At Central Square, until Wednesday, Will Rogers is portraying the role he has always wanted to play--that of Lightnin' Bill Jones. At least once in every comedian's life there comes a time when he longs to play a character part--to throw off his comical clothes and show his public that he can really act. Will Rogers chose as his vehicle "Lightnin'," the play written by Frank Bacon and Winchell Smith, and staged by John golden.

The story centers around the married life of Bill and his wife, who run a hotel, the Calivada, on the boundary line of California and Nevada. To the hotel come numerous ladies to remain for three months in the Nevada wing to secure divorces from their husbands. Louise Dresser is the wife who manages the hotel, while Lightnin' loafs and in his simple way ingratiates himself with the guests. Promoters of a fake stock company appear on the scene and try to buy the hotel in exchange for stock. "Mother" (the wife) is all in favor of the idea, but Lightnin' distrusts the men and refuses to sign the deed. Mother institutes proceedings for divorce, but just in time the false promoters are exposed, and there is a happy reunion.

The love interest of the juvenile leads and comical situations add to the enjoyment of the picture, but it is Will Rogers as Lightnin' who makes it delightful entertainment.

The other picture on the bill is "A Devil With Women," with Victor MacLaglen as the carefree and swaggering captain who thinks every woman he meets loves him.