ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 135, 5 December 1930, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

"On Approval" proved so great a success last week that its season has been extended for a further season, commencing to-night. It has drawn capacity houses every night during the past week. "On Approval" is an all-Bri-tish production. Like all Lonsdalc plays, it sparkles with tho most subtle and modern wit. The self-centred Duke of Bristol loved the adorable Helen Wayle, and Itichard Weyms, a real genial Englishman, loved Maria' Wislak, a shrewish woman with an income of £23,000 a year. Jlarla did not know whether she really liked Richard or not, so she decided to take him on approval for one month. They go to her Scottish mansion only to Hud that Helen and the Duke have also gone there And then the fun starts. What happens then forms the most piquant of comedies, and leads up to a climax that could have originated only in the brain of so accomplished a writer as Frederick Lonsdalc.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

Richard Dix steps out, of the light comedy rolc3 ho has played so effectively within the past year and gets down to move serious business in "Shooting-Straight," an effective talkIng drama, which opens at the Paramount Theatre to-day. Proving that he Is one of the most competent actors in all screen history, Dix delivers one or the most brilliant performances of his career, and makes the ' change-over to this dramatic role in most effective style. "Shooting Straight" has enough movement and drama to have made an outstanding silent picture. But thu brilliant dialogue of the show, combined with Dixs superb < speaking voice and a supporting cast of well- i trained players, makes it an ideal talkie hit. i Tho-s^ory concerns the regeneration of a big i city gambler. Radio Pictures has given a i fresh, convincing treatment of the theme that i lifts the show far out of the. class of the com- i monplacc. Box plans nows open at Bristol < and theatre, telephone 21-542. ' . I

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

The first screening Is being maiie at (lie SI. James Theatre to-day of the highly eulogised | First National Vitaphoue production, "Bride of the Regiment," a massive presentation that has been photographed entirely in technicolour and which reproduces with absolute fidelity the book of words aad delightful music of the opera bouffe, "The lady in Ermine." A musical play which boasts such excellent' vocal numbers' demands the highest possible, singing talent, and this has been secured in the persons of Vlvlennc" Segal, Allan Prior, and Walter Pidgcon, three arlists who are recognised as standing foremost on the legitimate stage of America in light opera. "The Bride of the neglment" is replete with comedy sequences adroitly worked in as relief to the more' dramatic passages, and the exploitation of these sections is well taken care of by such able comedians as Luplno Lane, a London star from the legitimate stage. Ford Sterling, and Louise Fazenda. So well have the lighter sections been dovetailed into the piece that they bring laughs right on top of tears. The story Is told before a moving background, tho like of which has seldom reached the screen. The exterior scenes with cavalry Italians marching through the night arc unusually effective, while the gorgeous settings and decorations in the interior of the castle add a new note In colour. "Tho Bride of the Regiment" Is stated to be one of the costliest productions ever completed in a talking picture studio. Box plans are at The Bristol and subsequent to 6 p.m. seats may bo reserved at tho theatre.

KING'S THEATRE.

"The Loves of Robert Burns," which opens at the King's Theatre to-night, has Joseph Hislop, England's leading tenor, at the head of tho cast. The picture is not merely a biography, but a brilliant concoction of powerful drama, and all that is lovely In the inspiring poems and lyrics of tho most famous of Scottish poets and writers. . The picture is a joint production of the British Dominions Corporation and the Gramophone Company, the combination responsible for such nits as "Splinters" and "Rookery Nook." Much of tho action was filmed in Scotland at the actual places where Burns made history.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

"A great play on the stage—an even greater picture on the screen—that is 'Tho Awful Truth,' a 100-per-cent. dialogue attraction of supremo merit—the finest talking production of the season, starring the supremo dramatic figure of tho day." Such is the description applied-"The Awful Truth," which opens tonight at the Queen's Theatre. It is said to be a dramatic, humorous, appealing drama of life and sentiment. The second feature is the new ;Patho all-dialoguo comedy of college life, "Tho Sophomore."

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

An- amusing farce, "Sleeping Partners," will provide the main attraction in tho new programme to fro presented at the Artcraft Theatre to-night. Refreshing in its humour, tho story concerns a well-to-do bachelor whose great weakness is for a most attractive married woman whose husband's interests stray elsewhere, with the result that there are many hilarious situations. There Is nothing irksomo about. "SleepiDg Partners." As- a stage play it was a. splendid success, aud the one who was directly responsible for making it so popular, Seymour. Kicks,' has the main role in ■ the "talking picture' version. . The bright and clever dialogue which has made Seymour Hicks famous, on the stagu runs through the picture, another feature of which is the absence of "twangy" voices. Playing opposite Mr. Hicks Is Edna Best, a beautiful stage artist of note in England. There is a good supporting programme.

EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND BAY.

An excellent week-end . programme will be screened at the Empire Theatre to-night. The main attraction is "Not So Dumb," starring Marion Davies. Miss Davles Is seen to advan • tage in demonstrating her rare comedy talents. As the beautiful but dumb fiancee of a. young artificial jewellery merchant, sho continually manages to mess up his business by forging and muddling. Her scene as hostess at bridge is perhaps the most uproarious Miss Davies has ever enacted. - A largo cast includes Elliott Xugent, • Raymond Hackett, Sally Starr, and Frnnkliy Pansborn. An unusually good supporting programme has been arranged. On Saturday afternoon a special children's matinee will be held. "Battling Butler," starring Buster Keaton, Is the main attraction. An excellent supporting programme will be screened.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.

A programme of outstanding merit is to be screened at the Regal Theatre, Karorl, this week-end. It is pure comedy, and tho leading number will be Glenn Tyron in a special, "Oames Ahoy." The story tells of the attempt of a sailor and-his friends while on,leave to flnd a- girl, who is only to be known by a strawberry-like mark on her thigh. This leads them into many humorous situations. The supports ire "His Bachelor Daddy," a comedy, an Oswald Cartoon, and a British News Special. A double feature programme, comprising; "This Thing Called Love" and "The Racketeer." will be screened on Monday and Tuesday next.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

. "Side Street." the new; all-talking Radio picture, will be screened again at the Kilblrnie Kiuema to-night. "Temple Tower," with an all-star cast, is another romance, dealing with the adventures of "Bulldog Druniraond." Together with sound featurottes and tho "Pasha versus Colcman" wrestling match at the Town Hall, this programme screens at tho Kinema to-morrow. Reserves are now obtainable.

SHORTT'S THEATRE.

Ramon Novarro," dressed In tho handsome uniform of a lieutenant of Napoleon Bonaparte, making his escape from a firing squad; climbing into a beautiful young woman's boudoir in the dead of night; masquerading as a footman; duelling his way to fame and fortune— these are somo of the exciting sequences of "Devil-May-Care," the all-talking musical romanco which opened at Shortt's Theatre today.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

It takes a nervy New York policeman and a hall of machine-gun bullets to break up Gotham's most powerful underworld gang in "Side Street," the new, all-talking Eadlo Picture, at the Kilblrnie Theatre. Sound featurand Bristol.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN.

Tho Universal all-talking production, "Tsar or Broadway, is being shown at Our Theatre to-night. A fine cast Is headed by Betty Compson, John Wray, and John Ilarron. Amid the plots and counter-plots of the underworld there grows a romance between an entertainer In a night club and a young reporter. The reporter finds himself confronted with a 'choice between love and duty, and he makes an Interesting and fortunate choice. Excellent sound supports complete tho programme.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

"New York Nights," Norraa Talmadge's first all-talking film, commences at the Capitol Theatre to-night. This picture is a love drama told amidst the riotous backgrounds of night clubs and the show world. ' Another excellent supporting., programhio will be featured and will include a Mickey Mouse cartoon. "The Devil's Bowl," a fast-moving Western drama will please the kiddles at the Saturday matinee. "Jazz Heaven" and "The Very Idea," a doublefeature programme, commences on Tuesday.

REPERTORY THEATRE SOCIETY.

An amusing plot and brilliantly witty -dialogue characterise Oscar Wilde's comedy, "The Importance of Being Earnest." which the National Repertory Theatre Society will present at the Y.W.C.A. Hall next v week for a five nights' season, commencing on Tuesday. Already heavy booking has been recorded, and as rehearsals arc going with a swing everything points to a successful production. Tlia talented cast selected Includes Misses Louise Hall. Beryl Earle, Hazel Wells, and Ethel Oldbury-Jones, and Messrs. A. D. Priestley, John Bown, Barton Ginger, J. R. Herd, and Ernest Coleridge. Novel settings and picturesque frocking will add to to the attractiveness of the production, which is in tile experienced hands of Mr. W. S. Wauchop. Tho box plans are now opou at The Bristol.

VOCAL RECITAL.

Twenty pupils of Mrs. I. F. Gimi will present a vocal recital this evening at Mmmo's I Concert Hall. Tickets »ro obtainable at Nlmmo'3.

DE LUXE THEATRE.

Said to represent one of tho season's most Important bookings for tho De Luxe Theatre, "Lawful Larceny," a ltadio. Pictures special attraction, will commence to-night. It is a faithful adaptation of tho original New York stage success, and is just as entertaining. Bebe Daniels, the star, scores in an entirely new role, that of a wifo who sets out to recover her husband from another woman. Her performance is Intensely human and convincing. There Is not a dull moment in the picture, which tells an entertaining story of a cycle of victims The husband is victimised by a siren ; the siren la victimised by a clever, lovable but unscrupulous man, admirably portrayed by Lowell Sherman. How he and the siren are finally out-manoeuvred by Miss Daniels, as tIK wife, makes a climax as unusual as It Is worth seeing. Ofher members of the cast are Kenneth Thompson, Purnell Pratt, Lon Payne, and Bert Roach. Box plans are available at Bristol and Aitkeu's.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

To-day will witness the 6rst screening in Wellington at the Majestic Theatre of "In the Headlines," a stirring story of the all-talking screen based on the authentic record of a celebrated newspaper scoop which actually occurred in New York some years ago. When the criminal investigation department and the ordinary police force had given up as hopeless the elucidation of a New York mystery which involved a double murder a keen-witted reporter, with the assistance of liis paper, continued to search for clues. In the end these were found, the mystery was effectively cleared up and the criminals were brought to justice. It is easy to believe that such a story must . be charged to the brim with interest-holding qualities. It certainly demonstrates that in some instances at least "truth Is stranger than fiction." It is claimed that "In the Headlines" contains sufficient dramatic episodes to make five Edgar Wallace mysteries. The appealing cast especially selected for its presentation includes Grant Withers, himself 'a wellknown journalist of repute; Marian Nixon; Clyde Cook, the ■' clever Australian comedian: Edmund Breese; Pauline Garron: Hallam Cooley; and "Spec" O'Donnell. Five added attractions consisting of well diversified sound novenies will precede the main feature. The • usual late shoppers' session will commence this afternoon at 5 o'clock and finish at 7 p.m. Box . plans are at The, Bristol and also at the theatre.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

House, featuring "the- well-known Humphrey Bishop Musical Comedy Company In the first half and "Ladios of Leisure," an nil talking drama, the second half, will be presented for tho last time to-night. Barbara Stanwyck, as a girl whose waywardness is corrected, and Ralph Graves, an Idealist artist, have the main parts in tho picture. A pot-pourri show Is presented by the Humphrey Bishop Company up to tho interval.

"THE BELLE OF NEW YORK."

To-morrow at tho Grand Opera House, commencing at tho matinee, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will present their "New Moon" company, of ono hundred artists, in the up-to-date 1330 representation of everybody's favourite comic opera, "Tho Belle of New York," which is everywhere proving the most successful musical play staged in recent years. To the older generation of playgoers the revival of "The Belle" will be doubly welcome because It will revive cherished memories and tt will give them another opportunity to listen to the glorious melodies of this charming musical play and to enioy the eccentricities of the Polite Lunatic and Ichabod Bronson. To the younger generation It will be appreciated in the light of a revelation, because "The- Belle" Is undoubtedly, musically and otherwise, superior to any musical play slagcd during the past twenty years. The fact that tho present company's performance of, "The Belle of New York" is said to excel any previous production of it has also added to tbo interest in tho revival, and it will probably be welcomed by a record audience. Like the music In the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, tho melodies of "Tho Belle of New York" are as fresh and as popular to-day as when they were first heard thirty years ago. • Probably the best known numbers in the opera aro "Little Sister Klssy," "Teach Me How to Kiss," "We Come This Way," "Wine, Women, and Song," "La Belle Parislenne," "My Little Baby," "Pretty Little China Girl," "Follow On," "She is the Belle of New York," "When Wo Were Married," "The Purity Brigade," "I Do, So There," "Coogan's Fancy Ball," "On the Beach at Narragansett," 'Tor tho Twentieth Time We'll Drink," "At Ze Naughty Follies Bcrgcrc," "When a Man is Twenty-one," "When I was Born the Stars Stood Still," "We ■Come This Way," and "Tho Anti-Cigarette Society." The popular comedian, Mr. Leslie Holland, will play the role of Ichabod Bronson. Jim Gerald should be at his very best in the important part of BUnky Bill. Tho box plans aro now open at tho Bristol for the whole season of seven night!;.

BRITANNIA THEATRE.

The ruffian of the screen has outwardly turned gentleman. Georgo Bancroft, in his newest starring Paramount picture, "The Wolf of Wall Street," now showing at the Britannia Theatre, portrays a quick-thinking, quickacting, chance-taking-plunger in tho financial dealings of the 'Change. Outwardly he Is immaculate. Inwardly he is cruel, 3hrewd, and utterly fearless, feared by all who know him. Bancroft declares the characterisation to bo one of the most difficult of ills, long career of stage and .screen experience. .In none of Ills recent screen successes has he Been forced to preserve the suave social front, having bean given parts that permitted full vent to his natural dynamic force. Notable among these pictures were "Underworld," "The Showdown," "The Drag Net," and "The Docks of New York." In "Tho Wolf of Wall Street" the star is supported by a cast of unusual ability, there being Baclanova, Nancy Carroll, Paul Lukas, and Brandon Hurst. The story and screen play aro by Doris Anderson.

"THE MESSIAH."

The 1930 performance of "The Messiah" by the Royal Wellington Choral Union, assisted by the Levin Choral Society and the Wellington C.T. Male Choir, under the baton of Mr. John Bishop, Is to take place at the Town Hall to-morrow evening at 8. The work will not bo given quite as audiences of tho Choral Union are accustomed to hear it, for there will bo certain changes made in the time, slight variations in readings, and inclusion of some numbers not often heard here. An exceptionally strong cast of soloists will appear, headed by Miss Peggy Dunbar. tho Australian contralto. ■ who has been specially engaged for this oratorio; the soprano will bo Mra Catherine Goodson, tenor Mr. Harold Preseott. of Christehurch, and baritone Mr. Wilfred Korshaw, of Dunedln. The final rehearsal will take place at the Town Hall at 7.30 to-night, when only-those taking part will be admitted. A supply of 2s tickets will be available at The Bristol this evening, and till noon tomorrow, where reservations can be made.