ENTERTAINMENTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3841, 2 December 1936, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE REGENT. FRIDAY ONLY. “ SPEED.” Romance goes into a dramatic height for Wendy Barrie, James Stew■art. Una Merkel and Weldon Heyburn in “Speed,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s jicw auto-racing story at the Regent ’Theatre on Friday evening. The two men share leading honours in the picture in wnich both are rivals for Miss Barrie until Heyburn returns to Xis first love, Miss Merkel, who for a time vamps Stewart and provides competition for Miss Barrie in the doublebarrelled love story. The picture is .Miss Barrie’s first for M-G-M. and also Heyburn’s first since, signed while on the New York stage, he returned to Hollywood under a new contract. Ted IHealy as the comical mechanic has a female stooge in the person of Patricia Wilder, and Ralph Morgan plays ileian, the auto manufacturer. The Story, an original by Lawrance Bachman and Milton Krims, deals with a young inventor’s discovery of a Supercharger that powers the world’s fastest car. Michael Fessier wrote the screen play which Lucien Hubbard produced and Edwin L. Marin directed. The production provides the biggest xole to date for James Stewart, one of MrG-M.’s newer “finds” who scored outstanding “bits” with Jeanette McDonald in “Rose Marie,” with Jean Harlow in “Wife Versus Secretary” and with Janet Gaynor in “Small Town Girl.” TO-NIGHT AND TO-MORROW. “ SHOW BOAT.” Picture-goers only 'have to-night and to-morrow to see “Show Boat,” the big attraction at the local Regent “Show Boat” follows no formula. It floats on a melodic stream, stopping here iand there to put on its show for the public, while behind the scenes of the itinerant theatre is acted 3>ut the real drama. The music is an essential of tine real romance and drama of the story. Not only is the singing exquisitely haunting, but it "is a definite part of the story, helping to carry on the dramatic action without interrupting its smooth flow. Everyone is raving ovor the way Paul Robeson sings “OF Man River,” although many claim “Make Believe,” sung by Irene Dunne and Allan Jones, as tjeir favourite. Helen Morgan has enthusiastic support for her two famous numbers, “Bill” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.” Irene Dunne and Allan Jones also render “You Are Love” and “I have the Room Above Her.” Both are delightful pieces. “Gallivantin' Around,” which Irene

Dunne sings, is a tuneful melody. “Ah Still Suits Me” is sung by Paul Robeson to Hattie McDaniel, and she sings back a verse to him. The result is devastating—audiences always rock with delight. EMPIRE THEATRE. COMING. VINCENT RYAN, Australian Comedian. SENIA CHOSTIAKOFF Russian Tenor. It should come as pleasant news that there will be vaudeville for Te Awamutu patrons on Friday of this week. Vincent Ryan, thei famous Australian comedian has successfully demonstrated that he is more than capable of providing entertainment as bright and varied as any theatregoer could wish. Moreover, Mr Ryan does not occupy all the limelight. Dunng his programme he allows the audience to take an active part in the meriymaking by joining in community singing. As a leader of community sings Mr Ryan is inimitable. He eschews the stereotyped and sweeps the less fortunate persons on the other side of the footlights into his own world ot happy rhythm and infectious song. His praises have been sung loudly in every city of New Zealand. When he appeared at Wellington’s community sings the big Town Hall was more than packed; it was wedged. Apparently the word had gone round the city walls, since his first appearance, that he was worth going to sing under and so Tie ought to be consideimg the experience he had on the othei side of the Tasman. In association with Vincent Ryan is Senia Chostiakoff, the, brilliant Russian tenor. Of the latter artist The “Dominion” of 16/9/36 said: The spontaneous responsiveness of the audience which packed the Grand Opera House last night was a sincere and well deserved tribute to Senia Chostiakoff, the brilliant Russian tenor, who had already become a o-reat favourite with “Listeners-In throughout the Dominion. So warm was the reception that the audience somewhat embarrassed him by breaking into applause while he was holding a long sustained note.—however, there is none of the stiffness of the concert platform; he moves freely about the stage, and appears to thoroughly enjoy his work. In all he sang nine solos, all in English with the> exception of “The Song of the Volga Boatman.” These two popular Radio Stars appear here on Friday, December 4th, for One Night only at the Empire Theatre. j Box Plans are now open at Giffords, where 3s 4d, and 2s 3d seats may be reserved.