ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 February 1935, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

ATTRACTIONS AT MAJESTIC The final performance of Sir James Barrie’s renowned play, "What Woman Knows,” featuring Helen llayos arid Brian Aherene, will be given tonight. In addition to the attractive programme offering, the first chapter of the new and exciting serial, “Perils of Pauline” will he presented and repeated at the Saturday matinee. Evalyn Knapp, Robert Allan and Pat O’Malley are the popular stars. This fascinating chapter play is. an exclusive Majestic, special for Friday night and Saturday matinee. Described as a masterpiece of fragrant melody and romance, “Blossom Time” opens its special season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow at the Gala matinee, and will also ...be shown at both afternoon and evening sessions on Monday and Tuesday to cope with the heavy demand for seats. Magnificently produced the romance of Franz Schubert, one of the greatest composers of all time, lives again in the person of Richard Tauber, for “Blossom Time” is the story of his life. The tenderness of his love, the bitterness of losing the one girl for whom he longed, the girl that inspired his delightful, music now reaches its greatest beauty in the glorious voice of Tauber, and \yjid better than this great singer could recreate the beautiful romance, and magV nificently sing the songs of this musical genius. Tauber is heard in seven of the most famous and popular Schubert melodies, including “Red Roses,” Hark) The Lark,” “Serenade,” “Thine is My Heart,” “Impatience,” etc. Judging by the heavy advance booking “Blossom Time” will have a record season.

THEATRE ROYAL: “GOOD COM* PANIONS.” SATURDAY In “The Good Companions” is depicted the life of those English concert parties that struggle somehow from village to village, where shows are scarce, and in the days of their affluence, get a summer season at a seaside resort. They represent a romantic phase of the English Theatre, .and among them J. B. Priestly found the characters for this successful novel. Filmed by GaumontBritish, this is the first talking picture witnessed by the King and Queen, the Royal gala matinee having taken place at tlie New Victoria, London, last .February. “The Good Companions” presents an entertainment essentially new —that is the “hail-fellow-well-met” spirit of comradeship that makes the English concert-party player a man distinct from all others. That is the story of a concert party just such as these, and of three strangely assorted people who joined them, sharing their trials and tribulations, their joys, and most of all, there happy-go-lucky friendships. Jessie Matthews, who heads the excellent cast of this production, by the sincerity of her work and the brilliance of her singing and dancing, definitely places herself in the forefront of British •tars. She has previously thrilled the English speaking world in “There Goes the Bride” and “The Midshipmaid,” but it remained for “The Good Companions” to provide her with a role so perfectly suited to her vivid personality and ability. Her portrayal of the dainty, impish soubrette, “Susie Dean” is a sheer delight. This fine picture comes to the Theatre Royal to-morrow. There is no extra charge for reserves.

JACK HOLT IN "DEFENCE RESTS’ REGENT, SATURDAY

“The Defence Rests,” which will open a two-day season to-morrow at the Regent, is a powerfully told and dramatic revelation of the court-room exploits of a brilliant, sensation-seeking criminal lawyer. Jack Holt is seen in the role of Matt Mitchell, the astute “mouthpiece.” Ruthless, unscrupulous and disgusted with the sham of his profession, Mitchell delivers a bombshell in the opening scenes in a vitriolic address to the graduating class of his old alma mater, exhorting the amazed students to earn an honest living as bricklayers and typists. Half an hour later, finding the sensational address emblazoned on the front pages, he cynicallycomments, “That’s advertising which money can’t buy—and which the bar’ association can’t bar.” Nevertkeless r . one of his ardent admirers iii dilating class, ably portrayed by Jeari > Arthur, wins an appointment as’his pffi.' * yate secretary, and her first official* t act is to roundly berate Mitchejl. for') His unethical conduct in criminal-eases'.** When Holt attempts to defend an ob*". viously guilty kidnapper, Miss Arthur;; undertakes a bit of private sleuthing"} on her own, and compromises _thej * lawyer into a more scrupulous attitude-* towards his work. Fine, understanding)’" performances by the whole cast distin-H guish the film play. Among these sup-)J porting players are Shirley Grey, Ray-y mond Hatton and Nat Pendleton. - 1-