ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 275, 2 September 1936, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. “The Informer,” starring Victor McLaglen, will, show finally to-night at the St. James Theatre. The story is set in Dublin, during Ireland’s revolt against British authority. If there is any truth to the saying that “a laugh a day keeps the doctor away,” the medicos will be put out of business by the riotous Marx Brothers comedy, “A Night at the Opera,” to be shown at the St. James Theatre tomorrow and on Monday. By actual stop watch timing there are 70 minutes of solid laughs in the latest hit of the Merry Madcaps, which was produced for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Irving G. Thalberg. Groucho, Chice and Harpo decided that this picture should be a new departure in Marx Brothers’ comedy—and it is! It is chock-full of romance, brilliant singing and original comedy. The story is woven around] two young, unknown opera singers, Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones, who are perfectly cast for their parts, and the antics of the Marxes in bringing them together. From Italy the action is transferred to an ocean liner and then to New York, where the Marx Brothers go into grand opera with a bang. In the notable cast are Walter King, who also has a fine singing voice, Siegfried Rumann, Margaret Dumont, Edward Keane and Robert Emmett O’Connor. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “Boulder Dam,” a Warner Bros, production heralded as a drama of thrilling action, heroic deeds and glamorous romance, will he the feature attraction at the Majestic T'heatrfe to-morrow and. on Friday. The picture is based on Don M. Templin’s story of the building of this mighty project, and the lives of the daredevil workmen who blasted their way through solid rock ana scaled the walls hundreds of feet above the fiver is painted in the picture in colourful detail. Death faced these dynamic workers at every turn, and many of their deeds of heroism, depicted in this film will go down in the history of this great undertaking. The picture is enlivened by song numbers written by the famous team of Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel and sung by Patricia Ellis. Ross Alexander portrays a shirking, disgruntled mechanic in a midWest garage. In a fist fight with his boss, the latter is killed by a fall, and the mechanic flees. He lands at Las Vegas, where the dam was being built. Tn a dance hall andi cafe he is about to be ejected as a. tramp when Patricia Ellis, in the role of a singer at the club, intervenes, buys him food and takes him to her home where he is welcomed by her kindly father. TEA DANCE. A function new to Ashburton, a tea dance, was held in the Radiant Hall last evening, to assist the funds of the Ashburton Branch of the Plunket Society. There was a large attendance, and those present spent a most enjoyable evening, as a result of which the funds of the society should benefit considerably. An energetic committee liadi made complete arrangements for the evening, and as a result an attractive programme of amusement was presented. A feature was a mannequin parade, in which the latest fashions were displayed. This was followed by a parade of a bride and her maids. The exhibition, including displays of afternoon and evening gowns, was arranged by Miss Roma Collins (Christchurch) 1 . The mannequins taking part were:—Mrs Madeleine Ward and the Misses Lyndsay Thompson, Eleanor Denniston, Marua Seabrook, Jean and Sally Newton, Elma Smith, Kathleen Anderson, Mollie Findlay, Lois Petrie, and Kathleen McQuilkin. In the second parade Mr V. Mulligan escorted the Ibride. This display was much appreciated, as was a dance by Miss Billie Addis, a successful performer at the Ashburton competitions. Music for dancing was played by D'abourns Orchestra, and bridge tables were arranged for non-dancers. LODGE SOCIAL. A social evening was held in the Tancred Street Hall, when the Brothers and Sisters of Washington and Naomi Lodges were entertained by members of the Hakatere and Daphne Lodges. The visitors were welcomed by the two N.G.’s (Bro. Moore and Sister Barrett). Music was supplied by Mrs Mitchell’s orchestra. The Monte Carlo dances were won by Miss Stewart and Mr Taylor (one-step) and Miss Knights and Mr Free (waltz). Extras were played by Miss Mai Willers and Mr Chapman. Mr J. Turnbull was M.C.