AMUSEMENTS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 10 August 1929, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE TO-xMGHT. GREAT DO'UBLB STAR PROGRAMME. "MARQUIS PREFERRED." And ' GOLDEN CLOWN." . Debts overwhelm the Marquis d'Arganville. His creditors bear down on him and lie agrees to let his tailor, bis valet-and his chef form a corporation for the purpose of promoting a rich marriage for him. Then, ho sees Peggy Wiriton, social secretary to a family of enormously wealthy tourists, and, posinig as a clerk in a bookstore, manages to bcbecome acquainted with her. In a week they are madly in love. Meanwhile the three schemers discover Peggy's employer has a wealthy daughter and they arrange for the Marquis to meet the family. ■The scheme progresses nicely until the schemers find out about the love affair with Peggy and afraid that it will spoil their plans, tell her the whole scheme. Heartsick, Peggy spurns the Marquis, but the family refuse to let her. resign. At this stage the! action is fast and interesting. The star a.ttract"Gokleiv Clown v is the life of a otrcus clown with plenty of excitement and suspense. AMATEURS AM) lIEUGHATfy Amateur acting has reached a very high standard during recent years. Gone are the days when amateur actors and actresses were content to "go on" for a particular part, forgetting the fact that technique and a certain finesse were as necessary to them as to their professional hrothers and sisters. Throughout the English speaking world there are hundreds of excellent amateur dramatic clubs, and New Zealand has many doing good work. What is the reason for this decided improvement? Simply because amateur producer*, and players alike have been willing to acquire more knowledge and to learn the technique of the art of acting. And bow have they managed to obtain this knowledge? The answer to this question is simple; they have taken the trouble t Q watch very closely the methods adopted by professionals who know Vfiefr business. If there is one crying fault that must be rectified in amateur acting it is in the use of the hands. To have to watch a player who's hand movements are ungainly and grotesque is sufficient to bore the most ardent supporter of the local A.D.C-I to distraction. Presumably local amateurs are still anxious to carry out that excellent maxim "live and learn"; they will require to acquire more practical knowledge to enable them to play those "fat" parts they sincerely hope will be given them in the future. No better advice can be given these enthusiastic Thespians than to beg of them t 0 take the v opportunity of seeing Heughan when he makes his appearance her e at the Town Hall next Thursday. They will learn more during a Heughan programme than they would fram a library of handbooks on acting. To see Heughan use his hands is a revelation.