ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 218, 10 June 1933, Page 5

ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Bright Pantomime and Entertaining Films REVIEWS OF THE LATEST PROGRAMMES Patrons of the various theatres in Wellington arc again being well catered for, there being a number of excellent talk-ing-picture programmes to choose from,-as well as a spectacular pantomime, ■ which is to be followed by a bright musical revue. The pantomime is at the Grand Opera House. At Regent two popular stars are to be seen in a sophisticated Nod Coward play. The offering at the St. James is a piquant story, of a flirtatious wife and her many admirers, and the comedy release-at the Majestic tells of a honeymoon couple who find their happiness spoiled by the presence of a somewhat interfering mother-in-law. A most pleasing story that has a big fair as a background continues to attract at the De Luxe, as does the merry and romantic British musical comedy at the Paramount. “The Dominion’s” reviews of current programmes should prove helpful in the choice of a show.

REGENT THEATRE “To-night is Ours” “To-night is uurs,” wfiicti opened at the itegeur Theatre last evening, ia very aptiy uesenoeu as a wnty rotuanuc story ot wever imeiugeut people, it is a picture containing me ungntest and most entertaining oxaiogue, written .as owy noct Coward writes, wniie the story maintains interest ironi start to iiuisu witn a ueiigniiui and Highly ong.nai sequence ot events. It opens in gay rare<_ —in a banrooni —where two people meet rattier romantically. And then the gay wlurl ot the I'reach capital . . . and then h'redne Mateu, tne man, learns that his companion, Claudette Cotuert, the woman, is a princess of a -Bataan State, But that matters little, and tney are on the point ot marrying when the woman, -Nadya by name, tias to return to her native State to assume the duties of sovereign. The scene changes, and some time later, Sabien L’astal, the man, finds himself drawn irresistibly to Eastern Europe, and onee again comes in contact with Nadya. The finale cauuot be disclosed, but it is sufficient to say that it makes a highly satisfying and logical conclusion to one of the most cleverly conceived screen plays seen for some time past. Fredric March as the Parisian plays an exceedingly clever role, one which secured for him the 1932 award of the Academy of Motion Picture Acts and Sciences for the best performance of the year. Claudette Colbert, if anything, excels her brilliant characterisation of Nero’s wicked wife in “The Sign of the Cross,' 1 and these two are responsible for perhaps the most speaking and intriguing love story of the season. Claudette worries little about the cares and responsibilities of a kingdom, and resolves to make as much of Paris and its thousand gaieties as possible. Alison Skipworth takes the important role of the Grand Duchess Eniilie, while the direction is entrusted to Stuart Walker. “Tonight Is Ours’’ provides first-class entertainment and should not be missed. The supporting programme of “shorts’’ is of special merit. PARAMOUNT THEATRE ‘‘There Goes the Bride” Piquant Jessie Matthews started on her second and last week at the Paramount Theatre yesterday under auspicious circumstances. An excellent attendance greeted the charming actress in her diverting musical comedy. “There Goes the Bride,” which grows in popularity with each successive presentation. Miss Matthews’s speaking voice is very pleasing, and her singing is equally so. There is a little more solidity in the story than in most other musical comedies. While it is interesting from the outset and most amusing, the fun becomes fast and ■ furious from the time the bride-to-be runs away from the martriage ceremony and hides herself in Paris, until she ultimately finds happiness. Owen Nares as the man of her choice has never done anything quite so good for the screen. Ho and Jerry Verno and a good cast assist Miss Matthews in making “There Goes the Bride” the success it undoubtedly is. The attraction of the first part is “The Murder at Covent Gardea,” with Dennis Neilson Terry and Anne Grey in the leading roles. DE LUXE, LOWER HUTT The screen’s most thrilling picture and the ose fraught with most danger in' the filming opens this afternoon at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, and screens again to-night and Monday night. This hair-raising drama is "The Big Cage," and features Clyde Beatty, the world's greatest trainer of wild animals. Anita Page is the heroine. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the attraction will be “Hold ’Em Gaol.” the most hilarious farce in which Wheeler and Woolsey have ever starred. Most of the action centres around a prison football team. Edna May Oliver and Roscoe Ates support the stars. On Thursday and Friday, Constance Bennett, Joel McCrea and Paul Lukas will be seen in “Rockabye,” a vivid modern-life drama.

ST. JAMES THEATRE “Pleasure Cruise” Very daring, very modern, and very entertaining, “Pleasure Cruise,” the new Fox comedy-romance that opened yesterday at the St. James Theatre, is one of those delightful shows that sparkle from start to finish. It is perfectly acted, expensively dressed, and boasts as good a cast as one could possibly wish to see. Everything about the picture has a piquant flavour, and some of the situations really call for the raising of a few eyebfows. However, they are all carefully straightened out within a few moments, and all is well. The story deals with the adventures, on hoard a pleasure cruise ship, of a wife who very conveniently manages to forget her husband's existence until the gentleman in question confronts her with his cigarette case, allegedly left in her cabin the previous night by an admirer. What happens then leads up to a most unexpected, but fortunately satisfactory, climax, at least it is for the fascinating wife. Genevieve Tobin is ideally cast as the wife, and Roland Young is the somewhat henpecked and jealous husband. . Others iu the cast are Herbert Mundin, Minna Gombell, and Ralph Forbes. The supporting bill includes a British comedy, "Yes, Madam,” which is one of the funniest on record, and abounds in the most compromising situations. DE LUXE THEATRE “State Fair” in Second Week The Fox presentation at the De Luxe Theatre, “State Fair,” which started the second week of its successful run last night, may iu all sincerity be classed as one of the finest natural products of the American screen. “State Fair” brings baek to the screen pretty Janet Gaynor iu a role she adorns, and such good mummers as Will Rogers and Louise Dresser are seen at their best. Jt is the story of the Frake family, simple farming folk, who make a trip to the State fair, an annual gathering into which they venture ne competitors in the spirit, of good Americans. Abel Frake (Will Rogers) has a hog iu Blue Boy which he fancies cannot be beaten; and dear old Ma Frake enters for the pickles and mincemeat stakes. The philosophy of Will Rogers finds full scope in his tender solicitude for his bog. Romance is served by the adventures of the daughter. Margy Frake (Janet Gaynor) and of the son, Wayne Frake (Norman Foster).’ Thousands of people figure in “State Fair.” and the scenes at the fair are most diverting. Also there will be the Fox Movietone special newsreel, “Southern Seas Broadcast Unites Outposts on Empire Day.” A feature of the broadcast, which has been photographed in sound, is the Empire messages received in Sydney from England, Canada, and South Sea Islands, and all over Australia. Recorded are messages by such prominent leaders as H. 11.11. the Duke of Connaught. Earl Jellieoc, Lord Bledisioe, Sir Isaac Isaacs, and the Rt. Hou. J. A. Lyons. There are also Sydney Orchestra of GO performers and associated choir of 200 voices. MAJESTIC THEATRE “Out AU Night” A hilarious comedy fills the main portion of the programme at the Majestic Theatre this week, where Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts are starred in “Out AH Night,” which goes one better than “They Just Had to Get Married,” their previous comedy. Slim is in the roie of a mother's darling. He inadvertently strolls into a creche in a big store, where he falls in love with the nurse and the babies. Then follows the incident “out all night,” which leads up to their marriage, but mother follows them on the honeymoon and manages to spoil it. utterly. There are some ludicrous scenes on the train and at Niagara ['alls, and finally Zasu decides that she will gang her own way. Slim's mother arranges for a divorce, but Slim happens to run into the plot to abduct bis wife, whom he knows by the endearing name of “Bunny.” Ho pursues the kidnappers into Chinatown, and then his manhood rises to the top. and he shows that be can give as well as take hard knocks. They decide to start afresh to make up for the honeymoon which was spoiled. Clever stars support the leaders. The programme includes a Universal News Reel, the big Empire Day broadcast, Radio Murder Mystery, and a cartoon. PRINCE EDWARD, WOBURN To-night’s attraction at the Prince Edward Theatre. "Woburn, is “The Faithful Heart,” a British production, starring Edna Best and Herbert Marshall. It is a perfectly acted romance. Commencing on Wednesday is “Maker of Men.” an entertaining drama, that has for its star the popular Jack Holt. The film to follow this will be “Sunshine Susie.” featuring Renate Muller and Jack Hulbert. KING GEORGE, LOWER H’ITT The world's greatest sporting picture, "Madison Square Garden,” is being presented nt tlie King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, where it will be screened until Tuesday night. The stars arc Lew Cody. i Thomas Mcighan, Marian Nixon, and William Boyd, and numerous favourites in the sports world. On Wednesday. Thursday and Friday the attraction will be “When London Sleeps,” a gripping British drama. ARTCRAFT THEATRE Screening at the Artcraft Theatre is “Love on Wheels.” an hilarious musical comedy, starring England’s most, popular comedian, Jack Hulbert, who keeps his audiences in shrieks of laughter during several thousand feet of the cleverest film screened for many a day. The star has the able support of Leonora Corbett, who sings and dances charmingly, and tbc well-known Gordon Harker. There are good supports. GRAND, PETONE The new attraction at the Grand Theatre, Pctone, is “Hold ’Em Gaol,” the latest absurdity to star those popular comedians, Wheeler and Woolsey. Most of the action takes place in a prison, wherein the main activities are centred around the forming of a football team. What happens when the game is played Is too funny to attempt to describe. Supporting the stars are Edna May Oliver and Eoswa Ate®.

“CINDERELLA” The pantomime “Cinderella’’ has been proclaimed the best seen here for years. Miss Josie Melville is the Cinderella of every child’s dreams and looks radiantly beautiful when she drives to tbe Prince’s ball in a glorious coach drawn by real ponies. George Wallace, droller and funnier than ever, is seen as Buttons, and Syd. Beck, as tlie Dame, keeps the audience iu shrieks of laughter. Mr. Maurice Barling plays tho role of Baron Hardup, Mr. Billy Maloney tbe Ugly Sister, Maurice Diamond the Cat. There are many others equally good in their parts. An amazing acrobatic act is put on by the Five Whirlwind Cleveres. The ballet, both adult and juvenile, acquits itself in first-rate fashion, and there is a sprightly orchestra. Matinees are being given daily. "The Whirl of the World.” Commencing at the Grand Opera House next Wednesday night., is a bright and sparling revue, "The Whirl of tbe World.” iu which are presented a series of highly entertaining songs, dances, and sketches. All the artists who have proved so popular in “Cinderella” will play in this revue. PALACE, PETONE Screening at tbe Palace Theatre. Felons, is Ronald Colman’s latest release “Cynara,” the dramatic story of a man who, while still in love with his wife, falls under tbe spell of "the other woman.” Mr. Colman has the able support of Kay Francis and Phyllis Barry. 2\.s is customary at this theatre, there is an excellent programme of selected and very entertaining short subjects. IRISH EVANGELIST The Rev. W. P. Nicholson, tbe Irish evangelist, will speak in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Wednesday evening. He has just finished a successful mission in Auckland, where tbe Town Hall was filled. The Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles will be the chairman, and two preparatory meetings for prayer have been called in tbe Y.M.C.A. Full particulars appear in the church notices. PAUL VINOGRADOFF It is some considerable time .since Mr. Vinogradoff gave his first series of recitals shortly after his arrival in New Zealand, so .it will be welcome news to music-lovers that he will present another recital on Wednesday evening of next week. The recital will be given in the Blue Triangle Hall, Boulcott Street. Au entirely new programme will be presented, including numbers selected from the works of Beethoven. Scriabin, Chopin, Vinogradoff. Rachmaninoff, and Lizst. THE APOLLO SINGERS r l'o-night will ■sec tbe first appearance this season of the Apollo Singers, under the conducforsliip of Mr. H. Temple White. The singers will be assisted by 12 members of tbe Wellington Choir, and the singing of these lads will be eagerly awaited bv music-lovers. Mr. Ernest Jenner, AJI.A.M., has been specially engaged to come up from Christchurch as one of the assisting artists, playing pianoforte solos and accompanying the choir and soloists. The other artists will bo Messrs. Austin Blackie (tenor), and Trevor Thomas (bass), both very popular with local audiences. Due to the heavy bookings patrous arc requested to be seated early, as the concert will commence promptly at S p.ni. “2YA 1933 FOLLIES” ■what promises to be in every sense of tbe term a sparkling “cheer-up” entertainment is scheduled for the Town Hall on Saturday evening next. The bill of fare to bo presented by the “2YA IVoo Follies’’ and associate artists is something quite out of the ordinary. “We are out. to give patrons a really jolly evening.” is the slogan of the organisers. To that end a specially engaged company of talented entertainers will combine in the presentation of sparkling sketches, burlesque oddities, nnd bright, original solo and concerted numbers, interspersed with a tonic dash of community singing. This unique show is to be presented tn aid of the Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund.