ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18947, 17 May 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES.

THEATRE ROYAL.

There is a gripping intensity about, “The Monkey’s Paw,” which does full justice to the graphio character of W. W. Jacobs’ original story. The plot follows closely the basis of the story in which the peculiar power of a charm, the mummified paw of a monkey, brought to England from India by a retired sergeant-major, exercises a dire influence on the hitherto uneventful lives of a quiet English family. Allegedly the possessor of the charm can have hia most ardent wishes fulfilled, in a manner, however, which always more than negatives the apparent advantage. It is from the undesirable . consequences of such wishes that the action takes . its most absorbing aspects. There is a thrill in its unexpected sequence, and a fascination in Us 'Chain of inevitable disaster. On Ivan Simpson, as John White, who makes one wish and follows it with two more under the stress of circumstance, and Louise Carter,. as Mrs White, falls most of the dramatic incident, while Bramwell Fletcher (Herbert White) and Betty Lawford (his fiancee) supply the romantic element. C. Aubrey Smith, who takes the part of the retired Sergeant-major, is responsible for some effective work.

A re-issue of one of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film successes, “Easy Street," has been sychronised with elever effects. The antics which convulsed audiences more than a decade ago are shown to retain their appeal to-day.

“SLEEPLESS NIGHTS."

Starring Stanley Lupino and Polly Walker, “Sleepless Nights," to be screened at the Theatre Royal on Friday, tells the story of an exuberant reporter who, while endeavouring to jjget a story” from a millionaire on the Riviera, falls in love with the millionaire’s daughter, and owing to force of circumstances is forced to pose as her hu stand in order to get her out of compromising circumstances. A gay, inconsequential film “Sleepless Nights” first introduced to the public that popular Noel Gay number “I don’t want to go to bed.”

CIVIO THEATRE.

With a joyous disregard for all the dramatic probabilities and possibil-; Ities “The Love Contract” hurls a man and a maid through a whole series of adventures, turns a young woman of wealth into a female- chauffeur, a young man of even greater wealth Into the most inefficient of employers, and the actual chauffeur into a champion malingerer. There is an infectious air of unreality about the whole piece. The story may be proceeding nicely along the conventional lines of comedy when all of a sudden it is interrupted by the arrival of a young regiment of men and women in flannels and silks, complete with cocktail bars and sunshade tables, to’- fling the cheeriest of parties on a postage stamp of a lawn reserved for the use of the lady chauffeur; or a group 'C-’f chauffeurs and taxi-drivers outside a theatre become soirfething like a musical comedy chorus; or a troop of Girl Guides hiking through a wood suddenly divest themselves of uniforms and perform evolutions like ballet dancers. The girl in the case, charmingly played by. Winifred Shotter, loses all her money in a stock exchange crash, and In a flash accepts a position as chauffeur toi the man whose manipulations of the market made her penniless. A marvellous contract is drawn up for three months, really crystallising a bet that if the man breaks it he pays ,„back his servant’s losses and that if the chauffeur breaks it she must consent to marry him. Miss Shotter looks as delightful as ever, and one does not wonder at the obvious desire of her employer to make her break her contract. Owen Naves invests the leading male role with some excellent acting.

STRAND THEATRE.

“Smilin’ Through,” the charming romance unfolded at the Strand Theatre is drawing crowded houses. The story is that of a man who cannot forget the memory of tragedy when the fulfilment of his love is blighted on his wedding day. Fifty yea-s afterwards the son 'O'f the man who caused his bitterness returns and falls in Jove with the niece of the girl whom this man lias loved. Out of the bitterness of his heart he at first endeavours to keep the young' lovers apart, and only when the spirit of his departed one warns him of the harm he is causing does he relent. There are poignant moments of parting and enduring suffering by the young lovers when they are separated by the call of war, but the radiant personality of Norma Shearer supplies a colour and charm to the scenes which delight the audience. Frederic March plays opposite Miss Shearer in both generations of the story, cast as Jeremy Wayne and later as Kenneth, the former’s son. Leslie Howard plays Sir John Carteret, the lover of Moonyeen and the guardian of Kathleen, and O. P. Reggie is in the role of Dr. Owen, his lifelong friend. Ralph Forbes, also has a prominent role.

ROXY THEATRE.

“Jack’s the Boy” definitely establishes Jack Hulbert, part-author of its excellent sorenario, and his wife, Cicely Courtneidge as screen comedians whose comic inspiration amounts to genius. In them the spirit of true burlesque burns brightly and with no forced flame. Mr Hulbert can dance with a rhythmic precision, an elegance of movement, which sets the blood skipping, and Miss Courtneidge can be on occasion a clown as grotesquely funny as any of the Marx Brothers.

“CINDERELLA.”

J. C. WILLIAMSON PANTOMIME

Pantomime will arrive at the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, on Monday afternoon next at 3 o’clock and Monday night at 7.4 5, in all Its glittering appurtenances, princely palaces and j castles, fairy queens and godmothers, i the demon’s lair and scenes beneath Vie sea, dame comedians and funny

men and serried rows of beautiful danoing girls. It is “Cinderella,” which J. C. Williamson Ltd. claims is the best pantomime staged during the past ten years. It even has the fairy ooach, a dazzling affair in silver. The coach’s passenger is Miss Josie Melville, who charmed New Zealanders in “Sally” some years ago, and who returns to charm as Cinderella. , The company is particularly strong a 3 regards comedians, as the cast includes George Wallace, who will appear as Buttons, Sydney Beck will take the role of Dame, Maurice Barling, the Cat; Murray and Walton, the dancing horse; Fred Webber, the King Rat; Miriam Lester, Prince Charming; Dorothy Dewar, Dandini; Maida Jones, Goldy Locks, Lily Molloy, Minnie Mouse; Cliff O’Keefe, the Demon King, and Sara Stackpoole, the Fairy Queen. The five astounding Cleve-es, a noted international troup of whirlwind acrobats, will make their first appearance here, and so will th* new Big Four. The ballets, the magnificent costumes and the dancing novelties of the army of tiny children are other outstanding features of “Cinderella.”

The afternoon performance will be an exact replica of that staged in the evening. The box plans will be opened on Friday morning, at nine o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m.