AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1932, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE.

Noel Coward's most successful farce j supplied the story and intriguing title | of "Privates Lives," which is enjoying an extended season at the St. James' Theatre. Norma Shearer and Robert .Montgomery are co-starred. It is high farce at a break-nock pace, and the most hilarious picture offered in many months. The story is about a divorced man and wife who marry again to spite each other. By chance, both couples are assigned to adjoining bridal suites in a French hotel on the first night of the honeymoon. They quarrel with their respective *pousc«, and, discovering each other's presence, finally eloped to a chalet in Switzerland, where they later are found by their rightfully enraged —but chaste —bride, and bridegroom. It is a screaming affair from start to finish, and hits a merry pace that makes it difficult to wonder just how it all came to bo put together. It seems so utterly spontaneous, and so unexpected are the episodes, that it all appears only,.- too real. Reginald Denny, Una Merkcl, Jean Hersholt and George Davis do good work in the chief supporting roles. REGENT THEATRE. The new British film which commences a season at the Regent Theatre to-day,

"Rich and Strange," is a most pleasant comedy of the style that has made Elstree productions famous. Henry Kendall, known to thousands of Britons through his great stage career, and last seen in films as the crazy young man in the lead of "The Flying Fool," is cast in the main male role of "Rich and Strange,'' opposite beautiful Joan Barry, who also has been ficen in numerous recent British films in Auckland. The story of "Rich and Strange" concerns comic adventures on the sea, deal' with the round-the-world voyage of young man who couldn't leave ho" quickly enough and then couldn't gc back again quickly enough. The two leaders are ably supported by other

talented players whose names are not unfamiliar—Betty Amann, Elizabeth Allan, Elsie Randolph and Percy Marmont. _ CIVIC THEATRE. Sevmour Hicks is one of England'e boasts as far as quality of stage acting goes. He makes his second screen appearance on Friday at the Civic in a new English comedy, "Money For Nothing." For a. leading lady he has beautiful Betty Stockfield, the star who was horn in Sydney and made good on the difficult arena of the English stage. She made her first screen appearance in "City of Song," a, musical romance with .Tnn Kinniim. and next in "77, lark.

Lane," with Dennis Ncilsoii-Tcrry. She has also made a film called "Captivation," with Conway Tearle. ct^ y Stockfield i* undoubtedly one of the most gifted of the younger Britwh actresses, and her diction is a treat. With such a. plaver as Seymour Hicks„ the laughable character player of ''Glamour," to help her up the ladder of fame, Betty Stockfield is sure to be enthroned as a" favourite in the near future. In "Money For Nothing," she is reported to have a type of role different from anything she has previously attempted, introducing more of the comic touch than serious romance. "Money For NotTiing" replaces "Shanghai Kxprefis, in -which Marlcne Dietrich takes the chief Pi>rt ' LYRIC THEATRE. One of New York's greatest stage actresses and one guaranteed to fill any flesh-and-hlood theatre—Helen _ Hayes— will he seen in her first triumphant screen effort at the Lyric Iheatre,' Upper Symonds Street, to-night. This film is "The Sin of Madelon A hilarious comedy, "Pyjaina Party, with Zasu Pitts and Thelma iodd, will also he screened. RIALTO THEATRE. Two of the best feature films that Auckland filmgoers have seen recently.. ••Frankenstein" (Boris Karloff Colin : Olive, Frederick Kerr, Mae Clarke and John Boles) and "Prestige" (Ann Harding and Adolphe Menjou) will be offered at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, this evening. "THE EUGENIANS." A company of young people of ( the local Methodist Church presented Ihe Eufenians," a musical comedy m three acts, arranged by Mr. H. G. Parsons and Mr. S. M. Knight, hefore a crowded audience in the Papatoetoe Hall last evening. The story of the play is the adventures of a party of mariners shipwrecked in the island of Eugenee, inhabited only by perfect people and ruled by "the gentler sex." During the performance several overtures were rendered by the Papatoetoe Light Orchestra. Presentations were made to Miss M. Haddock (Cynthius), Miss M. Law (Diana) and to the accompanist, Miss M. Seel. Others in the cast of players were Mr. N. Haddock (Admiral Blowbard), Mr. N. Law (Jack, the hero), Mr. R. McKenzie (Jeremiah Topsail), a chorus of sixteen, and the Eugenians themselves, played by Messrs. A. Littler, W. Anderson, E. Littler, R. Vine, Mrs. J. Sanderson and Miss T. Heald. RIVOLI SKATING RINK. The men's open mile championship should be the subject of a keen contest at the Rivoli Skating Pink to-night. The winner will be awarded the Rivoli Cup. An attractive programme has been arranged for patrons. The mile challenge race between Mrs. MacFarland and Miss Craig promises to be exciting, as it appears that the contestants arc evenly matched. MUNICIPAL ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. A. E. Wilson, honorary city organist, will give an organ recital on Saturday, when Bach. Sibelius, Poland Diggle, 'Schubert and others will be heard. Assisting artists will be Miss Phyllis Gribbin (contralto) and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bailey (elocutionary items). UNIVERSITY PLAY. Next Monday will mark the commencement of a six-night season for the I!).'S2 University play, a parody on the New Zealand railways called "The Goat's Train." It was written by Mr. J. A. S. Coppard, author of several previous University extravaganzas. The net proceeds will be devoted to charity. CORNISH ASSOCIATION. Over 100 people attended the quarterly social of the Auckland Cornish Association last evening. The entertaining programme included band items by the Epiphany Sunshine Players, songs by Miss Smithson, Mrs. Osborne, Messrs. O. Mason, W. Garrett, J. W. Gill and W. Smithson. Other contributing artists were Mr. Struckett, Mrs. Nieliolls, Mrs. Dawson and Miss Kendall. The evening closed with the singing of the Cornish song, "Trelawney." CATHOLIC CHARITY BALL. Undoubtedly one of the major social functions of the year. ' the Catholic Charity Ball, to be hold in the Town Hall on June 28, will benefit many local Catholic orphanages. For the convenience of those who will not be taking part in the dancing, spectators' tickets will be available at the Catholic Depot, Wellesley Street.