ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

“SHOULD LADIES BEHAVE?” A LAUGHTER-LADEN COMEDY. “Should Ladies Behave?” the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer laughter-making comedy which opened a three-night season at the New Plymouth Opera House last night, unquestionably lived up to its reputation as it had its audience at times simmering with merriment, but more frequently bubbling over with unrestrained mirth as the numerous hilarious and convulsing situations developed. Three women, a mother, her nine-teen-year-old daughter, and her aunt, the mother’s sister in love with one man, and that man a Don Juan, a grumpy father, much older than his wife immersed in his garden and only interested in securing his daughter’s happiness, and a 'youth in love with the daughter but making the mistake of wanting her more sophisticated, are the characters around which the story is woven. The numerous petty jealousies of the ladies, the horror of the mother and the bitterness of the aunt when the man succumbs to the blandishments of the young girl who practically throws herself at him and arranges to elope, together with the schemes of the father and the young man to frustrate them provide plenty of scope for mirth-provoking situations and piquant dialogue of which full advantage is taken. The caste is an all-star one, Lionel Barrymore being at his best as the erascible Augustus Merrick. Conway Tearle is set as Max Lawrence the Don oJuan of the piece, Alice Brady as Mrs. Merrick, and Katherine Alexander as her sister. Mary Carlisle infuses a freshness as the daughter, while William Janney is perfectly natural as Geoffrey, 'whom the father characterises as an idiot, but who comes through all right in the end, when after the mixed romances, loves, hates and jealousies have had their sway, young love comes into its own. The settings are most artistic. The supports include Metrotone News, a Laurel and Hardy comedy “Twice Two” and a travel talk “Cuba, Land of Rhumba.” REGENT THEATRE. “COUNSELLOR AT LAW.” “A perfect gem in a perfect setting,” best describes the flawless “Counsellor at Law,” Universal’s gripping and at the same time humorous picturisation of the three-day crisis in the life of the greatest criminal lawyer in New York City, starring John Barrymore. “Counsellor at Law” opened a three-night season at the Regent last night. With Barrymore is an excellent supporting cast, including Bebe Daniels, Doris Kenyon, Onslow Stevens, Melvyn Douglas, Isabel Jewell and Mayo Methot of the screen, and ten players who originated their roles in the sensational Elmer Rice stage play which was presented for two years on Broadway. The story concerns a successful lawyer who came to America as an immigrant. At the height of his career he is faced with disbarment and the loss of his selfish society wife, whom he loves dearly. How he manages to solve his problems must remain with the reader, who undoubtedly will want to see the splendid performance. The picture has the knack of perfectly characterising each player, no matter how small the part may be, leaving the audience with the feeling that all is known about everyone in the cast. This is partly due to the fact that Ebner-Rice wrote the screen play for Universal as well as the original stage production, andthat William Wyler, the director, understood every value. In support are a Graham McNamee Newsreel, “Vaudeville on Parade,” and one of the “Strange as it Seems” series. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “FACING THE MUSIC” MATINEE. “Facing the Music,” the latest Stanley Lupino musical mirthquake, now showing twice daily at Everybody’s, has entertainment delights for young and old of all sections of the community. In this new Lupino vehicle lovers of grand opera and admirers of that joyous brand of humour for which Britain’s laughter leader is noted, are equally well catered for. The brisk comedy action of the film takes place during a performance of Gounod’s “Faust,” whole excerpts of which are skilfully blended to form a background for the main plot, which tells of a young man who falls in love with the niece of a prima donna. In his efforts to win her he becomes involved in a publicity stunt to steal her aunt’s jewels, which are to be worn during a performance of “Faust.” The jewels actually are stolen, and Jack is faced with the difficult task of finding them in a packed opera house before the finale of the opera, when the real theft will be discovered and subsequently his proposal of marriage rejected. There is a splendid array of shorter films.