THE THEATRES

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 43, 20 February 1931, Page 3

THE THEATRES

THEATRE ROYAL WILL : SHOW MUSICAL COMEDY. Two of Broadway’s favourite legitimate stage funsters head the support < in Paramount's film version of Schwab 1 and Mandel’s hilarious musical comedy, Queen High," which comes to the ' Theatre Royal to-morrow, starting at 1 the matinee. They are Charlie Ruggles ■ and Frank Morgan. According to the - story, they are business partners in a < garter producing enterprise. They ■ can’t seem to support each other’s ] views, however, and their lawyer, to ; settle their differences, proposes that < he deal them each a poker hand, to de- ' ci4e which will become the butler of 1 the other. Ruggles loses, and becomes : the butler in the Morgan household. The ensuing situations and dialogue aVe packed with uproarious laughs. Ruggles played in “ The Lady Lies,” "Roadhouse Nigtits,” ‘‘Gentlemen of the Press ” and “ Young Man of Manhattan.” Morgan was the “ heavy ” in Helen Kane's “ Dangerous Dan M’Grew.” "Queen High” will be remembered as a successful J. C. "Williamson production of about four years ago. The plans are now open. " BALACLAVA ” COMES TO CIVIC THEATRE SOON. “The Squeaker” finishes at the Civic to-night, and to-morrow will commence another British film dealing with the Crimean War and the superb charge now known as "The Charge of the Light Brigade.” To enable this to be authentic as well as spectacular the active cooperation of the British "War Office was secured, together with the regiments necessary from the British Army. The result is—well, just what one would expect from such a combination. In order not to disturb the ordinary work of the schools and yet to provide a special opportunity of the children seeing “ Balaclava ” at a reduced rate, a special matinee will be held to-morrow morning at ten o’clock when children will be admitted for threepence. This price applies only to this special matinee. The picture is a perfect blend of hnmouc, pathos and romance. The part of Jean Macdonald is taken by Benita Hume, one of the prettiest and most accomplished actresses of the Englisn stage. Cyril Maclagen takes the part of Captain Kennedy, and Alf Goddard, London’s most popular comedian, is the always-funny soldier, Xobby. It is a picture all British people should see. “ A LADY SURRENDERS ” BOOKED FOR REGENT. ’ “ One of those intriguing plays that is absorbingly interesting throughout., with a climax that supplies the title.” That is the description given to the talkie, “A Lady Surrenders,’’ which will open to-morrow at the Regent. The strength of the drama comes from the fact that not only is the story strong, but that it is also remarkably well acted. Corned}', drama and pathos are meted out in pleasingly balanced portions in this talkie, which is made from the well-known novel, “ Sincerity,” by Jphn Erskine. The box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company. LIBERTY THEATRE HAS VERY GOOD PROGRAMME. The main feature at Liberty Theatre is a story in which Billy Dove stars w-ith the greatest success. It is “ The Other To-morrow,” an intensely dramatic and unusual story. The second film is a railroading picture made by the ever-popular Monte Blue. fIWO FINE SILENTS ARE SCREENED BY GRAND .Excellent fare is provided in the programme at the Grand Theatre. Alice ■White is the featured player in “ Hot Stuff.” Also on the hill of fare is “The Giant of the Mountain.” There are the »«ual supporting features.

ST JAMES’ TO SCREEN GALSWORTHY’S "ESCAPE.” ' 1 1 One of the outstanding screen treats 1 of the year is promised to Christchurch ! pieturegoers when “ Escape,” the talkie ! version of John Galsworthy’s notable ] drama, opens at St James’ Theatre tomorrow. The play, produced with great success in London and New York, was lauded as one of the most brilliant con- i tributions the stage has received in J years. Presenting a theme of wide appeal, carrying a story that moves along at a rapid rate and reaches a powerful dramatic climax, “ Escape ” is unusually well suited for screen treatment. The box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company. ’’ THE BIG TRAIL ” COMES TO CRYSTAL, SATURDAY. When Raoul Walsh’s “The Big Trail” opens its engagement to-morrow at the Crystal Palace, it will show an accurate, truthful and authentic portrayal of a mighty surging wave of humanity that came from the East into the West a century ago. Every occurrence in “ The Big Trail,” claimed to be the most important picture ever produced, is based on authentic fact. The box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company. EVERYBODY'S SCREENS LAVISH PRODUCTION. At Everybody’s Theatre “ The King of Jazz” heads the bill. Paul Whiteman, to whom the title of “ The Jazz King” was applied years ago, brings his merry and melodious men as a basis for a show that demonstrates the catchy, haunting melodies of the day as they have never been demonstrated before. majestic theatre has BRIGHT PROGRAMME. This week the Majestic Theatre presents another first-class programme. The main picture, “ Scotland Yard,” is an extraordinary film with an original theme, in which Edmund Lowe and Joan Bennett give of their best, and there is in addition a good list of short features. I ENGLISH TEAM APPEAR AT SPEEDWAY, SATURDAY To-morrow night at the Monica Park Speedway the famous English team of broadsiders will make their first and final appearance. The impression has been given that the complete New Zealand team will also take part, but that is not so. According to schedule, the second test match between England and New Zealand was set down for decision to-morrow. At the last moment, however, certain demands were- made which the management felt it could not meet in fairness both to its patrons and its. local riders. To agree to these demands would have meant an addition to the cost of rtie meeting sufficiently large to warrant not only a considerable increase in the. prices of admission, but also a drastic curtailment of prize money for Christchurch riders. ’ The six members of the victorious English test team will appear, while C. Blacklock and P. Lunn, members of the , New Zealand team, return to their home . track and, contrary to what has been ’ done elsewhere, the only alteration of the charge made to the public is a r 1 slight increase for children under siy- • j teen, who for two seasons have enjoyj ed their sport for a modest sixpence. ! The riders have been treated with equal ! consideration, having been given the opportunity to earn even better prize money than before. It is well known that the relations between Stadiums (Christchurch). Ltd., and the local riders are happier and more contented than is the case elsewhere in New Zealand, and 't is this policy of give and r take which makes for the success of » the snort and the goodwill of all cont oerned. Squib Burton, at the meeting i to-morrow night, will attempt to break » his own sensational track record of lmin IT 3-ssec.