AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

"HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT." Box plans for the J. C. Williamson pantomime "The- House That Jack Builtf," will open at Lewis Eady's ; at nine o'clock to-morrow morning. The pantomime will have its premiere at His Majesty's Theatre next Tuesday evening, and there w 7 ill be matinees on Wednesday and Saturday < and Easter Monday afternoons. Among the many talented comedians in "The House That Jack Built" is Jim Gerald, who will be •remembered for his work in "The New Moon" and "The Belle of New York"; another clever artist is Roy Rene, who, as Sammy, is said to be outstandingly humorous. The cow, as represented by the Paulesto Brothers, creates much lfterriment, and others who assist in the merrymaking are Phil Smith, Nick Morton and Arthur Stigant, jun. Miss Amy Roehelle is said to make an ideal "principal boy," her singing, dancing and gen<«ral deportment materially assisting toward the success of the pantomime. "As a spectacle enhanced by some beautiful scenery, 'The House That Jack Built'," wrote a critic, "surpasses anything seen on the Australian stage. Colour, aided by light, combine to make some brilliant effects. There is an abundance of delightful music and dancing and song successes. It is questionable whether a stronger or better organisation of pa.ll- - singers, dancers, specialty artists or comedians have ever previously been engaged in any one production staged by the Williamson, Limited, management." The songs in "The House That Jack Built" include "Strolling Through the Tulips," which has a melody "frhich cannot fail to linger in the memory. Another fine number is "Down the River of Golden Dreams." The magnificent ensembles and the glorious ballets are, it is said, indescribably beautiful and original, and the choruses ate quite a big feature'of the pantomime, which was produced under the supervision of Mr. Charles A. Wenman. Half the profits of the tour are to be devoted to the Prime Minister's earthquake, fund. -

PLAZA THEATRE. "Amos 'n' Andy," the amusing "blackface" comedians, who have won great popularity with radio audiences in America, make their first screen appearances in "Check and Double Check," which had "its premiere at the Plaza Theatre last evening. Their humour, which lies in their quaint negro dialogue and misuse of words, loses nothing by its transference to the screen, and they should now be assured of still wider audiences. In this comedy, "Amos 'n' Andy" are the proprietors of "Fresh Air Taxis, Incorporated," in the suburb of Harlem. Mr. and Mrs. Blair (Edward Martindel and Irene Rich) take one of the "Fresh Air" company's dilapidated taxis to meet Dick Williams (Charles Morton), who is engaged to their daughter. The taxi stalls at. a busy intersection and they miss seeing Richard, who has come to Harlem to find a valuable property deed in an old house there. His rival in love, Ralph Crawford (Ralfe Harolde) hears of his plans and bribes some gangsters to thwart him, "Amos 'n' Andy" drive to the old house that night to attend a lodge meeting. They are instructed to find a lodge document, marked "Check and Double Check," but by mistake discover the property deed. The manner in wh'ch they defeat the gangsters and restore the deed to Richard provides abundant humour and a. great* deal of excitement. ."Check and Double" Check" is accompanied by a news reel, a travelogue and featurettes. *

EMPRESS THEATRE. The famous "Cuckoos," Robert Woolsay and Bert Wheeler, are seen as two "doughboys" Wfio break all army .conventions in "Half Shot at Sunrise," the current attraction at the Empress Theatre. There are many amusing situations, and brilliant Parisian settings.

REGENT THEATRE,

I Written by Ben Travers, author of "Kookery Nook," and excellently interpreted by the all-British "Rookery Nook" cast, "Plunder" is assured of a successful season following its premiere at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The story, which has been designed to give farcical results, deals with the attempts of Freddie Malone (Tom Walls) and D'Arcy Tuck (Balph Lynn) to steal the jewels of Mrs. Hewlett, in the course of which a man is and suspicion falls upon them. The efforts made to avoid the consequences of their act provide delightful situations and amusing dialogue. Scotland Yard is called in, but Malone and Tuck manage to outwit the detectives, with many sly digs at the department's rather gauche attempts to use "third degree" methods. Mary Brough appears as the parvenu Mrs. Hewlett, and Wtnirred Siioiier as Joan, D'Arcy's fiancee, to whom he is restored to share the spoils of hie escapade. The film moves easily, and the humour is of a typically English flavour. "Du Barry, Woman of Passion," the romance of the French milliner who became the favourite of King Louis XV., will close its season at the Regent Theatre this evening. Norma Talmadge, Conrad Nagel and William Farnum are the leading players.

ROXY THEATRE. "Show Girl in Hollywood," a vivacious comedy concerning a Broadway star who attempts an entry into the talking films, opened a season at the Roxy Theatre last evening. Dainty Alice White is seen as the heroine, whose fiance (Jack Mulhall) is running an operetta, "Hearts and Flowers," on Broadway. Owing to the "talkie" invasion, the show fails, and Alice leaves to try her luck in Hollywood. She is given work "by a director in a film, hut later finds that the story has been filched from her fiance's stage production. There a pleasing and unexpected ending. Alice White is heard in several bright songs, including "Hollywood," "Hang On To a Rainbow" and "I've Got My Eye On You." There are some brilliant ballets and lavish scenes in teehnicolour. Blanche Sweet and Ford Sterling head the supporting east. "In the Headlines," the supporting picture, is the story of a happy-go-lucky newspaper reporter, who, through a stroke of good fortune, solves a baffling murder mystery. Grant Withers, Marion Nixon and Clyde Cook are the principal players.

NATIONAL THEATRE. 'Trench Leave," a sparkling British comedy of love.behind the lines, is the principal attraction at the National Theatre. The story is set in a French village where an English general and his officers are "resting." When the yqung aide-de-camp enters to arrange for the general's room, he finds a charming mademoiselle, who is introduced as the daughter of the house. But when Captain Glenister is introduced to Juliette he realises that she is his own English wife masquerading as a French girl. For an army officer to have his wife so close to the lines is against all regulations, and matters become complicated when the general himself falls in love with 'the beautiful "demoiselle." Aided by the general's orderly, the wife succeeds in concealing her identity, but further difficulties arise when another officer suspects her of being- a German spy. The following episodes are amusing in the extreme. Madeleine Carroll, Sydney Howard and Arthur Cliesney head a talented English cast.

CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. "On Approval," Avjiich heads\the pre-; sent programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre, is a sparkling English comedy, ably interpreted by the .celebrated "Rookery Nook" cast. "A Devil With Women," starring Victor McLaglen, is the supporting picture.