 becomes the ruer of a king. is on,
 of the outstanding Historic achieve , ments in the annals of the screen.
 is doubtful whether any other artis
 could have matched her sterling per
 formances before the motion pictur
 camera in this particular Thos
 who witnessed her performance at tn
 Strand theater last evening seemed
 unit in enthusing over her.
 Passion" is a super drama in al
 the term implies. It is totally devc+ . of the commonplace and maintain
 a suspense and interest which fire | quently amounts to veritable thrill 2 It can be described truthfully as stu pendous. The story has to do with reign of terror which engulfs a grea
 nation as result of the king losin his sense of political proportions. be ,. cause of his infatuation. He make U her his favorite before the eyes of hi . countrymen and permits her to as 1T sume almost complete sway over tn destinies of the nation. As the tragi
 upshot of this fallacy she become
 the most hated person in the whol country and finally is the direct caus
 of the whole populace rising in i'm . passioned revolt. Then when sh v is most in need of powerful aid i , her effort to combat the murderou forces working against her the kim '. dies and she is shorn of all her power r,itfad Q 1ui irS mo mi = lions inevitably presents a patheti Y annearance and desnite her errnr