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Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 133, 8 June 1935, Page 6

STATE THEATRE TO-DAY THIS COMEDY HIT OF 1D35 “THINGS ARE LOOKING UP” One of the most delightful and naturally amusing comedies that lias ever come to the screen is "Tilings Are Looking Up," the Gaumont-British production coming to tho State Theatre to-day. A ripple of merriment runs right through “Things Are Looking Up.” most of it supplied by the star Cicely Courtneidge, with the abundant support of Max Miller and William Cargan. The amusing story is amazing in its many complications which will bo understood when it is realised that a circus rider, particularly dapable in the sawdust ring, takes school duty for her runaway sister, -without knowing anything of the school curriculum. The music master, another “deceiver,” comes to her rescue and between them things go merrily along. Cicely wins a tennis championship, and then to save her circus has to return to the ring and deputise for a lot of absentee artists. She succeeds in "scrambling" through that ordeal, under the eyes of the whole school who attend the circus to celebrate tho tennis victory. Then comes the moment when Cicely is selected, in mistake for her sister, for the vacant post of headmistress of the school, llow it all ends makes riotous fun. Hero we have lively, wholesome entertainment at its very best. A crescendo of laughs accompany tho unfolding of the amazing situations. A circus queen as a teacher Of higher mathematics. It does not matter whether Cicely Courtneidge is taking lessons, playing championship tennis, walking a slack wire, doing perilous things on tho flying trapeze or singing the theme song in the class room. It is all the same to her. She makes us laugh by the genius of her artistry. The circus scenes and settings are authentic. A real circus was engaged for the purpose—the sawdust ring is an actual ring—and the realism of tho scenes adds to tho attractiveness of the picture. “Things Are Looking Up" is notable not only because or its general excellence but from the fact that the versatility of Cicely Courtneidge has never been more convincingly demonstrated. She bad the advantage of receiving excellent support from a strung cast who join whole-heartedly in the unfolding of a richly humorous story, Albert do Courville directing with comp»ete understanding. Supporting "Things Arc Lookin Up” is an excellent programme of State featurettes. Plans at tho theatre, ’phone 5599.