ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 126, 31 May 1939, Page 51

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"Three Smart Gdrls Grow Up."

Lifted from previous humble or middle-class surroundings into society opulence, Deanna Durbin, in her new singing comedy, "Three Smart Girls Grow Up," which commences at the St. James Theatre on Friday, preserves that youthful charm and sunny personality which have made the Durbin pictures attractive to people of both sexes and all ages. Deanna could not dress much as the child of a poor musician, but now she is a multimillionaire's daughter. Therefore she can dress—and does—but in her new and less simple surroundings she pre-! serves the demure comedy and the romping gaiety revealed in her four earlier pictures. Of course, Deanna cannot help growing up, and the title of her new picture is a confession thereof, but Universal Pictures have not yet promoted her to the joys of passionate love. Instead, her loveconsciousness reveals itself in mirthprovoking interferences with the love affairs of her two sisters, but she her- I self remains heart-whole, preparing for some grand passion in a picture to come. Whether it is, considered as the latest in a quintet of Durbin pictures, or whether it is considered by itself alone, "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" is a joyous, satisfying comedy, and presents a charming phase in the always interesting story of feminine adolescence. The girls and boys in the audience grow up with Deanna, and i adults of all ages grow young with her —which is a wonderful thing to say of a 16-year-old girl star. REGENT THEATRE. "The Ware Case" concludes tonight at j the Regent Theatre. "Four's a Crowd." starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles, opens tomorrow. LOTTE LEHMANN. Making her first trip to New Zealand after triumphant seasons on the Continent, in England, and in America, i where at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, she alternated with Kirsten Flagstad the role of Elizabeth in "Tannhauser," Lotte Lehmann, world-famous soprano, will give two concerts at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Thursday. June 8, and Saturday, June 10. It is given to few artists to receive the unqualified plaudits of the critics throughout the world, but Madam Lehmann has captivated them all. Apart from her beautiful voice she has a dignity of bearing and a charm about all she does that delight her audiences. - Writing of her recent wonderful receptions in Melbourne, a critic said: '"She has a wonderful sense of style and has the unique power of being able to colour a line or phrase without disturbing the music as a whole. How the poems and music leap and pulsate when she sings them! She seems to breathe into them the quick breath of immortal life. She is now at the zenith of her career and reaches the greatest heights. Never before has she sung with such exquisite art. She renders her songs with such a sense of loveliness and ravishment of beautiful tone that the emotions of the listeners are immediately under the sway of the singer. ..." With Madam Lehmann as solo pianist and accompanist is Paul Ulanowsky, a pianist of rare skill. The box plan opens at the D.I.C. on Friday. SCHOLA CANTORUM. The booking for the Schola Cantorum recital of "Dona Nobis Pacem" is unusually heavy, and indicates the public appreciation of the work which this renowned choir is doing in the field of choral music. The recital at the St. Francis Hall, Hill Street, tomorrow night, is the choir's contribution to the cause of peace. This work has had such a wonderful reception in England that it was only with great difficulty that the orchestral parts were hired from the publishers. This cantata will not be heard in New Zealand again for at least a season, as the orchestral parts must be returned to London immediately after the performance. Mr. Stanley Oliver will conduct and the orchestra will be led by Miss Ava Symons. "SHORT STORY." More and more in recent years do the public seem to appreciate the work of the various amateur dramatic societies throughout the country— without which New Zealanders would see scarcely any of the plays now making stage history on the other side of the world, plays, for instance, like Robert Morley's first play, the brilliant comedy, "Short Story," which is to be presented for a season commencing next Saturday by the Thespians in the Concert Chamber. "Short Story" is a real modern masterpiece of wit and construction; and it was so described by London critics when the play was first produced there in 1935. The producer for this production is Elsie Lloyd, assisted by Myles F. E. Wright as assistant producer; the stage manager is Jack McLeod, the property mistress Peggy Lucas, the prompter Janet Stirling, and the electrician George Colledj?e. The cast includes some wellknown Thespian performers, with a number of newcomers to the stage. Those taking part are Charles Dennis-toun-Wood, Ina Small, Maurice Hawken, Dorothy Tansley, Eric EvanYoung, Nancye Fletcher, Gwen McConchie, and Barbara Basham. Particulars regarding booking are advertised. PAUL BOESCH BACK. Paul "Bombshell" Boesch, the spectacular demonstrator of the dropkick, who is to meet "Lofty" Blomfield in the professional wrestling contest at the Wellington Town Hall on Monday night, passed through Wellington today on his way to Christchurch. Boesch is looking particularly fit and well and is several pounds heavier than in 1936. In his bout against Martinez at Auckland Boesch thrilled the spectators by his exhilarating performance, and, in view of the fact that he had to hurry straight from the ship to the ring, he could scarcely be expected to be at his peak. By the time he steps out against Blomfield, Boesch will have had the advantage of a bout against Clarke at Christchurch tonight and also a day or two in Wellington in which to work into his best fighting trim. There was no more popular wrestler in New Zealand in 1936 than Boesch, and his fast and spectacular displays drew large attendances from one end of the country to the other. Since then many people have asked for him to be brought back for another visit. Boesch will find Blomfield a tougher proposition than before, and everything points to a really great match. Particulars are advertised. BOXING NEXT WEEK. On Thursday, June 8, the Wellington Boxing Association will conduct a twelve-round professional boxing contest at the Town Hall, between Don. Johnson, of Auckland, and Barney Down, of Wellington. Both boys are welterweights, and are among the best at present campaigning in the Dominion. Johnson was seen in Wellington in the first bout of the local season, when he scored a meritorious points win over Vie. Caltaux, in an attractive bout. Down last year beat Caltaux when the latter was at the top of his form, so everything points j to an unusually .bright contest on Thursday week. The local association j has persevered with welterweight! boxers this year and the policy has been unusually successful. Action will be the keynote of the approaching bout, and science and hard hitting will not be lacking. There will be amateur preliminaries of a high class. Particulars are advertised.