MAJESTIC THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 196, 20 August 1934, Page 9

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“LOVE, LIFE AND LAUGHTER.” The irrepressible lass from Lancashire (there is really no need io explain that this means Gracie Fields) has never given a better account of herself and never appeared in a more humorous story than in 4 ‘Live, Life and Laughter,” which began at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. The picture is screamingly funny and is splendid entertainment. According to reports by her publicity agents the opening scenes might have been actual happenings from her own life. She is seen as an amateur charity worker in a small English town, throwing oranges from a street float. The story does not take long in getting into its stride, for one of the oranges hits a a man in the eye. The man is none other than the flunkey of a handsome prince of Royal blood, Princes Charles of Grunau. Consequently Nellie Gwynn,; tho inn-keeper’s daughter (it is this role that Gracie takes) is haled before the court for hitting a prince’s guard of honour in the eye, and thereby causing a breach of the peace. The trial is riotously funny, and the judge, in desperation, finally discharges her for no other reason than to get rid of her. It transpires that the officially ; outraged prince is waiting outside the court in a car. When Gracie emerges I he invites her into his car and asks her ; to attend a court reception. Gracie \ attends it and has tho time of her life i j with Charles. But that complication • having been surmounted, there are others to come, all as screamingly i funny as the first whirlwind of laughter. Tho king intervenes in the merri- . ment of Gracie and Charles. He insists . that Charles should dance with a cer- ; tain princess with a foreign name from . a neighbouring kingdom, and for rea- ( sons of state policy, propose to her. Nellie G. registers pathos, feels that ; she is a little out of place for an inn- ( keeper’s daughter, and she leaves. How- , ever, Charles, with all the good wishes , of the audience to back him up, refuses to carry out his august father’s command, and follows her. Lie staysi . with her parents at the ancestral old inn. Then Nellie is engaged to play . the .feminine lead in a film, and she per- . suades him to take the leading male . role. The king, just to be obstinate, , dies. Thus everything is topsy-turvy . again, which actually’ is just what it is in the whole picture. Tho foreign princess comes before the spotlights once more, causing trouble for everyone, and it means a great deal of bother, fuss, and laughter before all the players find their feet. The result of it all is too ’ subtly managed for description here, ’ but it may be said that future audiences of the Regent will be surprised, and pleasantly so. The songs sung by Gracie arc well worth mentioning. When she retreats from the Royal reception, she sings “Out in the Cold, Cold Snow,” a tremendously funny number that rivals even “He’s Dead But He Won’t Lie Down,” of undying fame. In other ports of the film she sings catchy comical numbers, including “Love, Life and Laughter.” “Riding in the Clouds,” and “Cherie.” The supports consist of an excellently mixed programme of news, sport, variety and a colour cartoon.