REGENT THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 9

REGENT THEATRE

ENGLISH AND CONTINENTAL HUMOUR Two species of humour—one honest English comedy and the other refined ' Continental clowning —were presented j on Saturday night at the Regent The- ; atre. The first item was the film i“Windbag the Sailor," with Will Hay, !of schoomaster fame, in the titular role, and the Weintraubs. Will Hay, las the captain of a “coffin” ship, in j which he sets sail contrary to his own intentions, has to deal with 'mutiny and shipwreck, savages and I the salvaging of a luxury schooner. Trusting to his luck and with so little knowledge of matters nautical he identifies neither compass nor sextant when he sees them, he manages a round-the-world tour, the only mishap being the destiuction of the wharves when departing and again when returning. The Weintraubs are <a group o£ musicians with a new programme. Not only are these performers masters of many instruments, but they are able to change places with precision and tc carry on the performance with in ci* dental funmaking as a continuous ingredient. Not only is humour extracted from instruments that are usually played prosaically, but they at times denoted tragedy, pathos and bathos, to the tears and tricks of the various performers. The members of 1 the troupe were quite prepared to enlist the audience in jokes at the expense of tfieir fellows. The Weintraubs arc an interesting company because they present humour in a new way. Refined clowning is only an approximation of the programme which they provide, and although they may be called Continenal their comedy is as universal in its appeal as their past successes indicate. The company has appeared with success in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, London and New York, so it is not surprising that they succeeded so well on Saturday afternoon, and night in the Regent Theatre, Wanganui. The Weintraubs will pro'vide another programme this after(noon and night.