ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19296, 30 June 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CURRENT PROGRAMMES. REGENT THEATRE. With a grand display of the latest fashions in dress for both men and women, “Fashion Gaieties of 1934” will .be presented to-day. One of the latest .productions of Warner Brothers, it makeu splendid entertainment of an unusual kind. William Powell gives a delightful performance in the leading role. The very latest Parisian modes of dress are displayed by a number of beautiful mannequins. The method of display is unique. A beautiful interior setting of a large and elaborate cafe set for a mannequin parade is the opening scene. The lights fade omt and a circular platform with framed pictures of men and women of the past stands out at the end of the room. Powerful lights are concentrated on one picture at a time within the circle. The portrait is raised like a curtain, and a pretty mannequin in the latest style of dress is revealed. The portraits are to illustrate the strong resemblance of modern fashion with that of a century ago, it being claimed that styles change in .cycles. Bette Davis has the leading feminine role, while others in the cast include Gordon Westcott, ! Frank 'McHugh and Reginald Owen, v CIVIC THEATRE. The success of Mae West constitutes, the latest example of the deliberate development of personality. “She Done Him Wrong” revealed in her a star unlike any other in the Hollywood constellation, and in “I’m No Angel” she continues her unusual way, seeking no aid from dramatic subtleties, but exploiting her own personality. One gets the impression that one is not seeing Mae West as Tlra, the lion tamer, but simply Mae West as Mae West. Appearing as a singer, dancer and lion tamer in a travelling circus, she sings her songs in her own inimitable way, scorns the use of legs In dancing, believes in horoscopes and entertains decided ambitions. To escape from a predicament she urgently needs money, and to get it contracts to place her'head inside a lion’s mouth for the pleasure of a small-town audience. Success immediately follows, with appearances in great .cities, and she proceeds to tame men—wealthy men—as easily as she tames lions. A love affair raises serious complications, and it is only after an amazing breach of promise case that the need of cherishing further ambitions vanish. Miss West swaggers through the story with an insolent step, a provocative glance and much devastating comment. Gary Grant quiet and debonair, provides an excellent foil to the star, and the breach of promise sequence Is a riot of impossibility. ROXY THEATRE. • Three attractions will be featured at the Roxy Theatre to-day. "The Way to Love” brings back the popular Maurice .Chevalier, gay and debonair as ever, in one of his most appealing characterisations. It has romance, drama, sentiment, and humour, and is very entertaining from beginning to end. “Broadway Favourites". shows a big cast of vaudeville stars in theii cleverest acts, and is well worth seeing. Then there is “I Like It That Way," a spectacular musical 'comedy full 'of lilting music, .clever dancing, charming romance, merry funmaking, and lovely girls. Such a programme will doubtless draw large audiences. STATE THEATRE. In “Jack Ahoy” popular Jack Hulbert is funnier than ever, and the hopelessly ludicl-ous scenes invariably follow each of the impossible "scrapes” into which lie contrives to get,himself. In this picture it does

not mailer that the plot is impossible; it does not matter that Us denouement could not happen. All through it the breezy, smiling Jack Tar bobs up right when the thing is most impossible, and when he smiles the impracticability does not seem to matter much. The scenes in the submarine are the best. Never a submarine performed s.’ich antics; never had one such a crew. The craft is being chased by a Chinese pirate speed boat, Jack Humbert, in his own miraculous manner, has rescued _ the heroine (played by Nancy O’Neill) from the clutches of the same fell gang. He wants to submerge the craft. me girl’s father does not. No audience could forget Jack’s expression and his long comical face when he tells the father-in-law-to-be tha,t _ assured > the submarine will sink if it does not sink. He speaks Chinese. It sounds like it, anyhow; and, anyway, as he says, even when he is in Lhma. “Who ever understand' Chinese. There is just enough of the cement of danger to lend an air of drama, but too much real, wholesome, spontaneous humour to allow it to become predominant. *,

THEATRE ROYAL.

Those who are thrilled by an ingeniously woven tale of mystery and intrigue and touched by a charming love story had better go -to see "The Mystery of Mr X.” Directed by Edgar 'Selwyn, adapted from Philip MacDonald’s sensational Crime Club novel “Mystery of the Dead Police," the film is all that an exciting mystery should be. There are thrills from the moment .the audience sees Robert Montgomery, as Revel, gentleman crook, gracefully lift the Drayton diamond from a safe while the shadow of “X," London’s notorious_ murderer, passes by, to the 'final show-down between the engaging young .crook and the fiend. As Revel, 'Montgomery is splendid. Jlis clever characterisation breathes reality into th^ 1 exciting role. The audience believes he is quickwitted enough to have stolen the diamond, to run the risks he does. And by the time the picture has whirled on to the final sequence the audience is anxiously hoping he wil. not meet the fate of the nine policemen, all victims of the arch-fiend "X.” Elizabeth Allen is charming as the heroine.