ON THE STAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 3

ON THE STAGE

BOXING KANGAROO APPEARS IN PERSON Mr. Lindsay Fabre, trainer of “Aussie,” the boxing kangaroo, a beautiful creature which Mr. Fabre captured in Australia and brought up on the bottle at the age of six months, will present this novel entertainment next Wednesday at the Regent Theatre. “Aussie” has his own ideas on the noble art and as he can almost stand up on his tail, leaving his legs free, he is able to get in lightning “kicks” that make their presence felt—usually below the belt. Both Mr. Fabre and his animal give a really remarkable exhibition which is as thrilling as it is amusing. Mr. Fabre can testify that “Aussie” is on occasions far too realistic, because the owner has literally taken the count on more than one occasion. “Aussie” will not only be seen in his boxing act, but will also appear afterwards in the aisles to meet patrons. Leslie Howard i"ack in Hollywood. Leslie Howard, always full of plans, went to Hollywood to see about some of them. Now he is there Warners are hoping to persuade him to costar with Miriam Hopkins in “We Arc Not Alone.” That is the James Hilton story, already much mentioned, both for Howard and Ronald Colman. It succeeds in being both grim and tenuerly sentimental. Howard said he was giving up Hollywood commitments tc concentrate on his English productions. Perhaps, though, he may find it good business, as a producer, to keep before the American public as an actor. John Gilbert’s Daughter. Thirteen-year-old Leatrice Joy Gilbert has made her appearance before a camera in the studio where her father scored his greatest success. The occasion was a make-up test, supervised by three of her lather’s oldest friends. The daughter of the late John Gilbert and Leatrice Joy plays her first role in “Of Human Hearts,” with Walter Huston and Beaulah Bondi, appearing as the heroine in her youth. Clarence Brown, director, and John W. Considine, jun., producer, supervised the test, and John Arnold, who photographed “The Big Parade” and who is now camera chief at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, supervised the photography. The youngster insisted that her dachshund “Darwin' be included in the test. Little Leatrice bears a striking resemblance to her famous father, and also has many features of her actress mother, who was also present when the final tests were maae. Both hope for an active screen career for the second generation in the Gilbert family. Her first role is one of the most important juvenile roles of the season. High Jinks in Hungary. The world-renowned musical piece, “Maritza,” which has had recent presentation in London at the Palace Theatre, was a big success among theatregoers. The title role was played by Mara Lossef, a young Russian actress new to the London stage, although she had appeared in tne Jack Buchanan film “The Sky's the Limit.” Others in the cast were John Garrick (who will be better remembered as Reginald Dandy, the leading man in the Williamson "Rose Marie” company that toured New Zealand, and in which Harriet Bennett, whu later became his wife, was starred) ~ Shaun Glenville, Douglas Byng, ancr Patricia Leonard. The production marked Mr. Byng’s first appearance in a musical play since he was with the Grossmith - Laurilliard management. He plays a broken-down aristocrat in “Maritza” and in the cabaret scene, j his own composition, a song entitled [“The Pest of Budapest,” introduced a ; vivacious lady orchestra leader. The Hungarian background of the piece, written by Emmerich Kalman, with its cosmopolitan characters, made the musical contribution a popular box office success.