BRITISH FARCE-COMEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 285, 2 December 1933, Page 11

BRITISH FARCE-COMEDY

•‘THAT’S MY WIFE” TO-NIGHT. REGENT’S ATTRACTION. It is a long time since a cleverer and funnier farce-comedy than “That’s My Wife,” coming to the Regent Theatre, has been seen here. The funproducing episodes all arise through a Lancashire manufacturer of shirtfronts who, having made a fortune,

goes to London to spend some of it on frivolity. His nephew runs a beauty parlour, and in this place the old man gets mixed up in humorous entanglements from which he finds it difficult to extricate himself. Claude Allister ’s the nephew, and he is ably supported bv Bettv Astell. Much of the credit for the success of the piece belongs to Dave Pettingell, the famous Lancashire comedian.

Anna Neagle. first as a night club entertainer, then as an attractive newly-married woman gives two delightful character studies in ‘‘The Little Damozel,” coming next Wednesday to the Regent Theatre. An emo-

tional drama of London’s night life, with a small cafe as a background, the story is given dramatic relief by genuine and brilliant touches of humour. Although Anna Neagle is the dominating personality she does not over-shadow the fine supporting cast which includes James Rennie, Athole Stewart and Benita Hume. The musical numbers are written by Noel Coward. No more illustrious players have oyer been submitted in the cast of a talking picture than those appearing in “Kindle Wakes,” Victor Saville’s sensationally successful characterisation of Stanley Houghton’s worldfamed play, which will begin its Wanganui season at the Regent Theatre next Saturday. First and foremost stands Dame'Sybil Thorndike, the lady leader of the English stage. In the picture she will repeat the performance of Mrs. Hawthorn, which she made famous on the legitimate stage. Edmund Gwenn is Chris Hawthorn, and the beautiful young actress Belle Chrystall is praised by the Press for “an amanzingly fine performance” of their erring daughter Jenny. Norman McKinnell, a fine actor, is said to be at his very best in the telling part of Jeffcote, while John Stuart also scores.

Gary Cooper, featured in Paramount’s “One Sunday Afternoon,” spnt three years in grammar school at Dunstable, England.