ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—Now Showing': “THE GREAT WALTZ.” Magic melodies of Vienna amid’ a dramatic, romantic story of the musician who was the voice of the gayest city in the world, brings Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravet and Miliza Korjus, Viennese opera star, to the scren in “The Great Waltz” drama of the life of Johann Strauss, to be serened at the Opera House to-night, to-morrow and Monday. Not only the physical Vienna of the period but its spirit are caught in the romantic stoy of the Waltz’ King’s life and loves. Strauss’ waltzes and operetta airs are presented in spectaculai sqquences in the Imperial Opera, the Donmayer Casino, grand ball sequences, and the court of Emperoi Franz, Josef. Thrills are provided by the evolution in the days of Metternich. Romance abounds. The story deals with the composer from the time he lost his position as a bank clerk and turned to music to his final hours in the Emperor’s court. His marriage to the sweetheart. of his youth and his subsequent infatuation for a brilliant opera star who sends him back to his faithful wife, form the plot against which dazzling spectacle, ballets and other glamorous incidents bedeck the best-loved music in the world Gavet, Grench star, plays Strauss, appearing throughout the story as a young man until the final scenes, where he appears during old age, the Strauss best known to the world. Luise Railielr is appealing', and powerfully dramatic as Poldi, the wife. Mme. Korjus, credited with one of the greatest voices in the world, has a fine flair for comedy, is beautiful, and makes Carla Donner, the singer, a glamorous figure. Musically, the picture is outstanding. Symphony orchestras of 90 pieces, augmented by rare- Stradivarius and Amati violins, are recorded through nine separate sound channels in the largest recording task in screen history. So- perfect is the recording that single instruments stand out in the big group Choruses of 100 voices figure in opera sequences and in the singing of “Tales of the Vienna Woods” and other songs lyricised by Oscar Hammerstein 11. Albertina Rasch presents a brilliant ballet in the Imperial opera sequence. REGENT—Now Showing’: “MID-' NIGHT” and “ROMANCE OF THE REDWOODS”; “THE LONE RANGER,” Ep. 7; also BABIES 36 to 70. “MIDNIGHT.” Mitchell Leisen, one of Paramount’s top directors, stood behind the megaphone during the filming of the new all-star comedy, “Midnight.” Under his direction Leisen had one of the most formidable casts ot years made up of Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Francis Lederer Mary Astor, Elaine Barrie, Hedda Hopper and Rex O’Malley. The picture deals with the experiences of an American adventuress in Paris, torn between a romantic taxi-driver and a handsome man about town with millions. ASSOCIATE FEATURE. “Romance of the Redwoods” is adapted to the screen from a Jack London story, with Charles Bickford and Jean Parker featured. The new film is set amid the scenic grandeur o/ the Pacific Northwest, and tells a story of simple, yet powerful emotion. A moving record of a man’s conflict within himself, and of his battle with nature, “Romance o£ the Redwoods” has been hailed as a visual as well as a dramatic treat, with deep natural appeal to lovers of all types of entertainment. Romance, death, a murder trial and the bitterness it leaves behind are all major items in a film whose climax is a spectacular forest fire, a virtual inferno of flaming emotion and blazing timber. Gordon Oliver, Lloyd Hughes, Marc Lawrence and Pat O’Malley are among the prill-, cipals in the supporting cast. i STILLWATER BALL I The Stillwater Hall committee are holding a Summer ball in the new hall on Saturday, and with the Embassy dance band providing the music, an enjoyable evening’s dancing is L assured. A guinea Monte Carlo will be held, and with the usual good supper provided, and the hall well ventilated, a large attendance is expected.

DANCE REVUE. A brilliant display of local talent will be staged at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday by .the pupils of the Miriam Trott School of Dancing, assisted by many well-known artists. Miss Doreen Donovan will be heard in two popular numbers with a welltrained ballet as a background. Miss Donovan will sing “I’ll Stand By” and “Was It a Dream.” Solo dance numbers will be given-by Patricia Fischer, Joan Macmillan, Maude Williams, Patricia Schultze/Joyce Picken and Miss Viv. Heenan, of Hokitika will dance her spectacular interpretation of the Spanish Tango. The “Bridal Morn,” a comedy sketch, will be presented by the pupils of Miss Adria Bush; also “Backyard Philosophy,” a comedy dialogue, and “What’s It For?” a comedy number by Miss Evelyn Kiely. Many ballets from little tots to young ladies, with anything from eight to fourteen in each ballet, have been carefully selected and trained. The scenery, frocking and lighting effects will add greatly to the performances, as no time or expense has been spared. Mr. Pat Coll and Mr. Vernon Loft, as a team, will be sure to amuse the patrons, and Mr. W. Baird will render a Scottish song in a scene with the Greymouth Pipe Band, who will play a few selections. A novelty number. “Plenty of Money and You,” will be sung and danced by the popular little artist Doreen McCarthy and her partner Royce Kerr. Other novelty acts are “This Little Piggie Went to Market” bv Doreen McCarthy, Joan Moar and ballet, and the big girls’ team will give an interpretation of three tall girls, 12ft in height, doing a kicking routine. Miss Miriam Trott will appear as soloist in two numbers. SACRED DRAMA Senior pupils of the Greymouth Convents presented the sacred drama, “Catherine of Alexandria,” in the Town Hall, last evening, to a large audience. The drama was an ambitious undertaking, but was cleverly portrayed by the characters, and admirably produced. Miss Joan Walker as Catherine, and Miss Patricia Delaney as the Roman Emperor were excellently cast in the leading parts, and both gave intelligent portrayals of their respective characters. Miss Patricia Kielj- was also worthy . of special mention for her performance as the Empress. Lesser roles were taken by Misses Therese McKeefry, Eileen Coyle, Patsy Kiely, Pat Gallagher, Nora McGrath, Moire Donnellan, Molly Coll, Nada Lecher, Rose Mooney, Peggy Dowell, Ailsa Heaphy, Noreen Gallagher, Therese Rae, Pauline McVicar, Quita Hassall, and Marguerite Hanrahan. The chon’ of angels saiig “Prayer” (Mascagni), “Terzetto” (from “Elijah”), and combined in other choral numbers, while the choir of St. Mary’s rendered “Where E’er You Walk" (Handel), “Go Ye Forth. O Christian Maiden.” “Guardian Angel,” “O Rest in the Lord,” “Holy God We ■ Praise Thj r Name,” and “By the Blood That Flowed From Thee.” The Convent Orchestra of sixteen] instruments played Mozart’s “Ave Verum” and “Gloria" (12th Mass). “Ave Maria” (Bach-Gounod), and “The March of the Imperial Russian; Guard.” Miss V. McDonnell recited] “The Doom of Stephenous.” Miss M. McSherry was accompanist and musical directress.

The drama will be repeated on Sunday at a sacred concert in the Town Hall, commencing at 8.30 p.m.