ENTERTAINMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 156, 15 April 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"SHE COULDN’T TAKE IT." "She Couldn’t Take It,” the Columbia film featuring George Raft and Joan Bennett, will have its final screening at the St. James Theatre this evening. "Let’s Live To-night,” which will be shown to-morrow night and on Friday night, is a diverting pot-pourri of sophistication. romance, music and enchanting atmosphere. Its poignantlytold love story is exquisitely mounted in the colourful kaleidoscope of Nice, Monte Carlo and the fashionable watering places of the Mediterranean. Lilian Harvey, blonde and ravishing European star, is co-starred with Tullio Carminati. who is still taking bows for his performance opposite Grace Moore in "One Night of Love.” It is Miss Harvey’s first real hit since arriving in Hollywood about two years ago, for which she might add a few kind words of gratitude to Director Victor Scliei'tzinger and to Gene Markey and Bradley King, who are credited with the story, for Miss Harvey’s performance in this Columbia production justifies every superlative i>sed to describe her talents in the past. As the young girl eager for romance, she is captivatingly lovely. She has an exquisite charm, a wistful naivete, and a youthful buoyancy that has never appeared to better advantage than in this tailored-to-fit-her-talents script.

"WITHOUT WITNESS.” A play that is calculated to keep audiences guessing will be presented at the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday, April 29 and 30. This is the three-act thriller, "Without Witness,” by the author oi "len Minute Alibi,” and it is being produced for the Ashburton Repertory Society by Miss Bessie Thompson, of Dunedin, who has just returned from Hollywood. The story deals with the puzzle which faced two detectives when they were called to the flat of Maurice Trcyford, who has been found dead on the floor. In their first investigation, it appears to be a case of suicide, but a check-up of the times of arrival and departure of several people at the fiat gives rise to a doubt and when the suggestion oi murder creeps in the net is spread y the detectives. They then J ' scoV( f the theory of murder might also be wrong. How, then, did Ireyford die. ! EASTER MONDAY BALL. The Easter Monday night ball held in the Tancred Street Hall was hugely attended. The prize winners were Special Monte Carlo, Miss Speddn and Mr Cowans; first couple on the floor, Miss Graham and Mr Blackburn , lucky spot, Mrs Chambers and Mi Paust; guinea Monte Carlo,. Miss Lamb and Mr Lloyd. Dabourn s orchestra supplied the music. Messrs ISI Chambers and R. Dingwell were M.C s.