AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1937, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House “A FAMILY AFFAIR.” Practically the entire cast of “Ah Wilderness!” that compelling drama of home life, are reunited in the new M.G.M. story of a typical American family, “A Family Affair,” which opens to-day at the Opera House for a two day showing. Lionel Barrymore, seen as the father in the earlier hit, again plays a typical head r of the house in the new picture, and Eric Linden and Cecilia Parker once again represent romance in Its adolescent phases. Others featured in the cast ar Mickey Rooney, Charley Grahewin, Spring Byington, Julie Haydon, Sara Haden, Allen Vincent, Margaret Marquis, Selmer Jackson and Harlan Briggs. “A Family Affair” was adapted to the screen by Van Riper from the play by Aurania Rouveyrol and was directed by George Seitz, veteran director of many smash film hits, including “The Last of the M'ohicans.” The story is that of a District Judge revered by the citizens of a small Idaho city until, by fulfilling the dictates of the law, he balks the building of a great •aqueduct that will link the small community to a mighty city. Ratner than transport the entire company to Idaho for the exterior scenes, a typical town was ‘constructed on two; acres of M.G.M. spacious grounds. It consists f of two streets of two-storey residences, two business streets flanked by banks, grocery stores, cafes, furniture and feed stores, a newspaper building, and a three-storey courthouse surrounded by the town square. Other impressive sets include the interior of a huge convention hall, a great engineering project and in-l terior of the courth'ouse.

“THE SHOW GOES ON” Gracie Fields in a sparkling musical comedy ... bubbling over with laughter and happiness .. . brimful of songs the whole world will soon be singing .. . spectacle .. . romance and riotous laughter in “The Show Goes on,” coming soon to the Opera House.

Regent Theatre “HARMONY LANE.” I t In the Cincinnati beer-garden scene . used in “Harmony Lane,” which is based on the life of Stephen Collins Foster, the country’s foremost composer and father of American folk songs, it was necessarry to have a singer for his famous number, “Come

Where My Love Lies Dreaming.” Wynne Davis, selected as having the best voice among four hundred contestants in a held by the Southern California Federation of Allied Arts, was selected for the part. She was the winner of a 1000.00 dollar prize, and later was honored by being given the prima donna role of “Nadina” in “The Chocolate Soldier” at the Philharmonic Auditorium. Her rendition of this fine old Foster t

melody is one of the high spots of the picture, which has Douglass Mongomery in the lead, as Stephen Collins Foster, Evelyn Venable, Adrienne Ames, Joseph Cawthorn, William Frawley, Clarence Muse and the Shaw Choir, Loyd Hughes, Gilbert Emery, Florence Roberts, Ferdinand Munier, Cora Sue Collins, and a cast oi: thousands. Among the fine old Foster melodies which are heard in the picture, many of them being sung by Clarence Muse and the Shaw Choir, there are: “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming,” “Oh! Susanna,” “Old Black Joe,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “Old Folks At Home” (Swanee River), “Massa’s In I’he Cold Ground,” ‘Camptown Races”, “Lou’siana Belle,” and many others. “ELEPHANT BOY.” Sabu, the 13-year-old Indian film star discovery, who plays the part of Little Toomai in "Elephant. Boy,” coming to the Regent Theatre, Friday, is an orphan. His father, a mahout, was killed in the service of the Maharajah of Mysore. Sabu lived in the elephant stables and drew a pension of two rupees a month and a handful of rice a day. Now he is in London and his salary is said to run to four figures.

“THE WOMEN HAVE THEIR < WAY."

On Tuesday, December 7th., at the Town Hall at 8 p.m., our favourite local talent present to you the dainty two act comedy, “.The Women Have Their Way.” This popular little comedy has been frequently presented by amateurs throughout Australasia. The scene takes place at Don Julian’s house, the parish priest, of a little old fashioned Spanish town in Andalusia—a little sleepy town, where only two things keep lively, the church bells and the women’s tongues. The part of the priest is : taken by Frank O’Halloran, new to Greymouth audiences, the busy body, Concha, by his sister, Mrs. Plank, the young man from Madrid, Neil ' Collins, the pearl of the village, Juanita la Rosa, Unice Scott, her aunt, Dora Belen, Gladys Wallwork, Don Julian, who is ably supported by his shrewd sister, Santita, Ada Smeaton, with her neices, Phylis Bond and Miriam Stevens. The wise old Doctor, Don Reid, and the defected suitor, Billy Payne, lend humour to the situation. Tim O’Farrell does good work as the servant, and the Sacristan, Maria Courtney, is Pent Diegulla, and little Miss Stewart, the village girl. The programme will also contain items by the Convent Girls’ Choir, also a solo by Messrs Hatch and Duffy. The object is to assist

our local Red Cross Society, and so enable it to. become well established in the coming year. PAROA W.l. SOCIAL. A very enjoyable evening was spent in the Paroa Hall on Monday, when the married members of the Women’s Institute entertained the single

members and their friends at a social evening. The evening passed merrily with community singing, games, competitions, dancing, etc. The winners of the various com-

petitions, etc., were as follows:— "Knocking the *ottles,” (ladies), Miss M. Ramsay Ist., Mrs. Rawlins 2nd., Miss E., Baker ,3rd. Men: Mr. C. Ramsay Ist., Mr. Dick Ramsay 2nd. “Hidden Flower Names,” (ladies), Mrs. Worsley Ist., Mrs. Nailer 2nd , Mrs. Price 3rd. Men’s: Mr. C. Ramsay Ist., Mr. Ray Ramsay 2nd. “Riddles”: Mrs. Price and Miss Williams (equal) Ist., Mrs. Woollett and Miss

Smith 2nd. (equal), Mrs. Nailer 3rd. “Putting the Tail on the Pig” (ladies): Miss Baker Ist., Miss Williams 2nd., Mrs. Worsley 3rd. Men: I Mr. R. Ramsay Ist., Mr.' C. Ramsay 12nd. “Lucky Spot,” Mrs. Nailer and Miss Ramsay. “Shovelling the Peas,” (ladies): Mrs. Sontgen Ist., Mrs.

Nailer 2nd, Miss Ramsay 3rd. Men: Mr. C. Ramsay Ist., Mr. Dick Ramsay 2nd., Mr. Vern Hogath 3rd. “Lucky Waltz”: Mr. Sontgen and Mrs. Wors< ley. “Lucky One-Step”: Mr. V. Ho< garth and Miss Woollett. “Tele-

grams”: Mrs. Worsley and Mr. C. Ramsay. The “Mystery Parcels” were won by Mrs. Nailer and Mr. Ray rtamsay. A “Bring and Buy” stall was also held, the proceeds which are to go towards giving the children a Christmas Party. A very dainty supper was served by the hostesses. The pianistes for the evening were 1 Mrs. G. Worsley, Mrs. J. Rhodes, and Miss Eileen Baker. « t