AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXV, Issue 18913, 26 June 1931, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

THE REGENT. GRAND GALA PERFORMANCE TO-NIGHT. To-day from the ashes of the old Grand rises Phoenix-like a beautifully f equipped theatre, complete in every * modern detail, for lighting, seating and ! furnishings, and which for ease and | comfort cannot be excelled, also * acoustically perfect, now re-named ■ The Regent, and rightly called the 6 city’s most distinctive theatre. 1 “Tons of Money,” a British Dominion 5 Films release, it is said, dims the f remarkable success of its two great • fore-runners, “Rookery Nook” and “On ! Approval.” The story deals with the • Allingtons who are up to their necks in . debt, when Aubrey (Ralph Lynn) Is Informed that his brother has bequeathed 1 him a life interest in a fortune. In order to cheat their creditors, his wife, Louise (Yvonne Arnaud) arranges an explosion and announces that Aubrey must have been killed by it. He is to turn up a few weeks later as George Maitland from Mexico and claim the fortune as the next beneficiary under the will. But as George, a lady claims Allington as her husband, so Louise has him die again. Two other George Maitlands turn up, and this time Aubrey poses as the Rev. Eberiezer Brown. Ralph Lynn, as Aubrey, and Yvonne Arnaud as his wife, both score heavily in what is described as the most uproarious farce comedy that has ever entertained the citizens of Timaru. Preceding the main feature a carefully chosen list of supporting featurettes will be screened, comprising the “Regent Review,” “Bathtime at the Zoo.” Intending patrons for the opening performance are advised to make early application at The Bristol for seats. The plans are rapidly filling. THE NEW REGENT. The main alterations at the new theatre comprise enlargement of the entrance, which is now enclosed from the street by swung doors. The ticket box and sweets stall have been moved further back from the entrance, and recessed into the main wall. In the auditorium the existing ceiling has been removed, and is now covered with sound absorption material, and finished in bright colours of Spanish type. The ceiling to the walls has also been altered, and decorated with appropriate colours of many tints. The whole of the ceilings have been stencilled with special pigments to prevent the acoustic boards absorbing sound waves. Much improvement has been effected to the stage. The original background has been removed, being replaced with a new proscenium, which is bordered with an imitation stone arch of fine texture and beauty. The dress circle has been raised to enable patrons to have a better view of the screen, which is now six feet lower than originally. The walls of the theatre have been decorated, and are finished in a stone base, capped with stencilled stone. Above the base the walls have been finished with mottled paint. The entire colour scheme is of old ivory, with shields and ornaments. A feature is new seating in the dress circle. The material of best lace-web is in brown tone leather. The stalls seating accommodation has been renovated, and the plhn has been altered to allow the maximum of comfort: Draughts have been excluded by the remodelled entrance to the downstair portion of the building. New boilers and radiators have been installed, with a pumping system for extra heating, if required. The stage setting js very fine, with a scheme of gold and black, and curtains of silver metaline, which are modern features in American theatres. The projection box has been remodelled to suit the new Western Electric sound system, which is said to be the latest plant in New Zealand, with all the most modern devices for sound and film projection. Electric lighting has been remodeled, and new bronze chandeliers have been installed. “THE BOUDOIR DIPLOMAT." CONCLUDES AT MAJESTIC TO-NIGHT. All the splendour of European court life is shown in a number of colourful scenes of “The Boudoir Diplomat,” the daring Universal comedy which is now enjoying a successful engagement at the Majestic Theatre. These brilliant scetfes represent the terrace outside the royal palace of the kingdom of Luvaria during a state ball, and the majority of men in attendance are dressed in the gorgeous uniforms of their various military units. Helmeted guards stand at attention before the great doors, and beautiful women in court dress throng the terrace. In these scenes appeared all the principal players of “The Boudoir Diplomat,” including Betty Compson, lan Keith, Mary Duncan, Jeanette Loff, Lawrence Grant, Lionel Belmore and Andre Beranger.

“HER MAN.” FINAL SCREENING TO-NIGHT. “Her Man,” a dramatic story of the streets of Havana, continues to attract large and enthusiastic audiences at the Theatre Royal. The story, direction and character portrayals are admirable in every respect. The comedy provided by James Gleason, Harry Sweet and Franklyn Pangborn is highly enjoyable. Few talking pictures have been shown that excel in artistry the fine characterisations by Helen Twelvetrees, Ricardo Cortez, Phillips Holmes, and Marjorie Rambeau, a dance hall habitue. The final showing will take place to-night. BIRTHDAY OF “MICKEY THE MOUSE.” At both the Majestic and Royal Theatres on Saturday afternoon, the Birthday of Mickey will be celebrated by the boys and girls. An enormous birthday cake is now on view in the Bristol windows, and each child attending the matinees will receive a piece. School children are also invited to estimate the actual weight of the cake and special prizes are offered. The Theatre management will distribute 50 free tickets available for the matinee on the following Saturday. A real live Impersonator of the Crazy Cat looking for Mickey the Mouse will be in attendance at The Bristol shop on Saturday morning. The film programmes to be submitted for the entertainment of the juveniles are particularly suitable. “THE BIG POND.” COMMENCES SATURDAY. Maurice Chevalier, the big happiness boy from Paris is due at the Majestic on Saturday in “The Big Pond," a comedy-drama with music. There is something about this exuberant purveyor of gay songs and witty dialogue that lifts him above fellow-stars of the films. No matter what role he essays.

he lifts it to the grandest heights of amusement value. In “The Big Pond,” Maurice is seen and heard, as a young Frenchman of poor but honorable family, who is suddenly projected into American business. As a guide to a party of Americans in Venice, Maurice becomes enamored of Claudette Colbert, daughter of a chewing gum manufacturer. Her father and her rival, seeing Maurice as. a fortunehunting "foreigner.” concoct a scheme to make him regret that he ever planned to visit the States. They offer him a Job in the factory. Maurice accepts, and shortly afterward, finds himself doing the toughest tasks in the plant. But the plot to make his work disagreeable, and thus belittle him in the eyes of Claudette goes awry, for the plotters had not calculated on the ambition and genius of Maurice. He becomes a power ip the factory, and gains renown when he writes advertising lyrics, exploiting the gum. Of course he wins Claudette, by applying high-pressure business tactics to his romantic cause. “You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me,” is the hit song of the production. Maurice sings -it several times, along with other melodies almost as catchy. Claudette Colbert, heading the support is exquisite. She is forging ahead rapidly in the field of screen favourites. Others who give splendid character portrayals are George Barbier, Frank Lyon, Marion Ballou. Box plans are at the Majestic. THEATRE ROYAL. SATURDAY. Patrons of the Theatre Royax on Saturday evening will be regaled to their hearts’ content by the entertaining double feature programme presented—“Oh, for a Man,’ starring Reginald Denny and Jeanette Macdonald, and “Simba,” the sensational African jungle picture. With its underlying note the strange whims that beset womankind at times, “Oh, for a Man,” a Fox Movietone production, scores a decided success. The cast is headed by Jeanette Macdonald and Reginald Denny, with an all-star support. The story is of a successful and much courted prlma donna who rejects suitor after suitor, only to fall In love

with and finally marry a burglar. They separate, but strange circumstances enter into their lives which result in their reunion and continued love. In "Oh, for a Man” there is not a dull moment, and the song numbers, including the closing aria from “Tristan and Isolde,” rendered by Miss Macdonald, are logically interpolated. The settings, especially of an Italian villa and garden, are beautiful to the eye, while the feminine portion of the audience will find the gowns worn by Miss Macdonald worth more than a passing glance of notice. In "Simba,” patrons hear for the first time a marvellous sound picture device named the Dulcetone. The synchronisation and the talk by Martin Johnson are most remarkable. The film record of the Martin Johnson expedition in Africa is an amusing and instructive picture. The Johnsons have a flair for showmanship which makes the instructive part of this performance painless and enjoyable. With Martin behind the camera and Osa behind the gun, the thrills are plentiful. Every imaginable kind of wild animal is pictured. The zebras, ostriches. antelopes, oryx, the leaping impalla and the parade of elephants and giraffes perform bravely before the camera, whilst the fights between natives, armed only with spears, and the African lions are spectacular and most thrilling.