AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 230, 28 September 1934, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

" DUCHESS OF DANTZIC."

Evidence of growing popularity appeals to be strong for "The Duchess of Dantzic," which is being presented this week at His Majesty's Theatre by the Mareo Operatic Society as its initial production. Well over 100 performers are included in the chorus, orchestra, ballet, and principals. The show is well ahead of the standard of most amateur productions Auckland has seen, inasmuch as the dressing and much of the stage settings have been imported from Melbourne, having been used for Dorothy Brunton's company when "The Duchess of Dantzic" was staged in Australia some four years ago. This company was not seen in Xew Zealand, although the play was presented here 11 or 12 years ago by the Florence Young company. The play is by the late Ivan Caryll, and is an adaptation of the famous •"Sans-Gene" story. The story tells with a wealth of dramatic incident the meteoric rise to fame of a simple washer woman, "Sans-Gene," who later becomes Duchess of Dantzic. The] ma Mareo gives a brilliant performance in this role and she acts naturally and with charm and vivacity. There are many beautiful songs, both solos and duets. Much of the plot, however, has drama savouring of grand opera, although comedy is by no means neglected.

CITY SHOV/S. In addition to "The Duchess of Dantzic'' at His Majesty's Theatre, entertainment seekers will have the following city film programmes from which to select: St. James', "Stamboul Quest," a powerful romantic drama of a woman spy, starring Myrna Loy; Majestic, "Romance in the Rain," a fine musjeal romance, with Roger Pryor and Heather Angel; Civic, "Change of Heart," reuniting Charles Farrell ana Janet Gaynor; Roxv and Tivoli jointly, "Handy Andy," a Will Rogers comely, and "Registered Nurse," with Bebe Daniels; Plaza, second week of "Wonder Bar''; Regent, third week of "The Hcus<: of Rothschild," and Walt Disney's "Funny Little Bunnies"; National and Prince Edward jointly, second week of -Damaged Lives"; Strand, revival of Marlene Dietrich's "Song of Songs," and first release of "Thirty-day Princess, a comedy-romance starring Sylvia Sidney.

" ROMANCE IN THE RAIN." A veritable melange of melodies goes to make "Romance in the Rain," the new attraction listed for release at the Majestic Theatre to-day, one of the most promising of the season's musical films. Stare of a 1 eras in motion pictui'e entertainment will flash from the screen when this romantic comedy with music is shown to the local public. The respective leads are played by two popular stars of the current screen in Roger Pryor and Heather Angel. The former we saw in "Moonlight and Pretzels" and several other films, while Miss Angel, star of the English film "Selfmade Lady," has been featured in Hollywood in "Berkeley Square" and "Pilgrimage." Victor Moore, one of Broadway's most popular comedians, who has been described as "a male Marie Dressier," makes hie picture debut in "Romance in the Rain." Esther Ralston and the far-famed Clara Kimball Young are also to be seen in this film, the plot of which concerns- love and adventure surrounding the career of a modern Cinderella. .

GRAMMAR SCHOOL CONCERT,

A novel feature of the annual concert of the Auckland Grammar School pupils, held in the Scots Hall last evening, was t>he presentation of a musical play written by two masters at the school, Messrs. F. M. Price and T. Harris. Entitled "The Castaway," the play formed the second half of the programme. Excellent chorus work was shown by the pupils, the feminine parts being splendidly taken by boys whose voices were highly commendable. A well-chosen cast featured a "leading lady" named Elvira, and played by S. D. E. Dunningham; a male lead (M. T. Roseveare); a comical old lady named Astros (B. Biltoiv); two amusing beach inspectors (H. R. Cromwell and G. A. Traill), and several other characters whose roles were played by H. T. Johnson. L. A. Jacobs, A. H. L. Brinkman, A. M. Finklesteiu and C. F. Jenkins. The first half of the concert consisted of items by the school choir, orchestra and band, and tricks by a gymnastic, tumbling and horizontal bar squad. ahe concert will bo repeated this evening and again tomorrow night.