ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Humour bubbles through "These Charming I'oople," the British Dim at the Regent. There is something very natural in the lollies and waywardness of the two charming daughters or Colonel Crawford, M.P., a debt-ridden inemcient, whoso family has ranked second to his thirst and social comfort so long that it has learned to look after itself. A likeable pieco of plausibility, he has reached the summit of his ambitions with a seat in the House of Commons, which, with the wherewithal to enjoy Its privileges, comes from a successful shlp-hullMiig son-in-law, with designs on Ihe peerage, whose immersion in business to the exclusion of his sought-after wife loads to the incvitabia complications. Never has the colonel paid a bill, and thero Is a mordant humour In the way his butler (whose sou has eloped with the daughter) conspires with him to bring husband and wife together again and restore their very necessary credit. Cyril Maude, as the colonel, is the centre of most of the fun. Nora Swinburne, as Julia, is the neglected wire, and Ann Todd is Pamela, the wayward younger sister. C. V. France, as Minx, the butler, balances the comedy. The supports aro interesting. "The Outsider." Considered by many overseas critics as one of the greatest triumphs of screen art. "The Outsider," starring Joan Barry, will open at the Regent Theatre at the close of the season of "These Charming People." The story concerns the beautiful, talented, but crippled daughter of England's foremost surgeon. Dr. Sturdee, who Is approached by Ragalzy, an unqualified specialist, who wants to cure her. Her father, believing her Incurable, hotly opposes the idea; her fiance supports it; and in the cud she places herself in Ragatzy's hands, to tight for life and love. Harold Huth plays the role of Anton Ragatzy, and Is stated to give one of the best, exhibitions of sustained, emotional acting that has come from any screen player, and Joan Barry as Lalage Sturdee is said to score a triumph that bor.ders on the sensational. Frank Lawton as the fiance and Norman M'Kinnel as Dr. Sturdee add to their reputations, and the rest of the cast give creditable performances. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. "Abraham Lincoln" is showing at the Grand Opera House. One follows the life on thie extraordinary man from the time of ills birth In a log cabin in Illinois, through his early loves and ambitious undertakings, until tho time when he is assassinated in a box at Ford's Theatre, Washington, a short time after ho has brought about the abolition of slavery in America, and succeeded in his ambition of "preserving the Union." One of the most outstanding scenes is when Sheridan leads his routed men in the celebrated ride that stemmed the tide of Confederate victory. One hears the thunderous gallop of charging cavalrymen and tho roar of cannon and shrieking shells. Walter Huston's impersonation ot Lincoln is a personal triumph. Lincoln's eccentricities and mannerisms are portrayed with exacting realism. As Ann Kutledge, Lincoln's first and only love, who dies of fever during the couple's courtship days, LTna Merkel gives an excellent performance, as does Kay Hammond as Lincoln's wife, who shares his glory at White House. Fred Warren, as General Grant, Frank CanipcaVas Sheridan, and Hobart Boswbrth as General Lee, are also worthy of special mention. The supports are in keeping with the main attraction. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Transatlantic," showing at the De Luxe Theatre, deals with tho events of a crossing by a great liner between New York and England. Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, Gretta Nissen, Myrna Loy, and Jean Herscholt are in the cast. A gambler fleeing from tho police, a banker estranged from his wife, a beautiful dancer, an old lens grinder and his daughter out to see the world for tho first time, theso people come together. "A ship Is like a little world," says tho garrulous steward, and the world holds all the emotions and fears and lusts of the great world outside. "And afterwards some of the people will never be tho same again," says the steward, and that is true of this crossing, for it leaves everyone changed. Thera is some excellent camera work in the picture, the shots of the ship, cabins, staterooms, and enginerooms (where the picture readies its dramatic high point) being' well taken. Tho supporting programme includes a long British, picture, "Wo Dine at Seven." Unlversal's rollicking comedy, "Ex-Bad Boy." opens aa engagement nt the De Luxe Theatre on Friday, next. This hilarious picture, one of the most amusing screen plays of the current season, has had a remarkably successful run wherever screened and has been hailed as one of the most successful comedies In the history of tho talking picture. Robert Armstrong and Jean Arthur head the cast of funmakers in "Ex-Bad Boy," and the roster of players also includes George Brent, Lola Lane, Jason Robards, Graycye Hampton, Spencer Charters, and Mary Doran. A'ln Mooro directed this amusing story of a film star who dropped liko a meteor into the midst of a small town. "Girl of the Port." "Girl of the Port." Radio Pictures' Fiji Island story, which will open at the Grand Opera House on Friday, is an intense drama livened at logical intervals with hilarious dialogue from the lips of saucy Sally O'Neil. Through the network of villainy, native conniving, and tho gcneraT indigency of the tropical port of Suva, Fiji, shines the spirit of regeneration, the salvaging of a human soul. Sally O'Neil. In the part of Josie, is well cast. Through her screen efforts Sir James Jamison, known by his derelict cohorts as "Whisky John," is restored to his former estate—mentally and morally. Of unusual interest is a graphic description of "firo walking" as practised by religious, fanatics of the isolated islands of the Fiji. Thero is also a demonstration of tho use in actual warfare of German'flame throwers, which provides a thrilling highlight in the earlier scenes of the story. Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian,, world's champion swimmer, enacts the role of a South Seas chieftain. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Thomas Meighan adds another personal triumph to his other successful star roles In "Skyline," a thrilling and entertaining drama of life in New..York,, showing at tho Paramount .-Theatre "Skyline" depicts tho adventures of an ambitious youth reared on a dilapidated river barge. On her death-bed, the boy's mother tells him that tho captain is not ills father, and gives him a brooch that was presented to her by his real father. The lad escapes by swimming to land, where he finally gets a job on a New York building. Tho builder, a successful business man, takes a deep interest in the plucky, good-natured lad, and finally discovers that he is the boy's father. A love story runs through tho play, which has, In addition to many ' thrills, a happy ending. The first half of the programmo contains. two interesting gazettes of world happenings, also a unique African scenic, and a selection of pretty scenes on the south-ea3t coast of Spain. KING'S THEATRE. "Son oC India," starring Kamon Novarro, Is being shown at the . King's Theatre. Practically half of the incidents in the story, a melodramatic romance of the Orient based on F. Marlon Crawford'3 novel, "Mr. Isaacs," take place out-of-doors. The locale is Bombay and its picturesque environs. Highlights include a spectacular tiger hunt, an ingenious trick by which Novarro is buried alive but survives. and a dramatic bandit raid. Tho incidental programme is of a high order. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Sky Raiders" ia the attractive title of the feature film showing at the Queen's Theatre. ■ It is a story of daring bandits of the air, and contains a full measure of thrills and some spectacular aviation sequences, ono of which is a big hold-up. Lloyd Hughes has the principal role, and playing opposite him is pretty Marceline Day. Thero is a good supporting programme In keeping with the merit of tho featuro picture. SKORTT'S THEATRE. "iiunte Carlo" is showing at Shortt's Theatre. A bride runs away from her wedding, gambles her fortune on the spin of. the wheel, and falls in lovo with a hairdresser. Joanotte Mar Donald Is the runaway Countess Vera. Jack Buchanan, London musical comedy favourite, shares the honours as the prince of im unknown kingdom posing as a barber. Several catchy songs aro introduced. Tho picture is full of lilting music, gay adventure, and wonderful romance set against the scintillating background or tho playground of Europe. BRITANNIA THEATRE. "The Conquering Horde" is showing at the Britannia Theatre. The picture, starring Richard Arlen, deals with an historic cattle drive from Texas to Abilene, Kansas, across the Red Itivcr In 1867. The story concerns the' days Just after the Civil War when cattle-raisers In Texas were land-poor and when unscrupulous and plotting lawyers wore forcing tho Texans to sell their property at fabulously low prices. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Lonely Wives" Is screening at the New Princess Theatre. The philosopher who Insists that all the world needs for a readjustment of its maladies is to laugh more, must have uttered that remark after seeing the Al Woods Ffagn success on which ■ "Lonely Wives" is hased. This is a picture for laughing purposes cmlv. Every character is a rnaslerpicco of mirth. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "Six Cylinder Love," at the Regal Theatre, whose methods of rescuing one family from its difficulties and plunging another family into worse ones give rise to many funny moments. Spencer Tracy, Edward Everett Horton, Sidney Fox, El. Brendel, and William Collier, snr., are in the case. There is also a two-reel comedy, a Fitzpatrlck Travelogue, and two Fox Movietone -Ts'ewsreels. On Wednesday and Thursday, "The Perfect AUbt" will be screened. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "How Dry Wo Are," starring Harry Langdon, Slim Summerville, and Bessie-Love, is showing at tho Artcraft Theatre. It is full of laughs, being a satire on some aspects of the boot-legging "Industry" as it is conducted in Ihe United States. Thero are excellent supports. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Honour Among Lovers," which will be shown at the Kilblrnle Klnema this evening, is a dramatic, dynamic drama of a woman's phico hi business. Although married, she is in ihe arms of her employer the next day.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. Tliu endless langles of cross-purposes and misunderstandings In "My Wife's Family," at the St. James Theatre, cause the fun to he fast and prolonged. Though In its last three nights, this entertaining- British comedy is still most popular with plcturegoers, and Is attracting people for the third and fourth time—just to wait for somo of the sayings that were misscil on previous visits. The supporting subjects are uniformly good. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre. Commencing on Friday next, at Ihe St. James Theatre is "The Spider," which, when produced on the stage, was hailed as the most striking departure in dramatic technique the theatre had seen for years. The action of the production takes place on the stage and among the audience of a theatre. The starring roles arc portrayed by Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, El Brendel, and Kendall M'Comas. This lastnamed is identical with the impish "Freddie Perkins," so popular in "Daddy Long Legs." MAJESTIC THEATRE. "The Girl Habit," screening at the Majestic Theatre, Is full of bright and snappy humour and dialogue. Charles Uuggles heads a splenilid cast. Charlie is a wealthy man about town with a penchant for helping damsels in distress and a habit of buying articles from every pretty salesgirl he sees, with the result that lie has numerous feminine admirers. He is in and out of one scrape after another, causing shrieks of laughter In his efforts to evade the attentions of all the nice girls whom he once knew. An excellent supporting programme precd at the Bristol and also at the theatre. All the resources of Croydon airport have been brought into play to produce "The Flying Fool," which is said to be a remarkably rtno British aviation film. The Auckland "Herald" writes: "It is a succession of thrilling scenes, tempered with refreshing humour and a delightful romantic theme. One of the most enthralling episodes ever brought to the screen is a thrilling race between an aeroplane and a high-powered car along the famous Dover road. The acting is splendcd." Henry Kendall, the Prince of Wales" 'favourite comedian, in his first film appearance, heads an excellent all-British cast. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. "Seed," adapted from the novel by Charles G. Norris, ,1s showing at the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay. John Boles Is seen as the husband and father whose latent abilities as a writer have been adversely affected by the fact that he must continually devote himself to the' difficult task of supporting a large family of children. Genevieve Tobln and Lois Wilson have the other important roles. There are good supports. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. A big double-feature programme is to be presented to Our Theatre patrons to-night. The first feature. "The Devil's Holiday," stars Nancy Carroll. Tho story treats of tho lives of the wealthy farm people of the wheat belt and their conniving neighbours of tho big cities. In the second feature, "The Gang Buster," Jack Oakie appears as an accident insurance salesman who attempts to sell policies to members of the underworld, resulting in much exciting fun. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "A Ynukec at King Arthur's Court," screening at the Empire Theatre, star 3 Will Rogers, and supporting him are Frank Albertson and Maureen O'Sulllvan. Tho story deals with the modernisation of King Arthur's Court by an American. A two-reel comedy, "Average Husbands," and a Fox Movietone Is'ewsreel complete the programme. On Wednesday and Thursday, "Seed" will be shown. CAPITOL THEATRE. MIRAMAR. In "Billy the Kid," now showing at the Capitol Theatre, Miramar, a new type of Western picture is put before the public. Founded on historical fact, It was directed by King Vidor, and Is the love story of the youngest and most courageous historical figure in outlaws of the West. Tho cast includes Wallace Beery, Kay Johnson, John Mack Brown, aud Karl Dane. GLIDE SKATING RINK. Tho management of tho Glide Skating Kink In Wakefleld street announces that the day sessions will bs discontinued until further notice, with the exception of Saturdays. The sessions now will be as follows: —Learners' sessions, from 6.45 p.m. to 7.45 p.m., and evening sessions from 8 to 10.30 o'clock. Members of the Glide Skating Club will hold a club night to-morrow. "THE MESSIAH." Handera great oratorio will be performed at the Town Hall on Saturday evening next by the Royal Wellington Choral Union, under tho conductorship of Mr. John Bishop with a chorus and orchestra of three hundred performers. "The Messiah" so far from losing Its ancient attraction, can draw an audience as no other composition can. Saturday night's performance will be the 36th occasion the Royal Choral Union will have put on Handel's masterpiece. The Choral Union with 11s keenness to introduce something new and Interesting will give a reading this year which varies in many respects from performances recently given in Wellington. A strong cast of soloisls lias been engaged, including Miss Naomi Whalley, of Palmerstou North, snprann; Miss Ruth Perry, Masterton, contralto; Mr. Harold Prescott, Greymouth. tenor; and Mr. Ernest Short, baritone. The box plan opens at the Bristol at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. A rehearsal will be held this evening at St. John's Schoolroom, Dlxon street, at S o'clock. "MOTHER HUBBARD." "Mother Hubbiird," a juvenile pantomime, was presented by Thelma Kidson and her pupils at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening (Monday, 7th December). Miss Hilda Chudlby, supported by a small orchestra, was at the piano; and the scenery of the pantomime, alternating between dropscenes of a pirate ship, a cottago garden, and the interior of Mother Hubbard's house, was very effective. The costuming was delightful, aud showed to particular advantage in the chorus numbers—"Painting the Clouds," "Two Little Eyes," "Stepping AloDg," and "Precious Little Thing Called Love." Green and scarlet made a brave display in the Irish jig, crinolines, wigs, and knee-breeches were worn in tho minuet —a charming item by the small children—and brown-and-whlte bagginess prevailed in tho Dutch clog dance. Red and blue struck a smart note in the military numbers, and checked rompers were serviceable and chic in tho acrobatic turn, which- met with considerable applause from tho audience. Small Enid Cracknell as "Dorothy," the heroine of the piece, played her part excellently. Her very dainty and finished classical, clog and toe-dancing, and duo dances with Joan Wright (Capt. Jack Mcrryweather of the play) deserve special mention. Dorothy Seymour and Bob M'Kenzie as Mother and Father Hubbard provided the comic element Indispensable to pantomime. They wore well supported by Dallas Meech (Mother Hubbard's maid), Dick Glensor as Entwhlstle tho Grocer, and Don Gregory, Mother Hubbard's dog. Other speaking parts were taken by Joycelyn M'Donald (Bloward the Pirate). Pat Trower (naval lieutenant), and Dorothy Tnlley (Fairy Queen). A small three-year-old. Baby Shirley Maloney, aroused enthusiasm in her solo song and dance, and children very little older showed an unusual nicety of poise and rhythm in skipping dances, hornpipes, ballets, and Russian numbers. Four senior pupils In attractive costumes gave clever displays In "Tarantelle," "Soft Shoe" (a pierrot number), "Spanish Dance," and "Tiptoe," "On the Road to Porlrua," complete with car, was an amusing entr'acte by Father and Mother Hubbard, Ettie, and the dog. The evening finished with a Grand Finale, the wedding of Jack and Dorothy. The performance will be repeated to-night.