AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 11 April 1933, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

WILLIAMSON’S REVUE CO. “PLEASURE BOUND” AND ‘ ‘ HELLO, H APPINESS! ’ ’ TO-NIGHT AT 8 O’CLOCK. This evening at 8 o’clock and to-mor-row afternoou at 3 J. C. Williamson, Ltd., will present for the first time here Frank Neil’s very talented and incomparable revue company, numbering over 40 artists, headed by the two popular artists, Ella Shields and George Wallace, in the magnificent and very humorous revue “Pleasure Bound,” which attracted record audiences for many performances in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The season will close to-morrow evening with a presentation of the stupendous revue “Hello Happiness,” which has also broken all known records throughout New Zealand. “Pleasure Bound” and “Hello, Happiness!” were described by a critic iu Auckland as entertainment of a very high order, and undoubtedly the best revue ever staged in New Zealand. Another critic stated that “Pleasure Bound” and “Hello, Happiness!” maintain the excellent stand ard set by J. C. Williamson’s spectacular presentations in the past. The calibre of the company may be gauged by the fact that in addition to “Pleasure Bound” they staged four other revues in Auckland and during a season extending over five weeks two performances daily had to be staged in order to cope with the extraordinary demand for seats. Every known record was broken at His Majesty’s Theatre, and for their final appearance there the whole of the theatre was booked out a week ahead. At the final fall of the curtaiu an unprecedented scene of enthusiasm took place, speeches Were demanded from Miss Ella Shields and George Wallace, and it was fully half an hour after the performance before the audience left the theatre. Later a large crowd gathered ouside the stage door to cheer the artists as they left for their homes. Miss Ella Shields is probably more popular to-day than at any time in her great career. Probably this is because she presents songs which make a strong appeal to the present day theatre-goer. Her repertoire includes “Stiver, Keep away from my Door,” “Here We Are Again,” and of course “Burlington Bertie,” all of which she sings in her immaculate dinner suit, and at the end of the performance she contributes “Adeline” and other vocal numbers in a gorgeous evenire gown. George Wallace is an irresist’ humorous comedian, and he, too, is even more popular now than when he first appeared in New Zealand. His talking picture creation “His Royal Highness” has also helped to further his popularity. It is said that no more thrilling acrobatic act has ever been presented in New Zealand than that of the Four Daring Diabolos, who created a sensation in Auckland in their wonderful adagio features. Messrs Murray and Walton are described as express-speed dance experts, whose brilliant tap-dancing greatly assisted towards the success of the revues in Auckland. Miss Miriam Lester, who last appeared here in “The Belle of New York,” is the possessor of a charming soprano voice, which is heard at its best in “Alice Blue Gown,” and Miss Maida Jones is a delightful soubrette and comedienne. The other artists include Billy Malone, Maggie Buckley, Lily Malloy, Maurice Barling and William Liddle. An outstanding feature of both revues is the brilliant work of Maurice Diamond’s famous beauty ballet, a team of young Australians, the like of which has never previously been enjoyed in the Dominion. The dressing, staging and mounting are other features of “Pleasure Bound” and “Hello Happiness!” The prices for to-morrow’s matinee of “Pleasure Bound” are 4/-, 2/6 and 1/6, and children will be admitted at half-rate. COSY TALKIES, HASTINGS. “HOT PEPPER.” Captain Flagg of the marines has been promoted. They address Victor McLaglen as “Admiral” in “Hot Pepper,” the Fox comedy in which Edmund Lowe, in the role of Harry Quirt, Lupe Velez and El Brendel play the principal parts. No gun powder is exploded in this picture, both Flagg and Quirt having cast aside their marine uniforms. McLaglen appears as the owner of a string of speakeasies, while Lowe depends upon his wits for a living. They battle as of yore over the affections of various girls, but the chief object of their contention is Lupe Velez in the role of a fiery stowaway, who becomes an entertainer in one of Flagg’s “speaks.” “Hot Pepper” again presents the characters of Flagg and Quirt, originally created by Lawrence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson. John G. Blystone directed the picture, which continues its season at the Cosy Talkies, Hastings, to-night. “VIENNESE NIGHTS” AT ARCADIA A MEMORABLE PICTURE At the Arcadia Theatre for the last time to-night is Warner Bros.’ First National Pictures’ wonderful “Viennese Nights’,, which has been showing to packed houses. It is on a plane quite above that of the usual run of film operas, and real artistic taste, as well as the most extraordinary technical skill, have been used in the making of this splndid entertinment, which is to be technicolour throughout. “Viennese Nights” is unquestionably a triumph for its creators. It is a piece which is at once colourful, tuneful, delicately, yet not too sentimentally pathetic, and, above all, beautiful. Its romance is a delightful tale of purity and beauty; its music, ranging from gaiety through the medium of dreamy waltz to magnificent symphony, has rare quality without being far above the heads of the audience; its comedy is simple in origin and refreshing in its presentation; and the pice is interpreted by a cast which is conspicuous for leading players of fine voice, and a chorus that equals anything that the talkies have produced previously. 'THE WICKHAM MYSTERY” TO-MORROW. The United Artists thriller which commences at to-morrow’s matinee, ‘‘The Wickham Mystery” is a British picture with an all-British cast. An ingenius story of the struggle for possession of valuable helicopter plans forms the theme of this mysterious

melodrama. The development turns upons a mysterious packet of papers which have been stolen from Mr. Wickham, papers for which he is willing to give a huge reward on their safe return. Eve Gray and John Longden appear in the leading roles, and a cast of well-known British players, including Walter Piers as the “silly ass’’, Wally Boses, Lester Matthews, Doris Clemence and others lend able support. Included in the supports is a Harry Launder film, “1 Love a Lassie”, and it. is worth going a long way to hear this grand old comedian sing one of his favourite songs. The box plan is at the theatre shop, phone 4336. MUNICIPAL THEATRE, HASTINGS. NO PICTURES TO-NIGHT ' Owing to the engagement of the Hastings Municipal Theatre by (theatrical company, there will be no .pictures to-maht sir .to-morrow aiight.