ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 April 1938, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. An unusual screen comedy drama with music, “100 Men and a Girl,” starring Deanna. Durbin is being shown to-night and to-morrow. There are 200 reasons why the people in this town will want to see the outstanding movie. The first 100 reasons are Deanna Durbin herself. Many of the other causes will be set forth in this review. First there is Deanna’s singing. Her lovely trained voice, clean, round and true, gives her song’s fresh beauty. She shows remarkable, versatility in tho widely varied range of her numbers. It is both amazing and satisfying to hear her rendering of Mozart’s “Alleluja” and then the aria “Libiamo” from Verdi’s “La Traviata,” after she does the popular offerings and l the new popular song “It's Raining Sunbeams,” and “A Heart That’s Free.” Another reason for the ente?'tainment value of the picture is Leopold Stokowski, who conducts the orchestra of 100 musicians through several offering of stirring appeal. World 1 famous as the leader of the Philadelphia Symphony, he no - A presents music through the medium of the screen, so that all audiences may know how beautiful great music, can he. Adolphe Menjou gives an enjoyable performance as Deanna’s father. He, like 100 othei musicians' who are his friends, is almost penniless because of the scarcity of musical engagements. He finds a well-filled purse belonging to a rich woman and Deanna returns it to the giddy society matron. That lady is given flutter}’. dizzy, humorous animation by Alice Brady. Deanna sings at Alice’Brady’s tea party and the fliahty woman says she will do anything to show her appreciation. Deanna gets an inspiration and; obtains Alice Brady’s promise to sponsor an orchestra. Deanna rushes home to her father and he organises 100 men for rehearsal, incurring obligations. Just when Deanna becomes enthusiastic over the turn of events, she learns that Alice Brady has. sailed for Europe and forgotten her agreement. Deanna visits the rich woman’s husband, played with a light, sure touch by Eugene Palette. He 1 . says “Get Stokowski to conduct this orchestra and I’ll sponsor it.” Off goes Deanna and she finally gets the noted conductor to listen to her 100 musicians. Then comes the climax, filled with a crescendo of instrumental music, and Deanna’s singing, and a whole world full of good feeling. This production holds the prescription for human happiness. REGENT THEATRE. The'last screening of “Calling All Stars” will be given to-night. STRONG CAST.

Slim Summerville, Jane Darwell. John Qualen, Douglas l Fowley, Allan Lane. Alan Dinehart and 1 Stepin Fetehit are featured in support of Don Ameche and Ann Sothern in “Fifty Roads to Town,” a laugh-spiced romance of two strangers marooned in a mountain cabin by a blizzard which opens Wednesday at the Regent Theatre. “SING AND BE HAPPY.” “Sing and Be Happy.” opening Wednesday at the Regent Theatre, unfolds a farcical battle between rival advertising agencies seeking a radio account. Anthony Martin, Leah Ray, .loan Davis, Helen Westley, Allan Lane and Dixie Dunbar are featured. "HOITY TOITY” REVUE. The Connors and Paul Revue Company played to another good house in the Greymouth Town Hall, last evening, the revue “Hoity Toity” producing frequent rounds of sustained applause- The variety of dancing numbers, and the frocking of the artists, were features of the show. The whole programme wa.s highly entertaining in its humour, music, and dancing, while unusual novelty items added to the variety and class of the entertainment. Syd- Beck, “Prince of Comedians.” was again a favourite, and he proved a fun-maker of a class seldom seen in Greymouth. He kept the audience in roars of laughter in his numerous appearances. The big hit of the first half of the programme was made by the Seven Flying Elmars, an amazing troupe of young girl tumblers, whose work was spectacular and daring, and’ executed with machine-like precision. The smallest member of the troupe especially caught the fancy of the audience. Moran and Wiser provided a refreshingly novel act with .their accurate throwing of straw hats, which were sent spinning out into the hall to curve back into their hands, and their juggling of three clubs. Misses Queenie Paul, Peggy Kerr, and Edna Hardy, and Connors handled the vocal side of the entertainment with credit, and all were popular artists. The Four K’s, brilliant young girl musicians, also scored distinct successes, and' they were encored several times. The Sunkissed Ballet contributed much to the success of the show-

To-night and to-morrow night, a complete change of programme will be presented in the Town Hall. The company will play at Hokitika on Thursday and Friday, and will give a final performance at Greymouth on Saturday next.