CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "The Sea Hawk" concludes tonight at the Regent. "I *TaKe This Woman," starring Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr, opens tomorrow. OPERA HOUSE. "Convoy" is continuing for an extended Wellington season at the Opera House. Clive Brook makes the most oi his part as a navaJ captain in command of a light cruiser, and thr { other main role is played by John Clements. The story deals with Iht convoy ot a flotilla of merchantmen through the North Sea, and it is an eventiu I voyage if ever there was one Navy co-operation makes the fights most realistic. MAJESTIC THEATRE. I "Night Train to' Munich" is showing at the Majestic Theatre. Rex Harrison and Margaret Lockwood are the stars. The story is that of a struggle between British Secret Service agents and the Gestapo for the possession of a valuable steel formula. Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford make a welcome reappearance as the two sport-loving and imperturbable Englishmen. "Night Train to Munich" is supported by an appropriate British Ministry of Information film entitled "Behind the Guns." ST. JAMES THEATRE. | The Texas Rangers are riding again at the St. James Theatre, but they do it with rather less discomfort than usual. Fast motor-cars, portable shortwave radios, and other modern oddments show that even the West, if it must go wild, must do so in an up-to-date way. "The Texas Rangers Ride Again" is an excellent drama of cattle-rustling. A strong cast is headed by John Howard, Ellen Drew, and Akim Tamiroff.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERAS. f#- .-•■■: ?♦ -. ■'' '-'■■" ■-■■"■■

On Wednesday, February 12, the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company, comprising more than 80 people, begins a brief season in a brilliant production of the entrancing and picturesque opera, "The Gondoliers." It will be presented with new and elaborate dresses and scenery, and will be sung and acted b. what is claimed to be the best aggregation of comic opera artists to appear in the works of Gilbert ■ and Sullivan for many years.

There will be only five evening performances of "The Gondoliers" and an afternoon presentation on Saturday, February 15. On the following Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Wednesday afternoon "The Pirates of Penzance" will be revived, and on Thursday, February 20, the two following evenings, and Saturday afternoon, February 22 "The Yeomen of the Guard." "lolanthe," "The Mikado," and "H.M.S. Pinafore" will follow.

Ivan Menres is undoubtedly one of the' finest Gilbertian comedians known in New Zealand, and Evelyn Gardiner is still regarded as the leading London Savoy Theatre contralto. Special interest will be taken in the appearance of the new members of the company, including Viola Wilson, John Fullard, Peggy Shea, Sara Gregory, Phyllis Curnow, and Maxwell Oldaker, and playgoers will welcome the reappearance of Gregory Stroud, Richard Watson, Bernard Manning, and Vincent McMurray.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE

I Many types of people associated with stage life make up the brilliantly in- ', atructive story by Vicki Baum in . "Dance, Girl, Dance," at the King's Theatre. Maureen O'Hara -fills an exacting role superbly, a good foil to Lucille Ball, vivacious and sophisticated. Louis Hayward is a playboy, > and it is when the racy blonde comedi- '. enne thinks that the chaste brunette '■ has stolen her playboy and rouses the '■ Irish blood with a slap, that the, i climax comes in a free for all on the stage. Supports are excellent, and include war and topical gazettes and a Donald Duck cartoon. STATE THEATRE. The new programme at the State has as its leading iilm "'Devil on Horseback," in which Lili Damita plays : a glamorous role with Fred Keating, a well-known vaudeville artist, and the young Chilean baritone Del Campo. The story is one of stormy love making in the Latin Americas with complications in which army and State are among the pawns. The story was written and directed by Crane Wilbur as the first of a series of natural colour features. It gives the dainty French star good scope for her singing, dancing, and emotional acting. Also showing is "Outlawed Guns," a rancher romance with Buck Jones in the stellar role. The story is one of brother against brother. PLAZA THEATRE. * A colourful page out of the early history of California is pictured at the Plaza Theatre in "The Mark of Zorro." It stars Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone, and Eugene Pallette, and it is a romantic, exciting tale of the days when California was still under Spanish'domination. The acting throughout is superb, and the producer has developed to the full the riclv background and atmosphere of the times. Linda Darnell makes a charming senoiita. The supporting programme is very entertaining. - DE LUXE THEATRE. With their usual fast-paced wisecracking to the fore, the "Little Tough Guys" and the "Dead End Kids" share honours with Nan Grey Rosina Galli, and Henry Armetta in "You're Not So Tough," the attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. "Three Men From Texas." the second feature, is one of the usual fast-moving Cassidy series. An instalment of "Drums of Fu Manchu," and a Universal newsreel showing survivors of the Jervis Bay, complete the programme. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The Paramount Theatre is presenting "The Girl from God's Country" and "Sandy Gets Her Man." jThe first film deals with the life of a doctor who tends the Indians of Alaska. Jane Wyatt, a nurse, does not like the life any-more than her predecessors, but she begins to appreciate the worth of the young doctor and decides to stay. She sets out to rescue the doctor, who is wanted for murder, and the way in which Nature takes a hand makes an interesting conclusion. The associate feature shows Baby Sandy at her best, and there are interesting supports. TIVOLI THEATRE. Marked by another sterling performance on the part of Spencer Tracy, who again demonstrates the fact that he is Hollywood's leading actor, "Edison/ the Man" is showing at the Tivoli. As Thomas • Edison,* Tracy has a role that fits him like a" glove. This is becoming a trite but true description of Tracy's srreen work, for it is difficult to remember a role that Tracy hasn't made fit him. The second feature is "Blondie Brings Up Baby," starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. TUDOR THEATRE. "I Married a Nazi" is showing at the Tudor Theatre. The picture stars Joan Bennett, as the art critic on New. York's smartness magazine, and Francis Lederer as the man she learns to fear. Liberal laughs are brought to the programme in the associate feature; "The Bride Wore Crutches." ROXY THEATRE. "Thunder Afloat," starring Wallace Beery, and "Castle on the Hudson," with John Garfield and Ann Sheridan, are showing at the Roxy. REX THEATRE. "Mystery of Mr. Wong," starring Boris Karloff, and "Alf's Button Afloat," starring the Crazy Gang, are showing at the Rex. ■ SUBURBAN THEATRES. Grand (Petone). —"The Ghost Comes Home," Frank Morgan and Ann Rutherford, "Sergeant Madden," Wallace Beery. Palace (Petone). —"Four's a Crowd" and "Heart of the North." State (Petone).—'Strange Cargo," Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. Ascot (Newtown).—"Golden Boy," Adolphe Menjou, Barbara Stanwyck; "Forged Passport," Paul Kelly, June Lang. Empire (Island Bay).—"South of the Border," Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette; '•Return of the Frog," Gordon Hai'ker. Kinema (Kilbirnie).—"The Man From Dakota," Wallace Beery; "Tropic Fury," Richard Arlen, Andy Devine. Rivoli (Newtown).—"Anne of Windy Poplars," Anne Shirley, James Ellison; "The Defence Rests," Edward Ellis, Anita Louise. Vogue (Brooklyn).—"The Westerner." Gary Cooper, Doris Davenport; "La Conga Nights," Constance Moore, Hugh Herbert. Regal (Karori) .—"Foreign Correspondent," Joel McCrea, George Sanders. King George (Lower Hutt).—"The Roaring Twenties," James Cagney, Priscilla Lane. Prince Edward (Woburn).—"Military Academy," Tommy Kelly, Bobby Jordan; "Chasing Trouble," Frankie Darro. Marjorie Reynolds.

De Luxe (Lower Hutt). —"These Glamour Girls," Lew Ayres and Lana Turner; "Quick Millions," the Jones Family.

Capitol (Miramar). — "Sherlock Holmes," Basil Rathbone and Ida Lupino; "Everybody's Hobby," Irene Rich and Henry O'Neil.