ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 68, 17 February 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “THE COWBOY AND TIIE LADY.” The first of the new season’s pictures from United Artists is rt Thn Cowboy and the Lady,” now showing at the State Theatre to-night, which was produced by Samuel (Joldwyn, who has in the pas-t provided many of the screen’s finest achievements. It ie a romantic love story richly endowed by the presence of two first mass cinema stars, Cary Cooper and Merle Oberon. Against a lavish getting of Washington drawingrooms and l’lOrida mansions, contrailed with the pictorial beauty of the western plains, “The Cowboy and the Lady” unfolds a heartily-told story of the debutante daughter of a Senator, played by Merle Oberon, who is whisked sumarily away to bask on the Florida sands while a night club scandal is brewing in which she is involved Becoming bored with the 1 conventions and restrictions of a socialite's existence, she goes out on a ‘Tjhiid date” with her maid and cook. The feminine trio laud at a rodeo show, and there Merle is paired with bronzed and robust Cary Cooper appearing as a cow'boy hero of the golden west. The romance between the two is spiced with comedy and farce and gallops on to an unexpected climax. Coop- , or, as the strong silent type of hero who drily sees through the sham and glitter of , so-called cafe society, returns to the kind of role which first made him famous. Lack jin a ten-gallon hat, high-heeled boots, i dungarees and roll-your-owins, America’s No. 1 he-man of the silver sheet turns in hi.* most stirring and dynamic performance to date. Merle Oberon, cast as a gay und witty modern of the upper-crust, enriches her role with fine timing and a beautiful . sense of comedy. COVENT GARDEN RUSSIAN BALLET. GALA PERFORMANCE TO-NIGHT This evening, beginning at 8 o'clock, the j directors of ,J. C. Williamson Theatres, Ltd., will present the famous Covcnt Carden Russian Pallet in three of their most brilliant productions, namely, “Carnaval.” “‘The Swan Lake” and “Lcs Presages,” in each of which the principal dancers and tiie whole company achieved their biggest nucccssGs in London. Australia, and Auckland. The Covcnt Garden Russian Pallet is l)}' far the * greatest and most im- | portanfc attraction ever brought to New ! Zealand by J. C. Williamson, and that the ; public of Palmerston North have realised this fact they have demonstrated at. the ! box office in no small degree, as the booki ing registered is about a record for this .town. Not in any part of the world i> ! there is a stronger or a better organisation ’of famous dancers than the Govern Garden •Russian Pallet, including as it docu such artists as Irina Baronova, Tatiana Riabouj chiiioka, Anton Dolin. David Lichinc, Paul j PetrofT, Tamara Grigorieva, Anna Volkova, i Sono Oruto, Roman Jasinsk\\ Yura Lazowsky, and Others whose names arc weil- ! known the world over. The ballcti* to be ■presented this evening will give each of 'the principals special opportunities for the {display of their outstanding genius. “Garj naval,” which was created by Mr Michael iFokine. is staged under this famous clioreographistVs personal direction. The regissour- ; general is Serge GrigoricfF, and the sym- , phony orchestra i«s under the direction of j Antal Dorati, one of the world's most notable conductors. There arc over 100 people concerned n the three ballets, which will he staged with all the magnificent ricenery. • wardrobe and lighting effects that were brought direct from London to Australia ! and New Zealand from the Covent Garden j Theatre. The box plans are at Collinson land Cunninghame’e.