ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18625, 3 May 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. CIVIC theatre. “ The Girl Habit,” featuring Charles Ruggles, will lead the new programme at "the Civic Theatre to-day. This comedy of a philanderer whose motto is “He who loves and runs away lives to flirt another day,” is veryamusing, and ho-lds the attention oi tlie audience throughout. It combines charming romance with gay humour, while there are many deeper moments. -Charles Ruggles, star of stage and screen, gives a very fine performance, his role toeing One in which he is particularly well suited. He is excellently supported toy the rest of the cast. » FRANKENSTEIN.” “ Frankenstein,” coming to the Civic Theatre next Friday, though weird and gruesome, is fascinating to a degree seldom reached by a film. There are moments of gaiety and touches of comedy, tout these serve merely to contrast with and heighten this tale of a man-created monster who runs amok. Heading a brilliant cast is Boris Karloff, who, in the r.ole of the monster, gives a truly terrifying performance. Colin Clive is seen as the monster’s creator, and John Boles and Mae Clarke are prominently cast. THEATRE ROYAL. “ The Passionate Plumber” is an indescribably funny comedy, with Buster Keaton, Polly Moran and Jimmy Durante leading the cast. Other accomplished players who appear are Irene Purcell, the petite and charming souforette; Gilbert Roland, handsome actor of the silent era; Mona Maris, an alluring Spanish actress; and Henry Armetta, as an exasperated Italian restaurant proprietor. Mr Keaton, whose carven immobility of expression is in laughable contrast with his ridiculously funny clowning, is the perfect choice for the part of a somewhat shiftless plumber who becomes a “cardboard lover” to an unhappy Parisienne. He is commissioned to excite the jealousy of,the woman’s inconsistent Latin lover. The consequences are not difficult to imagine. The supporting programme includes an amusing comedy, “ War Mamas,” several interesting Gazettes, and a demonstration of tennis technique by the champion William Tilden. STRAND THEATRE. An audience loves to be thrilled and mystified, and “ The Silent Witness” succeeds in doing both. British justice, swift and sure, lacking tho red tape that marks court procedure in the United States, is to be seen at work in the courtroom scenes of “ The Silent Witness.” More than a peep is afforded Into Old Bailey, with the traditions of centuries hanging over it, where justice is meted out with clock-work regularity. It Is In this court that thQ renowned stage star. Lionel Atwill, In the role of Sir Austin Howard stands trial for the murder his weakling son has confessed. His alibi, though genuine, Is gradually torn away in the mass of circumstantial evidence that is massed against him. This is the same role that Atwill created in the stage production of the suspense-filled story. And in the character of the son is another noted player who was in the stage production, Bramwell Fletcher. The principal feminine roles are enacted by Greta Nissen and Helen Mack. ROXY THEATRE. Bringing to the 'Screen a hitherto ignored phase of war—Hie grim resignation and the futile ambitions of a lonely prison camp—Warner Baxter and Leila Hyams score a notable triumph in “Surrender." None of the glamour and pageantry of Hie actual fighting is seen in this unique Him; only the aftermath —with the discouraged captives in their barren prison on the desolate shores, of the Baltic, desperately plotting an escape across icy wastes—Avith the old ruined castle, where the other prisoners find occupation and Baxter finds a shackled love and a repressed emotion that furnish the motif of this gripping tale. PETER PAN DANCE. Dancers will have the pleasure of hearing the Peter Pan Dance Band (Auckland) to-night at the Regent Hall. There will be plenty of novelties, and everyone will have a good night’s entertainment. Dancing will be from 8 p.m. till 1 a.m.