ENTERTAINMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 229, 28 September 1931, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE AN ALL BRITISH PROGRAMME Anyone who wishes to enjoy a really delightful entertainment should not miss the performance at the Majestic Theatre where Bernard Shaw’s “How He Lied to Her Husband” followed by “Uneasy Virtue,” is screening. The whole programme throughout is British while the two main features are English. . When “The Skin Game” came to Wanganui recently Edmund Gwenn who took the part of Mr Hornblower, won many admirers. In “How He Lied to Her Husband,” a witty playlet which revolves round three characters, Gwehu again takes a prominent part as the husband. He has the same pleasant easy smile and dimpled face —when things are going his way —while his vehemence is also under the surface and quickly aroused. The playlet. concerns a wife’s “affair” with a poetical boy. By mischance some of his poems which have been written to her have'fallen into the possession of her sister-in-law who hands them on to the husband. Fearing that matters may become unpleasant the wife tells her poet lover that he must act “like a gentleman” and tell her husband that he composed the poems to someone else. As her name is Aurora this is somewhat didi cult and when the husband is told teat they have been addressed to the “rosy fingered dawn” ho smiles a knowing iittle smile. When, however, the poet, Henry Apjohn, continued to say that ho has not the slightest regard for Mrs Bumpus and is unmoved by her charms, the pleasantness slides off Edmund Gwenn like water and he rages and quivers at the very idea of his wife not being thought good enough by an “insolent young puppy who has probably n*ever been up at such a shivery hour as the dawn in all his life.” The temper of both becomes frayed and they become mixed up on the floor, Apjohn acquiring a large bump ou the back of his head. Losing his temper he admits that he did wrlro tin poems to Mrs Bumpus, a womnn who is wasted on a city merchant and ■whom he loves ardently. Instantly Gwenn becomes his genial self again, shakes Apjohn by the hand and there and then arranges to have the poems printed and shown around. Throughout the play the wit and humour of bubbles out while the acting of the three make the scene live. That a woman likes to be thought above suspicion but that she does not like to be thought beneath suspicion is the theme of“ Uneasy Virtue” which is soptu<.u.Pted an I funny. The st ny concerns a husband, “Bill,” who possesses a virtuous and good wife whom Le imprudently proclaims is the “soul of fidelity.” His wife, Dot, played by Fay Compton, becomes somewhat hurt when she finis <:h’«i. her husband does not remember the ninth anniversary of their wedding and that he does not even think that any other man would bother to flirt with her. So she takes a cocktail or two more than is good for her and commences flirting with Harvey Townsend (Edmund Breon). They make for a room “where they can obtain a lovely view of the Downs.” The remainder of the party of women are in bed w’hile the men are sitting up playing bridge. There enters a burglar into the very loom where the two flirts have arrived and naturally their affair d’amour is interrupted. Harvey and the burglar get to grips while Dot rings the bell, fearing that Harvey w’ill be hurt, and while the household is aroused she makes for her room and gets into bed. The scenes that follow arc splendidly acted. Imagine a burglar addressing his captors as “my deah fellohs” and suggesting a drink, while he puts his feet up and looks at a paper, admitting that he has had no education, only having been to Harrow and Oxford, but that he had discovered a genius of dealing with locks and latches which it would have been a crime not to have used. The part of Frank K. Pratt, the American, who enacts a jealous husband believing that his wife was in the room with Harvey, is excellently played, his American accent contrasting with the well-spoken English accent. The scene during which Pratt has the party on tenterhooks with his cross-examina-tion of Harvey is excellent while the disgusted looks of the other three men at Harvey, whom they are trying to get out of a scrape, carry a lot of meaning. Unfortunately for Dot, when she admits that she was in the room, thereby saving Mrs Pratt, her husband thinks that it is a big joke and tells her she is a “:jolly good sportswoman” for saving the situation, which docs not improve her state of mind. Eventually we have each husband suspecting his ' wife with a lot more amusement before Bill is given the hint to act as if he were jealous and to make love to his wife.

'The performance can be recommended without hesitation together with the warning that anyone who misses it will regret doing so. As it will show to-day and to-morrow only there is not time to lose.

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REGENT THEATRE. “INDISCREET." Gloria Swanson, great actress that she is, has never been seen to better advantage than in 4 ‘lndiscreet,’ l the brilliant United Artists' comedy-drama, which is now screening at the Regent Theatre. In this extremely clearly-constructed all-talking feature subject, the famous star takes the part of Jerry Trent, a girl who pays dearly for a youthful indiscretion. After breaking with the worthless philanderer, Jerry falls in love with a youthful author, who is every inch a man. Being, as she herself puts it, “a modern girl with an old-fashioned conscience, she tells her lover of her hour of mad 'folly, but her past rises to confront her when she linds that her former lover has become engaged to her little sister. Jerry sets out on a crusade to prevent, at all costs, the dissolute Jim Woodward from ruining the life of her sister, and there is a pretty kettle of fish when her lover and her sister find her in Woodward's arms. However true love wins out in the end, and the story ends to the chimes of wedding bells. Gloria Swanson runs the entire gamut of the emotions in this powerful play; she is tragedienne, comedienne, red-blooded human woman, and tender lover in turn. The star wears some ravishing gowns, and uses her rich voice to , advantage in the songs, “Come to Me" and “If You Havn’t Got Love." The other characters are well taken by Ben Lyon, Monroe Owsley, Barbara Kent, Arthur Lake, and Maude Eburne. A most interesting newsreel and a rollicking farce also figures on the programme. Ben Lyon is cast in the leading male role as the novelist, and Monroe Owsley plays the former lover. Barbara Kent appears as the younger sister, Joan Trent, and gives a fine performance. Such was the success of “Indiscreet" in Wellington that it was transferred to another theatre for a further season. This course was imperative owing to the large audience which had to be turned away when the houses became full. There seems every liklihood that there will bo a repetition of such scenes in Wanganui, judging by the packed house on Saturday night. THE DUCHESS THEATRE (ARAMOHO) It is evident that the management are determined to cater for their many satisfied patrons in the best possible style. They have pleasure in announcing that they have made arrangements for “The Anti-Depressionist (Gloom Dispellers) Costume Comedy Company," to appear in the Theatre on Monday and Tuesday evenings, September 28 and 29. The company, which is a purely local organisation of eight of Wanganui’s very best amateurs, the organisers being Mr Hilton Osborne, and Miss Marilyn Mac Gill (late of J. C. Williamson Theatres, AustraT and New Zealand), have brought together several well-known local artists, including Mrs Sperring, Miss Hilda Crysell, Messrs Jim Scott, Harold Hean, Eric Lind, and Ted Tasker. The company recently visited Waverley and gave one of their best performances to date; it was recognised by the residents superior to anything yet presented on the Town Hall stage, the funds being devoted to the Church of England Paris funds. The visit was quite the success anticipated. The company have had quite a round of engagements, which have met with hearty approval wherever shown. The difficulty is that owing to so many requests coming to hand it has been found somewhat difficult to fix suitable dates for future showings, but dates are in preparation for the Toe H. and S.P.C.A. appeals. The costumes, and dressing, entirely the arranging of Miss Marilyn Mac Gill, have met with special approved throughout. Residents of Aranioho and district are assured that no effort will be too much as far as the Anti-Deprcssionists are concerned, and they appeal to the residents who are assured that no regrets will be found in their efforts to please on September 28 and 29. GRAND THEATRE. “SEA LEGS." Prices are reduced all round at the Grand Theatre. The theatre is now what might bo aptly termed a family theatre, and the prices allow all to tako tho family and enjoy a good picture. Tho stalls are now Is, and the dress circle Is 6d, children 6d and 9d, and the booking fee 6d extra. There aro more laughs in Jack Oakie’s grin than tho hyena family could muster in a life-time of laughter. There arc more laughs in Jack Oakie’s “Sea Legs’’ than in any. Oakie picture to date. It’s a swell sea swell capped with the Oakie wit. “Sea Legs," which is now showing at tho Grand Theatre, gives Oakie everything he needs for his mirth-mak-ing. It has a cargo of comedy lines it would be hard to beat anywhere. Geo. Marion, Jim, wrote them. It is equipped with a series of hilarious situations,

particularly when Oakie wakes up from a heavy sleep to find himself shanghaied and shipped under a strange name, aboard a ship ho never heard of before, and of the moment Oakie discovers the ship is packed with girls. And “Sea Legs’ ’ is manned and womanned, with a great fun producing cast, Harry Green, Lillian Both, Eugene Pallette and others. “Sea Legs’’ takes Jack Oakie into the navy of a tiny republic, of which no one has ever heard. He’s shanghaied to fill the birth of a young millionaire loafer. Harry Green is the wily lawyer, who arranges the situation for Oakie. And the ship is home to a do2en of; the captain’s beautiful daughters, from which Oakie selects one to take care of his heart. Forced to continue under the imposed name, Oakie finds much conversation in trading on his principal’s name, but the whole affair gets him into a ticklish situation, and results in an impromptu battle between two opposing sailor groups. He sings two really catchy song numbers, both of which contain many a chuckle, “It Must Be Illegal” and “A Daisy Told Me.” . MB. WATTERS’ CONCERT. I At the Opera House on Wednesday, . October 7, a concert will be given by | Mr. William Watters, L.A.8., in aid of the Mayor’s Relief Fund.- Mr. Watters will have the assistance of two of his pupils. Miss Naomi Whalley, who is recognised as ono of the Dominion’s leading sopranso, and Miss Roma McClure, mezzo-contralto. Miss Elvyra Wycherley, L.A.8., will contribute ’cello solos, and Mr. Tucker will supply the flute obligato to one of Miss Whalley’s numbers. Apart from the excellences of the programme and the high standing of the artists, the knowledge that the proceeds are to be donated to the relief of distress should ensure a packed house.