JOE E. BROWN COMEDY

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 3

JOE E. BROWN COMEDY

Pictures and Stage Act for Theatre Royal.

'* The Beggar Student ’* and “ Honour of the Family ” will be shown at the Theatre Royal for the last time to-night. Commencing to-morrow, the Theatre Royal will present another well-varied programme. The major attraction will be ** Local Boy Makes Good,” starring doe E. Brown, with Dorothy Lee, a comedy based on a play by those masters of human characterisation, .1. C. and Elliott Nugent. Also on the bill will be a stage act, “ Abdy's Animal Circus,” which consists of fifty educated animals and birds, and the fifth of the Bobby Jones golf series. In ” Local Boy Makes Good,” Joe E. Brown plays the part of John Miller, a timid and near-sighted assistant in the bookstall of a college town —a man outwardly interested in botany—and inwardly occupied with contemplation of the fair sex. He has seen pictures of Julia Winters (Dorothy Lee), a pretty co-ed of a distant college—and spends much time penning love letters to her, in which he enlarges on his prowess as an athlete. He writes these passionate missives for the thrill of doing it, but never posts them. Someone else, John never knew who. did post one of them—and he is horrified to receive a reply from the lovely Julia, in which she says that she is coming to attend the sports and to witness his skill. About this time Marjorie Blake (Ruth Hall), an old school friend of Julia, comes to work in the store. She likes John Miller, understands his oddities and urges him to get a try-out for the field events, to make good his statements to Julia. He succeeds in getting on the lists. Julia arrives, all enthusiasm saying she is accompanied by her aflianced, Spike Hoyt, captain of the opposing team. Julia tries to psychoanalyse John into courage, but without success. He enters the trials as a javelin-thrower and at the start thrusts ihe javelin into the anatomy of Wally Pierce, speediest sprinter of the school. Wally pursues John on vengeance bent, and the officials, seeing the speed made by the runners, insist that the two must compete for the honour of the school. It remains for pretty Marjorie to devise ways and means to fill John with false courage and—but the upi oarious happenings which bring the story to its unexpected end—must be seen to be properly appreciated.