ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 230, 27 August 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

... REGENT THEATRE. “LE’P GEORGE DO IT.” His name is Scottish, his parents are Irish, and he was born in Aberdeen, New South. Wales. What is he? No! It’s not a conundrum —just an effort to solve the nationality of George Wallace, star of Cinesound’s comedy, “Let George Do It,” now showing at the Regent Theatre. George left Aberdeen at an early ago to embark on a theatrical 'career with his parents. Casting was in progress for a pantomime, “Robinson Crusoe.” A pirate was needed. Papa Wallace had an inspiration. “Let George Do It,” he suggested. So chunky little George, aged five, started on his career. In the wings each night Papa Wallace stood, and pity help little George if his performance was not up to the family standard. After many year's of vaudeville work, the now famous George Wallace was introduced to film work by tho late F. W. Thring. Several “shorts” and feature productions, including “His Royal Highness” and “A Ticket in Tatts,” revealed his amazing screen personality. When Cinesound Productions decided to make a comedy, Producer-Director Ken G. Hall remembered George Wallace’s Chaplin-like gift of mimieing, and his ability to coinbino pathos and laughter. “Let George Do It,” ho suggested. So George Wallace created “Joe Blake,” a subtle, yet uproariously funny characterisation, in the new Cinesound production. When Wallace was required to accidentally pull a string letting rabbits, ducks and fowls escape from a conjuror’s box, he added several extra rehearsals to the 6oene to watch the perspiring property men and electricians chasing the animals and birds all over the sound stage. Begged to desist, he gravely said, “It’s the imp in me. 1 can’t help it.” In the following sequences, there was nothing George couldn’t do, from jumping in a swimming pool, trying to commit suicide by drinking a “poison cocktail,” and risking his life in a thrilling speedboat chase. George’s “imp” had several outbursts of mischief on the “set,” but the comedian’s popularity, never failing good humour, and tremendous capacity for work, won tho studio’s warm regard and admiration,, throughout the whole production. Take a tip. “Let Georgs Do It”—and laugh as you’ve longed to laugh lor a long, long time. Plans are now open at Gollinson and Cunninghame’s, and early booking is strongly advised. METEOR THEATRE. “LANCER SPY.” “I find it so pleasant to be unpleasant,” George Sanders declared with a 'chuckle. “I am somewhat selfish in wanting to remain a villain. I think that such roles require ability, more finesse, and truer to lifo in their characterisations than are the rpmantic hero carts that Hollywood hands out. But if I’m to be a romantic chap, I’m going to be a swashbuckling one with some virility and depth of emotion to my portrayals. I’ll not bo just another handsome face on the screen.” Darryl F. Zanuek knew Sanders’ idea when he called him in to give him the title role in “Lancer Spy,” now showing at the Meteor Theatre, m which heis eo-featured with Dolores Del Rio and Peter Lorre. In fact, it wasn’t one role at all, but four distinctly separate roles. Sanders starts the film as a British naval lieutenant, becomes an imperious German high army officer, then a Prussian general sixty years old, and finally a middleaged Swiss railroad porter. “I have to create four entirely different characters,” Sanders points out. “I have to talk with a British accent, which comes naturally enough since I am English, and then with a German accent. Of course, I am supposed to look and act differently. for each of the four parts.” The assignment was tho most difficult that any producer has handed an aspiring actor in many months. A supporting cast of stellar names appears in “Lancer Spy,” including Virginia Field, Sig Rumann, Joseph Sehildkraut, Maurice JUoscovich, Lionel Atwill and Luther Adler. The story of “Lancer Spy,” adapted by Philip Dunne from a novel by Marthe McKenna, places Sanders in the extraordinary position of a British agent, sitting with the German high command in the uniform of a Prussian lancer, who, if he lives, can strike a deadlier blow than a million marching men. LAWRENCE TIBBETT. AUSTRALIAN RECORDS. Accustomed as lie is to big audiences in Europe, Lawrence Tibbett was not quite prepared for the huge and enthusiastic audiences which recently greeted him in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, where he broke all records for Australia. In these cities Lawrence Tibbett made many friends back-stage. Tibbett is human and mankind means one big family to him. The value of "Tibbett’s views on tho singing life is full of convincing truths, coming as they do from one who himself was churned through the mill on the way to success. “Young vocal aspirants,” says Tibbett, “who announce offhand ‘I am going to sing in opera,’ are starting at the end of things and not at the beginning. They do not pause to think what will be demanded of them. However great the self-assurance, no beginner knows positively what his or her powers really are until getting out before the public and singing to it. The singer’s friends are not the great public; they are too lenient and apt to search only for good points. Tlie verdict of the public, not being biased by personal feelings, may be quite another. And that public’s opinion makes the final judgment from which there is no appeal. Much has been said .of the necessary sacrifices of singers to their art. It is true that physical fatigue or ailment show at once in the voice. The singer’s duty is to guard against them. But in giving up certain things in order to obtain the main one of being in good voice—the artist is rewarded with another set of pleasures. The study of new roles that become more and more interesting as one gets further along in them; rehearsals with one’s colleagues, which spur ambition and the glamour of performances—these things help make routine full of engaging change.” Tho glorious sound of Lawrence Tibbett’s singing leaves nothing to be desired on the part of his studious listeners—but to be like him! The plans open next Tuesday for the- gala concert to bo given by Lawrence Tibbett at the Opera House on Saturday, September 3.