ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 February 1931, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT: “THE BETTER WIFE” TO=NIGHT “The Better Wife” which comes to the Regent Theatre this evening is a superb drama revealing the depths of a woman’s soul —a woman fighting to prove worthy of her husband —and win his love. Ruth Chatterton creates one of the most interesting roles of her career in this all-talking dramatisation of the well-known Gouvemeur Morris story, “The Better Wife”. Portraying the l'ole of Pansy Gray, who married a socially prominent, brilliant attorney and then fights desperately to be worthy of his love, Miss Chatterton rises to superb heights. A master of mood and character interpretation!, Miss Chatterton brings to her portrayal a believable, stirring quality that compels sympathy. Playing the role of Neil Dunlap, the attorney whom Miss Chatterton marries, is Clive Brook, the distinguished and debonair English actor. Incidentally, the Ruth Chatterton-Clive Brook team that so delighted audiences in “Charming Sinners” and “The Laughing Lady”, is seen to even greater advantage in “The Better Wife.”

“CANARIES SOMETIMES SING” Mr Tom Walls, an established favourite with movie audiences, first began to gain the earnest attention of the theatrical world when his conviction that what the theatre needed to liven things up was a dose, and a big one, of farcical plays, bore fruit. Friends predicted horrible failure for Tom’s venture, but he ha cl his way, and produced and acted in the farce comedy, “Tons of Money.” The play brought him world-wide recognition and fame. After becoming one of the most outstanding figures on the English stage, Wills attacked the'talking screen. His first missile was “Rookery Nook,” and it expelled gloom all over the world. Then came “On Approval,” the adaptation of the Frederick Lonsdale play which had a wonderful run in the West End. “Canaries Sometimes Sing,” another Frederick Lonsdale play, will commence a season at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday next. Picturegoers should not miss the picture, if they enjoy a really good, long laugh.

MAJESTIC THEATRE: WM.. HAINES IN “WAY OUT WEST” For an evening of sheer, unadulterated fun, nothing could be better than the programme now at the Majestic Theatre, headed by the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer all talking comedy, “Way Out West,” starring . that big popular favourite, William Haines. As a cowboy in this farce (that includes by the way some very excellent dramatic moments) Haines has never been funnier. In the opening scenes, Windy, as he is called, tricks a bunch of cowboys out of their cash, and is carried off to a ranch for his trouble. There he is made a matchless target for the fun-loving “punchers,” untamed ranch cattle and buckjumping horses. Only Molly, the owner of the ranch, has any sympathy for him, much to the envy of the boys. After accusing him of being a coward, she says she is not surprised when Windy announces that he is going to run away at the first opportune moment. Just when he is about to carry out his plan, however, Molly is bitten by a snake, and it is then that Windy proves himself. He sets off across the desert with the girl, in search of an Indian medicine man, but his action is misconstrued by the cowboys as a plain case of kidnapping. Tremendously funny and highly exciting adventures follow. Prominent in the cast is that clever comedienne Polly Moran, also beautiful Leila Hyams and the famous comedian Cliff Edwards. A specially interesting supporting programme includes Charley Chase in his latest comedy, “High C’s,” the first “Flip the Frog” cartoon, a Burton Holmes Sound Travelogue, and a Metronome News.

FIRST ALL-TALKING SERIAL Something new in thrilling serials will be seen at the Majestic next Saturday afternoon when the first episode of the very first all-talking serial to be made “The Indians are Coming” will be screened. “THE DAWN PATROL”—TUESDAY “If ever there was a real air picture it is ‘The Dawn Patrol’,” commented an English critic on the stupendous production that is coming to the Majestic on Tuesday. Written by John Monk Saunders, author of “Wings” and “The Legion of the Condemned,” the great picture stars Richard Barthelmess, Neil Hamilton, Doug. Fairbanks, junr., and many others.

HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY .TO-NIGHT After an absence of four years this highly talented London company will renew acquaintance with Nelson theatregoers to-night in the School of Music. Among the old favourites to appear are Walter Kingsley (baritone), Thelma Trott, soprano; Fred Webber, tenor; Hilda Neaux, contralto; Elaine Maye, Comedienne; Arthur Hemsley, Lancashire comedian, and Frank Egan, the restless violinist. New artists are Maurice Barling, “the Machine Gun of Mirth” ; Bobbie Coo_per, solo dancer; Sid Minte, light comedian; Alison Dale, solbrette; Margaret Blackburn, solo violiniste; Harry James, musical humorist; Billy Hay, “the pickled porter”; George Hurst, “the Welsh Rarebit” ; Desiree and Montigue, Continental dancers ; together with a full ballet and orchestra. Comedy will be the keynote, while the more serious side will be in keeping with the traditions of the Humphrey Bishop companv, which is in its fifteenth year of a continuous world tour.

The box plans will be on view at the Rialto Marble Bar till 6.30 this evening. then at the School of Music.