ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20663, 19 April 1929, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT.

•ALL COMEDY PROGRAMME.

To-night’s programme at the Regent should prove very popular with local Him fans. Heading the bill is the picturization of de Souchet’s wonderful stage 'success, "My Friend From India,” featuring filmdom’s latest comedy "find” Franklyn Pangborn. This versatile performer has been seen in minor comedy roles in several Pathe pictures during the past year, and his excellent work has entitled him to the status of star. In “My Friend from India” he has ample scope to display his comedy ability and he makes the most of every situation. Supporting him are such well-known artists as Elinor Faire, Louis Natheau, Ethel Wales and Ben Hendricks, junr., E. Mason Hooper, director of so many comedy successes, was in charge of the production, and it is safe to say that it is one of the best farces of the year. The other picture on the programme is a thrilling mystery comedy, "Love Overnight,” featuring Rod la Rocque, which is said to be his best effort to date. Opposite la Rocque is Jeannette Loff, Cecil B. de Mille’s latest discovery. La Rocque is a ticket-seller in a subway station, and while the girl (Jeanette Loff) is purchasing a ticket the place is held up by a bandit who uses the girl as a cover. La Rocque imagines that she is in league with the bandit, follows her to her home, and enters through a window to kceep watch on her. In the meantime the detective (Tom Kennedy) who has been put in charge of the case, in turn suspects La Rocque, and is following him. Seeing him enter the house through the window, the detective’s suspicions seem justified, and he enters to make an arrest. Finding that the police are trailing jhim, La Rocque jumps into a bed to hide, and then discovers that he is in the girl’s bed. The situations from here on are one succession of laughs .and thrills. However, it is all. squared out in the end, but not before several hours of hearty laughter has been provided for the audience. A Regent Review and comedy.. will complete the programme, while the Regent Orchestra can be. depended, on to provide something put of the ordinary, as far as the musical side of the programme is concerned. MAJESTIC TONIGHT. The whispered word—the shadowy figure behind the curtain—the mysterious message that clicked over the wire—the great international forces of intrigue functioning behind the flaming barriers of war! All these are highlights, vivid and colourful of "Secret Orders” whose swift-moving melodramas, mystery and suspense, is gripping audiences at the Majestic Theatre where it will be screened to-night for the last time. Imagine the beauteous Evelyn Brent in the role of a girl secret service operative, venturing into the mysterious channels of the world’s greatest spy systems, ferreting out their dark secrets. It is a role bit with acting possibilities and the vibrant little star takes full advantage of them. Would you marry a girl who wouldn't let you k’s her until right after the clergyman pronounced those few worth which tied you up for the rest of your lives? That’s a pretty stiff question. Yet it is solved with such nicety in “Business of Love,” also closing to-night at the Majestic, that after you’ve seen the picture you will wonder how .you could have even thought it was difficult.. Nevertheless, your first impression was correct. It was so , difficult. that .it took Director Jesse Robbins, who supervised the production of "Business of Love,” months to make it.easy,for you.. '

GEORGE STOREY, REVIEW COMEDIAN

MAJESTIC TO-MORROW.

The management of the Majestic Theatre is offering to its patrons commencing tomorrow at the matinee, a superior class programme of which a vaudeville turn occupies a prominent position. Probably no more popular revue company has ever visited N.Z. than the "Storyettes,” and certainly no more popular revue comedian than George Storey. His return to New Zealand with his charming partner Miss Dulcie Milner, should be like the return of a victorious warrior to the scene of his early triumphs .for, as, he himself admits, New Zealand is his great stronghold.. Last night in Dunedin, this prince of laughter provokers kept a theatre packed from floor to ceiling shrieking with laughter for twenty-five minutes, and then was asked for more. The picture part, of the programme is also of a very- high standard, including as it does, the famous dog star Rin-Tin-Tin in "Rinty in the Desert,” and the. cream of British films "His House in Order” from the pen of Sir Arthur Pinero. The Majestic “De Luxe” Orchestra, conducted by Mr H. Halbert, will ako be heard in a special programme of music. Plans for this programme are to be seen at the Bristol, or reservations may be readily made by telephoning the Majestic Theatre direct, No. 738. CIVIC PICTURES. LAST NIGHT OF “SUNRISE” (GEORGE O’BRIEN, JANET GAYNOR) AND "SOMEONE TO LOVE” (BUDDY ROGERS, MARY BRIAN).

To-night will see the final screening of “Sunrise” the big Fox special and the charming little picture “Someone to Love” featuring Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Mary Brian. “Sunrise” is so engrossing in its dramatic significance that it stands alone as an example of the art of motion pictures. The picture Is a simple tale of a man, his wife, and the other woman—a situation that arises any place at any time. The man, in the throes of an unreasoning infatuation for the other woman, agrees to her plan to drown the wife. He takes the wife out in a boat, but, as he is about to do away with her, his frenzy leaves him. She, horror-stricken runs away to the city. Fie follows and begs forgiveness. They pass a church where a wedding ceremony is being held, and enter. The mood nasses and she forgives him. And like two happy children, they spend the rest of the day at a carnival. On the way home a storm comes up. Their boat is overturned, and ironically, she is swept away. He, thinking, she is drowned, Is just about to kill the other woman, when the neighbours report that the wife has been found. “Someone to Love” starts out as a bewitching love idyll so far as the ’stars are concerned, merging into comedy, when enter William • Austin and Jack Oakie. The outdoor scenes taken of the young lovers, what time they enjoy their picnic on the top of the mountain are really exquisite. As boy and girl sweethearts the two cannot be surpassed. She is a millionaire’s daughter, and he a shop assistant, but she keeps her father’s millions dark, and with no money bar to frighten him he aspires easily to her heart and hand. Fate in the shape of “Buddy’s” room-mates, Oakie and Austin, conspire to separate him and Mary, all three being fired from the shop. But young Buddy is full of ideas, some of which he soon puts into action at Austin’s Aunt Harriet’s school, to which Mary returns after an interlude, and now fate is kinder. A charming little picture and “good.”

THE ALLAN WILKIE SEASON. The Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company concludes to-morrow a highly successful season of three weeks at his Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, in the course of which the truly , remarkable record of staging no, less.than eighteen of the bard’s masterpieces was achieved. The company opens in Invercargill on Monday next with “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and will stage “Romeo and Juliet” on the Tuesday and “As You Like It” on the Wednesday. Since his last tour of New Zealand in 1927, Mr Wilkie has sought to make further improvements in his Shakespearean productions, and with that object has had beautiful and appropriate stage settings painted by a well-known Melbourne artist. Furthermore, an elaborate lighting plant is now travelled, based pn the most up-to-date Continental models and permitting of wonderful atmospheric effects. These • factors

combine with the strengthened cast of the company should make the performances unequalled in point of finish and artistry by any Shakespearean productions ever staged previously in the Southern Hemisphere. In addition to Miss Hunter-Watts, Mr Wilkie's charming and talented leading lady, many old favourites still figure in the cast. Most notable among the newcomers is, perhaps, Mr Alexander Marsh, who makes his first appearance in Invercargill. Mr Marsh, who, in addition to playing important roles such as lago, Mcrcutio, Ford, Orsino and Cassius, undertakes the stage directorship cf the company, is on his first visit to the Dominion. Like many English Shakespearean actors he gained his early experience in-the hard school of a “stock company,” that of Mrs Bandmann Palmer. He was also associated at the outset of his career with the late Osmund Teazle. He afterwards organized his own Shakespearean company, with which he toured England for five years. This company attracted so much attention that it was offered an engagement for the Shakespeare celebrations at Stratford-on-Avon. After the war Mr Marsh was secured by Sir Frank Benson for important roles, and appeared with him for some years. He joined Mr Wilkie in q,

Australia in April, 1928, and he has more than sustained his English reputation, winning golden opinions from press and public alike in the Commonwealth.