MYSTERY AND STAGE REVUE

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 9

MYSTERY AND STAGE REVUE

REGENT'S BILL FOR FRIDAY * Screenland’s most famous' specialist in Oriental roles, Warner Gland, will be seen and heard in bis second great portrayal of Dr Fu Manchu when Para<mount’s ‘ The Return of Dr Fu Manchu ’ comes to the Regent Theatre on Friday next. This picture is a sequel to ‘ The Mysterious Dr Ku Manchu,’ in which Oland scored heavily with movie critics and fans all over the country several months ago. ; Matching wits with the insiduous doctor again is 0. P. Heggie. in the part of Naviand Smith, Scotland Yard’s best sleuth. Heggie is a convert to the movies from the legitimate stages op which he was a pre-eminent actor, both in America and England. His biggest film roles have been in ‘ The Vagabond King’ (as the weak-minded King Louis) and in the Fu Manchu films. Jean Arthur and Neil Hamilton play the romantic leads as the winsome ward of the Oriental doctor and as the young Englishman who is marked as the victim of the villian’s crafty plots. Considerable interest is already being manifested in the forthcoming “ Regent; Revuette,” an amateur production that will undoubtedly add a: very attractive and. refreshing note to next week’s programme, i This -innovation ’ has been sponsored by Mr Aleo Regan, and his happy thought should meet with widespread approval. The show should bo something out of the ordinary. Mr Regan realises that the curiosity value of the talkies has definitely vanished,' and that they now exist, like every, otfmr form of entertainment, <s!a sheer merit alone.

Mr Regan makes it quite clear that his show will not be of the elaborate or pretentious style. It is simply half an hour’s entertainment. to vary the picture programme. But that is not to sav that it will be an impromptu or, haphazard affair. Mr Regan and Mr Stan Lawson have been working on the show lor some considerable time, and they have with them six nr seven jmncipals and a singing and dancing ballet of eight. The principals who are participating in the first “ revuette are Misses Mollie Andrews, Rita Holmes, Anita Wmkel, Myra Webster, Messrs Arthur Macdonald, Brendon Finlayson, Reg. Richards, J. Macbarlano. O Garden, all of whom are very, well known in local musical and dramatic circles. Mr T. J. Kirk-Burnand will be musical director. Mr Regan and Mr Lawson will naturally figure prominently in the production, and the presence of these two accomplished artists will enrich the show considerably.