AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18201, 27 February 1929, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLER-HAYWARD’S. EXCELLENT DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. Once patrons of the Theatre Royal will be treated to an attractive two-star programme this evening. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are once more on the screen at the Theatre Royal, in their latest laugh opus, “Wife Savers.” This is their fifth in [ tho series which started with ‘‘Behind j the Front.” Like this last-named fun j maker, the boj-s are in uniform, but I the action takes place after the Armis- ! tice is signed. In the old days, back [ homo in Brooklyn. Beery is a head ! waiter in a restaurant, and Hatton is I one of his awed assistants. The war I puts their positions in i*everse, and j Hatton is a cocky lieutenant, while I Beery is a lowly kitchen mechanic. ! Hatton, being quite a man with the ladies, annexes a village girl, named Colette, while the best that Beery I can do is the town husband-seeker, j Hatton is called away to another town, j and lie leaves his Colette with Beery. and in order to safeguard her properly I *p ( Beery) marries her. Complicai lions arise, and the fun begins. Sally . Blane. Ford Sterling and Zazu Pitts are also in the cast i The versalitv of Tim McCoy will be I demonstrated in “The Adventurer.” | The story revolves round the revenue obtained from gold mines, which Jim ( McClellan manages. Rafael el Tornai do. rm ambitious matador, accuses the President of the Republic of virtually j handing over the mines to a foreign power, and incites the fickle populace to .rebellion. He then imprisons the President, and threatens to have him shot unless Dolores, his beautiful daughter, consents to be bis wife. The story ol Jim McClellan’s blood-tingling adventure in deposing the interloper. Tornado, and ultimately rescuing He girl, is strikingly told. A particularly good cast appears in this vigorous and stirring production. MoCov lias the role of Jim McClellan, and carries it off most admirable. Beautiful DorotlrSehnstian plays Dolores do Silva, and makes most, of the Spanish atmosphere. Included among the other well-known players, diaries Delaney as Barney. Jim McClellan’s assistant, is worthv ol praise. This picture will anneal greatlv I to lover* of act ion fnl. dashing and yO- - mant’c stories. Gazettes and comedies I supplement the programme, and seats I may be booked through ’phone 570. MANON LESCAUT. j “ One of the greatest love storiei ever written,” is how critics havi referred to “Manon Lescaut,” tin principal attraction in last night': change at t.Re Grand. The film is om I of the most recent releases in thi: country, and yet in the short run. i has enjoyed a great measure of success. It is a gripping, heart, appeal ing romance in which a beautifu human butterfly is crushed in th mad whirl of temptation of the gay est city in the world, Paris. The tw> stars in this fine production are Johi Barrymore and Dolores Costellc Luxurious settings, artistic directioi and the spirit of gaiety of the reigi of Louis XV. of France assist U make the picture eoually as excellen as the former productions in whici I Barrymore, one of the greatest filn j actors of to-day, has appeared | Fabien ‘and Manon meet first b; | chance in the courtyard of an inn a I Picardy, both on their way to ente the church, and they full in love I The girl becomes the subject of ;

plot by her brother and a member of the Court of Louis XV. The two lovers escape, willing to live in poverty in a Parisian attic. Manon is stolen away by the courtier and Fabien in despair at her loss, becomes a gambler, winning heavily. When he sees Manon again she appears to him to be the mistress of the courtier, and he determines to avenge her honour. Incurring the King’s displeasure, both of them are sent to a French convict settlement overseas. A mutinj r breaks out, and, encouraged by Fabien, the convicts overwhelm the officers a,nd take charge. While the battle is going on Fabien and Manon escape in a skiff and make for land, which they eventually reach. No happier choice could possibly have taken place than to award the role of Manon to Lya de Pu*tti, one of the most accomplished screen actresses of the day, for she presents a new Manon—not the fickle light of love the composers would have us know, but a Manon with a heart as true as steel, despite the temptations that so constantly beset that frail little lady. ‘‘Manon Lescaut” was something more than an evening’s entertainment, and if the most hardened of picture-goers did not leave with a lump in his throat for the troubles of poor, frail, fickle, but always human, Manon, it was certainly not the fault of Lya de Putti. The supporting programme was also most interesting. MIDNIGHT FROLICS. The “Midnight Frolics” Company, headed by Clem Daw and Eric Edge ley, concluded their Timaru season in the Theatre Royal last night, when they presented an entirely new programme to a packed house. The marked impression created by the Company on , the opening night- ensured for them solid support for their final appearance. ‘ and although it might have been ex- . pected that the rain, which set in in - the early part of last evening, would j have had the effect of keeping a large % number of intending patrons indoors, t the. glowing tributes which had been paid to the company had the effect of 1 filling every seat in the Theatre. Although tli»* programme was entirely i different to that presented the previous evening, it was one which kept the 1 house in the best ol' moods throughout the entire evening. Clem Dawe anc Eric Edgley have a style which U s peculiarly their own, and it did not s take them long to warm up to then work Last night's audience was mosi responsive, and it was probably 'thk fact that induced those clever corned bins to give of their best. Clem Daw( was undoubtedly responsible for tin greater portion of the comedy element I and lie achieved his objective with tin >c . j greatest of ease. "While this art is; ' j stood out prominently the audience die _ i not allow his performance to eamou ..' j flage the undoubted ability possesset s i bv oilier members of the- Company, win 1 sought to entertain per medium of tin '. s comedv element In this eategor must be placed Mona Magnet, whos< c ' _ every appearance was thoroughly en 1* joyed. Some of the work which cann il her way did not provide the best nmif ie ini for' exploitation, but the nrti* Y- : handled every situation in a remark r o ablv clever manner, and the applnus n which greeted her efforts was we! o. merited D L ft long time since : in Timaru audience had the pleasure n witnessing such a convincing perform 0 nine as was give., bv this cumedirnnr „ While tlm comedv side of iW pro gramme was well catered for, the voco ‘ and instrumental section* were hv n . i*e.ms overlooked. The Company pos gesses one or two singers of ontstand ,y ing merit, not the least prominent 0 lt those being Lilian Crisp. She has ;r soprano voice of fine range and «’ialitv e - and her number* were, thorough'v en a i joyed. Had the programme bec-i

sh**£er than it actually turned out to be, this artist would undoubtedly have been given an opportunity to add further to the fine impression she created in the singing of ‘‘The Pipes of Pan.” The violin solos by Gregory Ivanoff were also greatly appreciated while the fragments of operatic and jazz melodies by the Frolics jazz band were among the gems of a particularly bright entertainment. All the other members of the Company acquitted themselves well, and it is unfortunate that the Company lias been forced to limit its Timaru season to two nights.