ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 231, 26 June 1931, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Tor screamingly funny situations. . Radio Pictures farce, “Hook, Line and Sinker,” co-fcaturing Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, coming to the Regent Theatre to-day, is the coming season’s masterpiece, it is said. It is a “straight” comedy, even funnier than ' “The Cuckoos,” and “Half Shot at Sunrise.” It lifts these comedy kings into a class by themselves, specialists in comedy, both.high and low. They are. at their best at clowning, and they are also at their best when genuine dramatic artistry is required. The boys start out as insurance salesmen, politely steal a whole railroad train, and butt in on the affairs of a beautiful girl; take over the hotel she has inherited, fill it with society dowagers, and their jewels, and then, when publicity brings all the crooks in creation into the hotel; the plot begins in earnest. The girl’s mother detests Wheeler. Woolsey plots to marry the mother so he can become the girl's /father and give her to Wheeler. The crooks plot to slay the heroes and take everything for themselves. Dorothy Lee. as the daughter, gives her usual vivacious performance. Jobyna Howland, the tall comedienne of “Dixiana,” is a scream. Fine dramatic artists. Ralf Harolde, George Marion. Natalie Moorhead, Stanley Fields, and Bill Davidson, round out an all-star supporting east for the comedians, A varied programme of good, sound supports is also being screened. . ST. JAMES THEATRE. “Madame Satan,” which will open this morning at the St. James Theatre, is credited with upholding Cecil B. De 'Mille’s long-sustained reputation of being a master in the realm of the exotic and unusual. M.-G<M.’s new comedy, which is the longest in talking screen history, touches upon every conceivable phase of entertainment. It treats of domestic discord. It has clever scenes in Miladi's boudoir. It takes you to a gorgeous masked ball aboard a Zeppelin in mid-air, and ends with a thrilling spectacle when the airship tears loose from its mooring mast, and the guests leap for safety in parachutes. All of this-excite-ment is coated over by eight musical numbers and three special ballets, making “Madame Satan" a well-rounded eye and car attraction. Kay Johnston and Reginald Denny are the two principals. “THE FIRST MRS. FRASER.” At the Grand Opera House to-morrow evening, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, will present its incomparable English comedy company, which is headed by the brilliant New Zealand actress. Miss Ethel Morrison, in St. John Ervine’s much-discussed and very amusing comedy-drama. “The First Mrs. Fraser.”' which has been runnin continuously in London for two years, and in which the company achieved a' sensational success in Auckland recently. Miss Morrison is said to be irresistibly humorous. “The First Mrs. Fraser” is a half-humorous, half-serious examination 1 of the. basic foundations of marriage and family life in which the younger generation come in for some rather plain speaking. The brilliant acting of Miss Morrison in the title role has materially assisted in making “The First Mrs. Fraser” one of the most successful comedies ever staged, in Australia or New Zealand. That sterling actor. Mr. J. B. Rowe, who will be remembered for his excellent work when he toured New Zealand as leading man with Miss Irene Vanbrugh, has a fine part in Mr. Fraser, and Miss Mary Macgregor has been lavishly praised for her clever handling of the difficult role of the second Mrs. Fraser. The second play to be staged will be Noel Coward’s sparkling comedy. “Hay Fever,” which Ims proved successful in London, New York. and Australia. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The producers made a wise selection when they chose Booth Tarkington’s clever and wholesome story of family life, “The Flirt,” and transformed it into a talking comedy under the title of “Bad Sister.” and they made no mistake when engaging a'ctors to play it, for the members of the cast are all established favourites with the public. The ever-dependablc Conrad Nagel is lending man, and associated with him in the principal roles of the play are Sidney Fox and Bette Davis, two distinguished actresses from the legitimate stage who made their screen debuts in “Bad Sister,” with-, conspicuous success. Second to none in the cast is little Davie Durand, the clever lad who was such a favourite when with Maurice Chevalier in the, “Innocents of Paris.” In “Bad Sister” Davie is a mischievous boy who gets himself and every other character into comic scrapes. QUEEN’S THEATRE. At the Queen’s Theatre, “The Light of Western Stars” is now being screened. Zane Grey’s stories of Western life are famous, and he is, without doubt, the greatest author writing for the screen. Richard Arlen, Mary Brian and Harry Green are the featured players. Excellent supports include varieties, songs, comedy, and round 9 of “The Leather Pushers.”KILBIRIE KINEMA. Screening at the Kilbirnie Kinernn tonight will be “Man Trouble,” starring Dorothy Mackaill and Milton Sills. Included: in the programme'are four song hits. Good sunports will also be shown.

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Viennese Nights,” the Warner Bros, and Vitaphone romance which comes to the De Luxe Theatre to-day, proves that Keats was right and that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. In “Viennese Nights” it takes three generations to complete a symphony and to unite in marriage the grandchildren of the boy and girl whose romance shared the fate of the music. The cast includes Walter Pidgeon, Jean Hersholt, Louise Fazenda, Alice Day, Bert Roach, June Purcell, Milton Douglas, Vivienne Segal and Alexander Gray, who play the boy and girl whose love was so great that it carried through three generations ■ while the symphony was begun, lost, and found again. The settings are gorgeous, being all in natural colours. The glamour of old Vienna, told so often in story and song, is caught with stirring vitality. An additional feature of interest on the programme, and, indeed, for future programmes, is the Orchestra De Luxe, under the direction of Mr. L. D. Austin. This talented combination has been reengaged as from to-night and will, it is to be hoped, be a permanent feature of future De Luxe Theatre entertainments. The original personnel has been reinstated almost intact. Mr. Paul T. Cullen will preside at the Wurlitzer organ, and good supports will be screened. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Greater than “Seventh Heaven, the unforgettable bid for kinematic fame by Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, is their co-starring -performance in Raoul Walsh’s Fox Movietone production of “The Man Who Came Back," which opens to-day at the Paramount Theatre. With stronger roles dramatically than their ’previous masterpiece, Miss Gaynor, and Farrell came into the full flower of their histrionic talent in this great romantic drama of regeneration. “The Man Who Caine Back” has many poignant scenes, and in every one of them the young stars have risen to their opportunities. The Shanghai and Hawaiian sequences are especially well done and will long be remembered by everyone who sees this picture. The supporting cast includes Kenneth Mac Kenna, William Holden, Mary Forbes, Ulrich Haupt, William Worthington and Peter Gawthorne. All contribute excellent performances. Farrell- is seen as a young gallant, his scrapes eventually bringing him to a point where his father easts him out to make his own way in life. He lands in San Francisco to make the friendship of Angie, a young innocent whom circumstances have forced to take up a position in a cabaret. Farrell professes love and she reciprocates, to be astounded when he makes a prop6sition for the kind of domestic link-up which does away with any legal ties. The supporting items are said to be excellent. KING’S THEATRE. British producers and all who take special interest in film doings in the Homeland may well be proud that the truly brilliant farce “The Middle Watch” was, made nt the Elstree Studios, London. This picture will commence screening at the King’s Theatre ■ to-day'. Owen Nares is all that could be wished for as “Captain Maitland,” Fred Volpe is splendid as “Admiral Hewitt,” Jack Raine is rpanly as “Commander Badderley, REPERTORY SOCIETY. On Tuesday next the National Repertory Theatre Society’s production of “The Pelican” will take place at the.Y.W.C.A. Hall, Boulcott’Street. The season runs until Saturday, July 4, inclusive. Miss Mary Plimmer will appear in the role of the divorced wife. Sir John Heryiot will, be played by Mr. A. Morris Dunkley, and the fine role of Marcus Herriot. the husband of Wanda, will be played by Mr. Walter Rhind. The family lawyer. .Cheriton, will be played by a newcomer to-Wellington audiences in Dr. Welton Hogg, and Lady Herriot by a late member of the Auckland Repertory Society, Mrs. Allen. Other roles in the cast are handled by the Misses Nancy Marshall and Ailsa Newton and Messrs. Ulric Williams. Lindsay Page, Jasper Baldwyn and W. S. Wauehon. The production is in the hands of Mr. W. S. Wauchop. nnd a thorough preparation of rehearsal has been made. TREVOR FISHER’S RECITAL. On Tuesday next Mr. Trevor Ffshor will give his farewell recital at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. Mr. Fisher is well-known as pianist to the Repertory Society, accomnanist to the Commercial Travellers’- Choir, nnd. secretary for the Society of Musie’-nns, in which capacity he has . arranged receptions for many visiting artists, including Fukelik, G’anuini, Levitzki. Hambonrg. Dawson. Formerly a student of the Nelson School of Music, he has st”'li«l at Wellington under Miss Gladys Wntkfns, and more recently Mr. Bernard Page. WBKSTMNfi SCHOOL. The New Zealand School of Wrestling, which opened- at the heg’nning of this week at Wellington, is now instructing nnnfls daily from 10 n.m. until 10 p.m. Boxing, wrcstlfn"",'.iii’-Otc-n. and nhys'eal culture are tnught. Jiu-iitsn classes for women will be held and there will be special classes for schools-and colleges.