ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19545, 6 April 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES j i l THEATRE ROYAL | I In “ The Mighty Barnum ” Wallace j Beery offers a splendid charaeterisa- j j tion as the world’s greatest show- , I man. Adolphe Menjou gives the’ best ; ! performance of his career as Bailey | ! Walsh, its tippling manager, and Vir- ■ ginia Bruce is charming as Jenny Lind, the lovely Swedish Nightingale, whom Barnum, in a moment of respite from his midgets, fat ladies, sword swallowers and the rest of 'his freaks, introduced to America. The film begins in 1835, when Barnum left his failing Bowery grocery, rented a livery stable and became a showman, exhibiting such acquisitions as a two-headed calf, a couple of reptile monstrosities and an aged negress named Joice Heth, hailed as 160 years old and the nurse of the infant George Washington. The expose of this exhibit as a hoax and the subsequent breaking up Of the museum by an enraged crowd of patrons when the bearded lady shows masculine characteristics; the burning of the museum; the triumphant debut of Jenny Lind and the fiasco which Barnum’s absurd social blunders make nf the magnificent dinner 'he gives for her, are highlights t>f the picture, which ends with Barnum and Bailey Walsh parading proudly down the street in front of Jumbo, the world’s largest elephant, heralding the inception of Barnum and Bailey, the Greatest Show on Earth. Janet Beecher shines as the stem New England wife who frowns on Barnum’s wild ventures and Rochelle Hudson is excellent as his pretty ward, Who has the misfortune to fall madly in love with the tippling Mr Walsh. The “shorts” include Mickey Plays Papa,” a very funny Walt Disney cartoon; “Old Irish Songs, a melodious organlogue; and “Unknown Island," an interesting travelogue.

CIVIC THEATRE The celebrated English actress. Fay Compton, has rarely been called upon to portray a wider range of emotional appeal than in “ Song at Eventide.” The story embraces a woman’s life from girlhood until the time that she sees her own daughter embarking upon a public career. Youthful gaiety and fierce rebellion, romance, ambition, disillusion, hard lessons learned in the bitter school of experience, the promise of happiness and the. crash of disaster, with the final outcome of a mature wisdom that seeks its ultimate goal through sacrifice—all are embodied in the career of Helen D’Alaste.” Miss Compton sings several popular ballads —“ My Treasure,” “ For You Alone,” and “ Dreaming,” as well as a new slowrhythm number, ■ “ Wandering to Paradise." Then there are two light songs—Lehar’s lilting’' “ Gigolette, and the ever-deligbtful “Vienna, City of My Dreams,” in addition to East-’ hope Martin’s beautiful organ melody “ Evensong.” Frank Titterton, the famous radio and gramophone star, sings in several sequences, assisted by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey Choir, with two orchestras to provide the musical background. “Danny Boy” is a charming story, embracing charming Irish songs, sweet sentiment, excellent comedy and melodious music. Fourteen-year-old Ronnie Hep worth is very appealing in the title role, and Dorothy Dickson and Frank Forbes-Robertson fill the romantic leads convincingly. Cyril Ritchard, well known on the New Zealand stage, appears as John Martin; Denis O’Neil, the famous Irish tenor, sings “ Come Back to Erin ” and “The Mountains of Mourno"; Dorothy Dickson sings “Danny Boy” and “Second Chance”; and the Ragamuffins Orchestra plays old-time favourites. STATE THEATRE In “ Evensong," the film version of Beverley Nichols’ much-discussed book, Evelyn Laye, the brilliant London star, gives a convincing cameo of Irela, the world-famous singer, who sacrifices everything, even human love, for the career which in her declining years has .become an obsession. But first she is just humble Maggie McNeil—just an Irish youngster who has a voice with great possibilities. Moving rapidly, the colourful story tells of her rise to fame until the great Irela has become the rage of two continents and has the world at her feet. All these scenes are crowded with vivid incident, notably in the well-staged operatic scenes of '“La Boheme " and “La Traviata,” while the appeal is emphasised in such interludes as a romantic Venetian scena, and later when Irela sings some popular ballads, including “ Love’s Old Sweet Song,” to an audience of 'soldiers.

REGENT THEATRE “The Night Is Young," a thrilling romance of a fluke and a hallet dancer, is a spectacular and melodious production. With Ramoh Novarro and the lovely English star, Evelyn Layc, filling the romantic leads, and singing as charmingly as they act, the supporting contingent is enlivened by such well-known laugh producers as the slony-faccd Charles Butterworth, the rollicking Una Merkel, the inimitable Edward Everett Horton and amusing Herman Bing. Butterworth not only plays a comedy role in the picture, but he sings as well. It is the first time that the popular player has warbled on the screen. He and Miss Merkel sing a duct which is said to be something worth hearing 1 Song hits include “ When T Grow Too Old to Dream," “The Night Is Young,” “ Wiener Schnitzel,” “ Though 1 am a Noble Duchess," and others. ROXY THEATRE 1,1 Girl Without a Boom ” is a gay melange of fun, but the romance supplied by Charles Farrell and Marguerite Churchill, is fresh, appealing and believable, although it occurs in the midst of I lie giddy setting of the Montmartre district of Paris. Charlie Buggies, Gregory Raloff, Grace Bradley mid a quartette of Russians provide much comedy. In “Sadie McKee” .loan Crawford nils Ihc title, role perfectly. Franchot 'l’onc has the romantic male lead, although Edward Arnold lias the’ distinction of being married to .loan for a time, and Gene Raymond thrives (Continued in next column.j

under the star’s play-acting affection 'through several reels. “THE WIND AND THE RAIN.” The brilliant triumph achieved here recently by the J. C. Willaimson, Ltd., company, which presented “Ten Minute Alibi” so admirably to playgoers of Hamilton has induced tho management to present the same origination in the phenomenally successful romantic comedy on Thursday, April 18, “The Wind and the Rain," which is still tire reigning attraction in London, where it has been playing continuously for the past 15 months. Its success in New Zealand is without a precedent in the theatrical history of the Dominion, the seasons in each of the large centres having to be greatly extended, and even then the comedy had to be withdrawn while it was still in the zenith of its triumph. The production of "The Wind and the Rain” is of the utmost importance here because of the fact that it was written by Dr. Merton Hodge, who is a native of New Zealand.

The Williamson Ltd., management lias been fortunate in having evidently engaged a perfect combination of dramatic and comedy stars, headed by the brilliant young London leading man, Mr George TliiiTwoll. Miss Jocelyn llowarth is said to have achieved her best success in the part of Anne Hargreaves, and Arundel Nixon, a notable London actor, has scored an outstanding triumph as Ur. Paul Duhamet. Mr Tommy Jay, as 'Gilbert Raymond, lias the audience in roars of laughter the whole lime lie is on Ihc stage, and the Company includes Gwen Munro, It, 1.. Atliolwood, Richard Fair, Ronald Roberts. Nan Taylor and oilier wellknown arlisls. The l»>\ plans will be opened at Lewis Eudy’a uu Tuesday morning next*