STATE THEATRE.

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 12

STATE THEATRE.

"THIS IS THE LIFE" TO-DAY. A performance that traces a course from heart-rending pathos to the gayest comedy, punctuated with lilting songs and dancing feet, is given by liine-year-old Jane Withers, featured in Fox Film’s ‘‘This Is the Life,” which opens today at tlie State theatre. Following the little actress’ triumph in “Ginger," his new and scintillating personality has been cast in a role in which she emerges as a full-fledged singing and dancing stai as well as a dramatic actress of the first rank.

Soon an entire nation will be humming and whistling three new songs introduced by little Jane. The songs aro "Got a New Kind of Rhythm,” “Sandy and Me” and “Fresh from the City,” all written by the popular composers, Sam Stept and Sidney Clare. Clare is noted as the writer of the lyrics for “The Good Ship Lollipop.” In addition to singing these songs, Jane also gives a demonstration of tap dancing that will surprise those who know her only as the "bad girl” of "Bright Eyes,” which starred Shirley Temple, or the “lovable imp” of •’Ginger." The tbreo songs, which seem destined for wide-spread popularity, are introduced amid lavish settings, featuring a chorus of beautiful girls.

In "This Is the Life,” which is set in the glamour of the theatre, little Jana AVithers plays her most dramatic role as a child performer who yearns to be just a "regular kid” and travels the road from riches to rags to achieve that desire.

Believed to be one of the luckiest girls In the world because of the riches and public applause heaped upon her, jane is actually a "meal ticket” for her unscrupulous guardians, Gloria Roy and Gordon Westcott. Instead of being permitted to live the life of a normal child, Jane is forced by her guardians to perform and rehearse incessantly while heart aches for someone to love and someone to love her. In John McGuire, in the supporting role, wlio is falsely accused of robbery and is wanted by the police, Jane finds the achievement of her desires, when she runs away with him to live the life of a liobo.

The height of dramatic tension is reached at the climax, when the guardians are confronted with their misdeeds and Jane pleads tor her new friend and for the right to live as an ordinary child. A beautitul romance between McGuire and Sally Blane runs through the story. Sidney Toler, Francis Ford and Emma Dunn are included in the supporting cast of "This Is the Life,” which was directed by Marshall Neilan.