EMPIRE’S ENTERTAINING FARE

Evening Star, Issue 21482, 5 August 1933, Page 10

EMPIRE’S ENTERTAINING FARE

‘SAILOR’S LUCK’ RAISES BARRAGE OF LAUGHS A new laughter season was inaugurated at the Empire Theatre yesterday. Though smacking of brine and tar in title, ‘ Sailor’s Luck,’ the main attraction, belies its name save in costume, the sailors concerned in the story for tho most part being of the dry land variety. Concocting comedy is their bent, and the result of their efforts is as excellent a comedy as lias been seen in Dunedin within recent months. But seldom docs the treat of a fulllength comedy come the way of theatre-goers, and last night's appreciative audience filled the bouse with its laughter, the result being that a proportion of tho dialogue failed to penetrate this barrage of mirth. However, the players’ expressive acting made a .sound accompaniment unnecessary. It would probably have overburdened an already comfortably-laden comedy. ‘ Sailor’s Luck ’ is a great success in every possible manner. Brilliant acting, snappy dialogue, uproariously amusing incidents, and an adroit blending of the gay with the sentimental are the elements which, in combination and balance, elevate the production into a class of its own. From the moment the three naval musketeers receive their first shore leave until the time handsome James Dunn, cast as Harrigan, recovers his faith in the wedding ring, 1 Sailor’s Luck ’ speeds along its rollicking course without a flaw in technique, a word out of place, a scone out ol alignment, or a fault in scrcencrait. It Is a. triumph of American comedy. As fascinating as ever. Sally Filers gives a sparkling portrayal of the swimming instructress who knows more about love than the natatorial art and around whom the sailors, as moths round a flame, buzz and bow. James Dunn is more than happily cast as the sailor hero who very literally lights through his sailor’s luck to happiness, aided and abetted by Sammy Cohen, who takes the honours in the broad coinedv scenes. Some of the incidents in which this talented long-nosed comedian figures bring down the house, especially those enacted in the swimmiim pool. In the part of lough and ready “ Bilge,” the third of the trio Frank Moran doos "well; \ ictor Jory scores as the sophisticated dance promoter, and Will Stanton is brilliant as the intoxicated man about town. The supplementary items on the programme are in keeping with the standard set by the feature production. International events of topical interest are covered in the Fox news ami the Graham M‘Nameo Universal newsreel, while ‘ Isles of tho East Indies ’ is one of the Magic Carpet senes presenting in striking and vivid fashion the strange customs of n still sti angci people living amid glorious, tropical scenery in a very- primitive state. It is extremely educational and entertaining fare. Knight Barnett piosented another popular programme of music on the Christie unit organ, ‘Songs of the Family,’ featuring such old as ‘ Sonny ” oy ’ ‘ Mother Machree,’ and Bend Down, Sister.’ Selections from ‘ The Merry Widow ’ were also well received.