ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21161, 19 April 1932, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PLAZA THEATRE. Leon Gordon's distinctive stage success, "White Cargo," has lost none of its impelling power by its transference to the audible screen. Tt is enjoying great popularity at the Plaza Theatre this week. The vital story of life amid the degrading influences of the Gold Coast is skilfully interpreted by Leslie Faber and Gypsy Rhoumu. The cast also includes John Hamilton and Maurice Evans. Ralph Lynn, the comic genius of several of the most amusing English comedies shown in Auckland, cuts capers again in "Mischief," to succeed "White Cargo" at the Plaza on Friday. Ben Travers wrote this hilarious farce specially for Mr. Lynn. A noted English critic, Michael Orme, says: "Once again the collaboration of Mr. Travers and Mr. Lynn has resulted in a piece of farcical comedy, racily British as to humour and taking full advantage of tho beauty of rural England." CIVIC THEATRE. Winnie Lightner is at her best in "Gold Dust, Gertie," the riotously funny comedy now at the Civic Theatre. She revels in tho typical part of an essentially modern miss who has learned to turn tho principle of alimony to profitable account. Buoyant gaiety is the keynote of the film front first to last. The comedy reaches its height when tho accommodating Gertie wins over a rather puritanical and testy bathing suit manufacturer and persuades him to take her by yacht to Miami. Further humour is contributed by such resourceful fun-makers as Olsen and Johnson, who appeared on tho Broadway stage in "Monkey Business." Claude Gillingvvater gives a splendid sketch of tho eccentric millionaire. It is all very funny. REGENT THEATRE. Horror succeeds horror in "Frankenstein," the amazing film now at the Regent Theatre. It is one of the most eerily fascinating photoplays yet to have reached tho audible screen. Colin Clive gives a firm portrait of the over-zealous scientist Frankenstein and Boris Karloff also acts splendidly as the monster. Other noted members of tho cast aro Mae Clarke, John Boles and Frederick Kerr. All tho resources of modern cinema art have been availed of to accentuate the atmosphere of uncanny suspense which pervades the whole film. It has beon skilfully directed by James Whale of "Journey's End." ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Frederick Lonsdale, whose first photoplay, "The Devil to Pay," was so popular, has fashioned a perfect character for Robert Montgomery in "Lovers Courageous," which is enjoying great success at St. James' Theatre. Mr. Montgomery makes an engaging character of Willio Smith, a happy-go-lucky young Englishman with ambitions as a playwright and a violent dislike for study of any description. Madge Evans is a delightful heroine as the pretty daughter of a short-temp-ered English admiral (Frederick Kerr). Other notable members of the cast are Roland Young and Beryl Mercer. The supporting items include a Dogville parody, "Trader Hound," and the Metrotone News.

STRAND THEATRE. Benita Humo and Harold Huth head a notable cast of London players in "A Honeymoon Adventure," the exciting melodrama now at the Strand Theatre. A speeding express train, roaring through the night, forms the setting for a thrilling story of daring criminals thwarted by a mere slip of a girl. NATIONAL THEATRE. All the ingredients of satisfying entertainment are adroitly mingled in "77, Park Lane," the invigorating British melodrama now at the National Theatre. Betty Stockfield, the beautiful Australian actress of " City of Song," appears with Dennis Neilson-Terry in a story which keeps the interest of the audience at a high pitch. ROXY THEATRE. Barbara Stanwyck gives a superb dramatic portrayal, which surpasses even her performance in "The Miracle Woman" in "Forbidden," the vital film of modern life, written and directed by Frank Capra, one of the most gifted of Hollywood directors. The film will begin :i season at the Roxy Theatre tomorrow. Adolphe Menjou is splendid in a prominent role. LONDON THEATRE. " Sin Takes a Holiday," the present main film at the London Theatre, is a brilliant modern romantic comedy in which Constance Bennett and Kenneth MacKenna arc the principals. EMPRESS THEATRE. William S. van Dyke's astounding jungle film, "Trader Horn," will head the programme at the Empress Theatre today. It is an enthralling picture of ''Darkest Africa." TIVOLI THEATRE. Amazing scenes of unloosed savagery among man and beast are shown in "Trader Horn," the remarkable jungle film to head the programme at the Tivoli Theatre this evening. R I.ALTO THEATRE. (,'(instance Bennett ».cts well as an artists' model in "The Common Law," which heads the present programme at the Rial to Theatre. It is a drama of modern life. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. Erutt Lubitsch's " The Smiling Lieutenant " (Maurice Chevalier) and " The Woman Between," a vivid English drama, are the films at the Prince Edward Theatre. LYRIC THEATRE. " Honour Among Lovers " (Frederic March and Claudette Colbert) and "City SI reels," with Sylvia Sydney and Gary Cooper, "re the Lyric Theatre films. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. Clark Gable is Ilie hero in "Sporting Blood," a romance of the turf, which heads the, Epsoin Regent Theatre juogram me. TUDOR CINEMA. "These Charming People" (Cyril Maude and Nora Swinburne) is the main film at the Tudor Cinema. BRITANNIA THEATRE. Marie Dressier gives a magnificent, performance in "Politics" at the Britannia Theatre. CONCERT AT HOSPITAL. The Neville ('arisen Revue Company provided an excellent variety programme in Ward 4 of the Auckland Hospital last evening. The following contributed items: —Madame V. Paskell, Mrs. John Holt, Misses Zoo Madigau, Mavis Ward, Jesmond Hiscott, Joan Tucker, Nelda Ashflown, Dorothy Lawson and Messrs Rielly, T. Rahiri, W. Hunter, J. O'Kane, J. Holt, E. Parkinson, N. Carlson and Master Albert Parkinson. Mrs. J. llolt was the accompanist.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Pha.r Lap is shown winning the £IO,OOO Agua Calient® Handicap in a Fox Movietone newsreel now at the Majestic Theatre. It is a fitting memorial to a wonderful horse The -main film, "Tho Passionate Plumber," is a comedy of the most uproarious description. Buster Keaton is splendid as the cardboard lover of a pretty Parisienne (Irene Pureell). Comic performances aro also given by Polly Moran and Jimmy Durante, both experienced comody players of resource. A Zasu Pitts-Thelnia Todd comedy, and another of tho William Tilden Tennis Technique series are included among the splendid supporting items; The famous player demonstrates and explains tho volley and smash shots. Scenes of the trial of Captain de Groot are shown in the Fox Australian News. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN. The ,T. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company, which so delighted Auckland theatre-goers with their performances last January, will present £t short farewell season commencing at His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday, April 26. The season will be noted for a special revival of tho ever-popular " Dorothy " and Gilbert's parody on tho old-fashioned melodrama, " Ruddigore." Tho revival of " Dorothy " will bring to memory many beautiful songs and choruses seldom heard lately, among which are the favourites, " 13e Wise in Time," " You Swear to he Good and True " and " I Stand at Your Threshold Sighing." The liberetto of " Dorothy " was written by B. C. Stephenson, and the music by Alfred Collier. There aro many wonderful scenes such as tho hop field in Act 1., and the stirring hunting choruses are a feature of the production. In the part of tho bailiff, Mr. Ivan Mcnzies has, a role eminently suited to him, and is considered by critics the best- since the days of Billy Elton. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell make a delightful romantic pair in Israel Zangwill's exquisite romance, "Merely Mary Ann," which is being shown with "Up for tho Cup" (Sydney Howard) at tho Crystal Palace Theatre. SILVER!)ALE CONCERT. A most enjoyable concert was held in tho Silverdale Hall on Friday evening in aid of tho Silverdale Tennis Club. Tho programme, arranged by Mr. J. A. Colhoun, was given by a party from Auckland, assisted by local artists. Those contributing items were Mesdames Culford Bell, Harold' King, Colhoun and Armstrong, Miss Margot Trafford, and M essrs. Dan Flood, H. Woods, Armstrong, Lane .and Gardiner. Accompaniments wero played by Mrs. McKinney. Mrs. Vincent, Miss Tfafford, and Mr. Flood. Included in the programme was a comedy, "Gusto's Twins," written by Mrs. Colhoun and produced by Mrs. Culford Bell. Those taking part were Misses Manning and Peacocke, and Messrs. D. PlumnVi'j M. Rattray, and "The Gusto Twins." CONCERT AT GLEN EDEN. A splendid concert in aid of funds for the relief of distress in Glen Eden was given by a party of Auckland artists in the Glen Eden Town Hall on Saturday evening. The concert, which was followed by a dance, was organised by Mr. E. Buchanan. The following artists took part:—Mrs. W. Lockwood, Mrs. D. Lockwood, Miss 51. Rieley, Miss O'Brien and Messrs. A. Ruston, G. Massey, N. Carlsen, J. Rieley, D. Court, T. Holbourne, J. McKay and T. Butler.