ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 6, 6 December 1930, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE REGENT. ‘SO THIS IS LONDON.” An example of perfect casting is in evidence in the Fox Movietone talkie, "So This Is London,” starring Will Rogers, which will be at the Regent Theatre this evening. Three very essential roles are those of a family of titled British folk, Lord and Lady Porcy Worthing, and their daughter, Elinor Worthing. Lumsden Hare, who has been 30 years on stage and scroen, the major portion of his experience on the London stage, and who is an Englishman, plays tho role of Lord Worthing, Mary Forbes, 100 per cent. English, the mother of Ralph Forbes, plays the role of Lady Worthing and Maureen O’Sullivan, who won fame in John McCormack’s picture, the role of “Elinor!” Obviously Rogers is ideal as the Texan owner of a large cotton mill, Irene Rich perfect as his wife, and suroly a typical American 6on of an American father is Frank Albertson. Add to that Bramwell Fletcher, an Englishman who started his career on the London stage and has only recently gone to America, playing the role of Alfred Honeycutt, and the idealism is complete. .Plans are rapidly filling at the Central Booking Office, ’phone 7178. DE LUXE TALKIES. “sunny" _ side UP.” From extra girl to one of Hollywood’s leading screen actresses in four brief years. That is the achievement of Janet Gaynor, co-featured with Charles Farrell in tho original Fox Movietone comedy, “Sunny Side Up,” written especially for the audible screen by de Sylva, Brown and Henderson, a trio of librettist-com-posers. Miss Gaynor turns her talent to musical comedy for tho first time in “Sunny Side Up,” which will be screening at the De Luxe to-day. Since the advent of talking pictures, the diminutive little actress has been preparing for her debut as a singing and dancing comedienne. Lacking actual stage experience, she really had to start all over again. Her success in “Four Devils,” “Christina” and “Lucky Star,” her first talking pictures, plainly indicated that unlike so many screen stars who have been submerged by the audible film wave, Miss Gaynor is destined to rise to even greater heights via tho new medium. The supporting Vaudeville De Luxe Featurettes are a feature of our big programme.

PALACE THEATRE. NEW FILM STAR IN BRILLIANT ROLE. Now and then an unheard-of boy or girl becomes overnight a Hollywood leading player. These few but sensational, rises to- fame keep thousands of other film toilers plodding toward the goal of their ambitions. Sally O’Neil, in “Girl of the Port,” now at the Palace Theatre, is one of these few, blessed by the gods, who stepped casually from a cafe ballroom into a leading part in a motion picture and fame. She was visiting friends in California one summer. Like other tourists, sho often danced at the Cocoanut Grove, hoping to catch a glimpse of a movie celebrity. It was there that Marshall Neilan saw _ the sprightly Irish lassie and visualised her in a role in “Mike,” a picture he was preparing to direct. There followed an introduction, a studio interview, tests —and success for Sally O’Neil, erstwhile Chotsie Noonan from Bayonne, New Jersey. This success has “weathered” five years of Hollywood uncertainty—including tho advent of the microphone. “Girl of the Port” is her second Radio picture. Reginald Sharland, a distinguished English, actor, shares the honours with Sally O’Neil. HUMPHREY BISHOP MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY. In September, 1920, there landed in Western Australia a theatrical company, unknown and unheralded, and the name —the famous English Humphrey Bishop Comedy and Operatic Company—did not suggest anything. They had the goods, however, and were prepared to lose money to establish themselves. Mr Bishop had rented the Olympia, Perth, commencing in October, 1920, and as his company were due to arrive in September he perforce had to do a country tour to fill in time. He had no cause to regret it, as local theatre-goers seemed to feel that there was a something different about their show, and welcomed it accordingly. They left a name behind them that will be remembered for a long time, as a snappy, bright and wholesome entertainment, combined with excellent operatic excerpts. Sinco that time the company have played every capital city in the Commonweatlh and New Zealand, travelled as far north as Cairns (Queensland), and to the Bluff (New Zealand). They have recently concluded a ton weeks’ season, where they opened the new Regent Theatre, Melbourne,and their visit is announced hero for Saturday and Monday, December 13 and 15. The whole company are coming and an orchestra of seven, including a jazzy drummer. The costumes are all new, being specially designed and made during tho recent Sydney and Melbourne seasons. Plans will open at Central Booking Office, on Thursday next, and it is as well to remember that they are only \here for two nights, and it would be advisable to book early.