ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 40, 15 January 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. “NEW FACES” TO-NIGIIT. To-night, at Ih'o Opera House, J. C. M Jtiamson, l.td., will introduce to Palmerston North Frank Neil’s new international variety stars in “New Faces,” the latest London variety revue. The combination ot J. C. Williamson and Frank Neil needs no introduction here, as it is just two years r.inoo tho combined interests brought to tho city the Ella Shields-Goorgo Wallace Company, which shattered all New Zealand records. On the present occasion the members of tlie company were all personally engaged by Mr Neil during Ills world tour last year, and have already proved exceedingly popular in Melbourne and Auckland. Nice, Florio and Lttbow (two men and a lady) are a trio of sensational dancers who present an act which lor daring, comedy and, wilhal, grace and charm has never been equalled. Sensational to a degree, it yet abounds in comedy situations of a high order. Joey Porter, though still young in years, is _ easily most popular of this generation of English comedians. Apart from his many original quips, Air Porter its no mean pantommiist, his “business” and antics being extremely laugh-provoking. Alee Halls is a burlesque comedian whose forte is music (7) and he, too, has caught the public fancy. Les Diamondos appear in a most original and beautiful dancing and posing act, and the Three Ambassadors provide melody, mirth and music skilfully blended. Ray and Hope arc described as “wagsters and gags tors.” McDonald and Graham feature a most novel tap and ballroom dancing act, and Grace Hartirigton is a soprano of wide repute. No Neil show would be complete without a ballet and bevy of show girls, and in this company Mr Neil far excels ins previous efforts. The whole show is lavishly mounted and presented. “New Faces” will be staged to-night only. A special matinee is announced tor to-morrow, when “On With tho Show” will bo presented. The same production will bring the season to a close to-morrow night. Scats may be booked at Aiossie Collinson and L'uimingliame’s. REGENT THEATRE. “SHE LOVES ME NOT.” Paramount’s grand now starring combin ation, Bing Crosby and Miriam Hopkins, in “She Loves Me Not,” is an hysterically funny and audacious picture, showing finally to-night at the Regent Theatre. The picture details tho ludicrous adventures that overtake a group of Princeton students when they attempt to shield a little night club dancer from tho police and gunmen by hiding her in their dormitory. One of the students, however, has a father wdio is a motion picture magnate, and the latter, getting wind of the affair, launches a gigantic publicity scheme with the dancer, played by Miriam Hopkins, as 'the central figure. Before the uproar subsides, tho dean lias been knocked out and forced to pose with the daiicer, Bing Crosby losts bis fiancee anti wins the dean’s daughter, everybody is threatened with expulsion and finally uinstated, and the film closes with all happy except the disgruntled gunman nil) put behind tho bars. Crosby and Kitty Carlisle, who plays the dean’s daugin.*, join in several duets with the new iiil tunes by Rainger and Robin, and Gordon ant, Revel. “DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY.” Frederic March plays what lie considers the second outstanding screen role of bis brilliant career, in “Death 'lakes a Holiday,’! lie Paramount picture directed by Mitchell Leisen, which comes to-inurrow to the Regent Theatre. “Death Takes a Holi-

day” presents March in the starring role, as a “Shadow,” Death. For three days this strange figure takes a holiday from his grim task to taste life as a human being, to discover, ‘ if lie can, what makes hie so §wcet, and himself, Death, so abhor-, rent, March in the disguise of a handsome, adventurous gentleman, appears at a house party and throws himself into the gay pastimes of the sophisticated group. All the pleasures which men find so absorbing quickly tire him, and lie is about convinced that all human life is worthless illusion. The thrill of love, he has saved for his last test, and his dashing manner and handsome presence win him several opportunities to test this emotion. To each of the beautiful young women present, March makes lo\ e in turn. But none of them ca,n create the true emotion of love in him, until lie meets Grazia, played by Evelyn A7cnable, and with her, ho learns the greatness' of his immortal love, just as the clock strikes the close of his holiday. In addition to Miss Venable, who plays her second Hollywood role in this picture, following her role with Dorothea Wicck in “Cradle Song,” the supporting cast includes Sir Guy Standing, Kent Taylor, Gail Patrick, Helen Westley, Katherine Alexander, Kathleen Howard and Henry Travers.

KOSY THEATRE. “KING OF THE JUNGLE” AND “BIG EXECUTIVE.” To-night “King of tlio Jungle” and “Big Executive” will be screened finally at the Kosy Theatre. The programme is one full of thrills and excitement, and breathes nothing but entertainment. “STATE FAIR.” Combining the glamour of star personalities with a strong human interest story ot .universal appeal, Fox Film’s long heralded “State Fair,” which commences at the Kosy Theatre to-morrow, sets a now high standard in motion picture entertainment. Such an array of stars as Janet Gaynor, Will Rogers, Lew Ayres, Sally Filers, Norman Foster, Louise Dresser, I rank Craven and Victor Jory could scarcely fail to provide outstanding entertainment. When those players are presented in a story as rich in romance, comedy and plot interest as “State Fair” the result is nothing less than a delight. The story concerns the adventures of the Frake family at a

big state fair. Abel Frake, the farmer father, lias entered Blue Boy, his best hog, for the grand championship. Melissa, his wife, is competing for mince-meat and pickle prizes. With nothing to do but see the sights and have a good time, the young Flakes, Margy and Wayne, lind the fair a great place at which to learn about life and love. Miss Gaynor is at her winsome best in the role of Margy Frake. Rogers is superb as the hog-raising farmer, as is Ayres in the role of a young newspaper reporter. Miss Filers as the trapese artist, Foster as the country boy, Miss Dresser as Melissa Frake, Frank Craven as a country storekeper and Jory as a carnival stand barker arc excellent.