REGENT THEATRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20569, 31 May 1941, Page 3

REGENT THEATRE

“STRIKE UP THE BAND” Mirth and melody reign at the Regent Theatre, where Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland and a group of clever youngsters, many of them teen with the youthful stars in “Babes in Arms,” are regaling audiences with harmonics and comicalities. Mickey and Judy organise a high school band in the story and that Is when things begin to happen. Paul Whiteman has announced a radio con.est for high school bands. They set out to raise funds for the trip to Chicago. They stage a travesty on old-time melodrama, with the buzz saw, heroine tied to the railroad tracks, and such ditties as “Heaven Will Protect a Working Girl.” When Paul Whiteman appears in their town they borrow his orchestra’s instruments during an intermission and give him an audition he never expected. They raise money for the trip, and then one of the youngsters becomes ill and must be flown to a great surgeon. They sacrifice the money for the trip to save him, but fate in the person of the town millionaire provides the train fare and they win the prize in a grand musical climax embellished by their comical specialties. Mickey masters the drums and is irresistibly funny. He also does some appealing “straight” drama with Ann Shoemaker, playing his mother. L J aul Whiteman not only conducts an orchestra; but proves himself a very capable actor in his scenes with the youngsters. The fine associate programme includes a further edition of ••me popular Regent news service, together With an amazing story of an amazing figure. “More About Nostra* , damns.” On Monday there will be I three sessions, at 2, 5 and 8 p.m.