ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20426, 17 February 1938, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES ROXY THEATRE Pick a Star” is a very amusing satire of Hollywood's studio life. The absorbing humaninterest theme, "Hometown boy and girl make good.” has been filmed and Hollywood, which has been filled with boys and girls who have made sensational successes, is appropriately used for the locale. Laurel and Hardy and Patsy Kelly create much laughter in the leading roles. “ Quality Street " is the second screen version of a Sir James Barrie play in which Katharine Hepburn has been starred. The first was “ The Little Minister,” which resulted in such widespread acclaim that producer Pandro S. Berman selected another of the noted English playwright's books as a vehicle for the star. Miss Hepburn is co-starred with Franchot Tone. "Maori.'’ an all-colour film of New Zealand, makes a particular appeal to a Dominion audience. CIVIC THEATRE “Victoria the Great” continues to delight audiences. It is the Inside story of Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert, their courtship, marriage and wedded life. Anna Neagle appears as Queen Victoria, co-starred with Anton Walbrook. 11. B. Warner, as Lord Melbourne, and Walter Rilla, as Prince Ernest, are featured players. No picture heroine could be more wistfully attractive than this young girl of IS. so suddenly burdened with tremendous cares of State and confronting problems of international Importance. Nor will spectators forget such a thrilling episode as the attempted assassination of the Queen, and the gallantry of the courageous Prince in shielding her against the would-be murderer’s bullets. “ACTION FOR SLANDER” “Action for Slander,” featuring Clive Brook and Ann Todd, will head the new programme to-morrow. STATE THEATRE “ The Rainmakers,” featuring the popular comedians Wheeler and Woolsey, shows the funmakers at their best, and keeps the audience in hilarious mood. The efforts of Wheeler and Woolsey to produce rain have very exciting and amusing results. The wise-cracking Woolsey and the amorous Wheeler have many thrilling adventures. A charming romance is introduced into the story. “Chasing Yesterday” is a strong drama featuring Anne Shirley tnd 0. P. Heggie. This is a film version of Anatole France's widely-read story, and holds the tense interest of the audience with its drama, romance, adventure, and touches of humour. Excellent work is done by the cast, while the settings are very effective. ■ SAID O'REILLY' TO McNAB” “Said O'Reilly to McNab,” to be screened to-morrow, will be found to fulfil the comic possibilities of the title. Will Fyffe and Will Mahoney, the English comedians, head the cast. REGENT THEATRE "The Awful Truth” is a film which is outstanding for its skilful interweaving of romance and humour, keeping the audience amused throughout. The success of Irene Dunne in •'Theodora Goes Wild” is eclipsed by her brilliant performance in the leading role of “The Awful Truth.” With Cary Grant cast as the husband. Miss Dunne creates most amusing domestic quarrels which result in divorce. Though there are no children, a stirring legal battle is fought over the dog Asta, which provided such diverting entertainment in “The Thin Man.” The film is brought to a satisfactory though remarkably humorous conclusion. “OVER SHE GOES” The film version of the stage success, “Over She Goes.” seen in Hamilton recently, will be screened on Saturday. Stanley Lupino appears in the George Gee role, and there is a strong supporting cast THEATRE ROYAL ‘ Roaming Lady” is an adventureromance that moves at a thrilling tempo from San Francisco to a rebel camp in bandit-ridden China. Fay Wray is seen as a society girl in love with Ralph Bellamy. in order tn separate them the girl’s father details the young pilot in a special assignment in China to protect the company's nil fields against bandit, raids. The girl follows Bellamy there, and soon involves them both in a series of hairraising adventures. Arthur Biscoe and Frances Day, London favourites, have been teamed together for the first, time on the screen in “Public Nuisance No. 1,” a musical extravaganza of Riviera rhythms, punctuated with many laughs. “BULLDOG DRUMMOND” ‘Bulldog Drummond Comes Back.” with John Barrymore in the leading role, will be screened to-morrow. FAY COMPTON “VICTORIA REGINA” MONDAY To-morrow morning the box plans will be opened at nine o'clock for the appearance at the Theatre Royal on Monday night of Miss Fay Compton. Urn distinguished English actress, and her London company, in "Victoria Rerjna." and f r *r Hip presentation of the London enmedy success. ' George and Margaret." which is to he pmducpri r.p Tuesday evening. "Victoria Rpsrina” enj'iyed a remarkably sucre>>fill run in Auckland, uni great intere.-t tias been centred there in the performances «'f "<ieorgo and Margaret.” Fay Ci.mptnil's ••utMamlins' artistry in the jueen Viet rented a great sensation in Melbourne, where its season had to be considerably extended. Produced by peter Dearing,”

sketches was magnificently staged and dressed and brilliantly acted. The work of Miss Compton was a sheer delight and she was well supported hv Bruno Barnabe as the Prince Consort and the other members of her London company Housman portrays Victoria more as a woman than a queen, and the story of her undying love for Albert is truly a royal romance. Th° picture is first of a romantic girl and bride, then a happy wife, subject to the jealousies that mi~ht beset any woman. Then com p s thp brokenhearted widow, and finally the tired old woman, holding her burden of State on the memories of the pash Prince Albert, even after his death, was the ruling influence in Victoria's life. Miss Compton is supported by a brilliant company of specially selected London artists. The ten stage pictures are said to he the greatest, achievement of the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, and the brilliant period dresses and uniforms are features >f the production. The productions are staged under the direction of Mr Peter Hearing. WIRTH BROTHERS' CIRCUS The advance manager. Mr R. C. Mannington. was in town this week, making arrangements for the visit of this famous circus to Hamilton on Wednesday next. Since last visiting New Zealand. Wirths’ overseas agents have been scouring the world for new acts and novelties, and with the inclusion recently of eight new imported European acts the company will present almost, an entirely new circus. Chief among the acts listed on the programme are the four Kobes. novelty entertainers, with foot, juggling, hand balancing, and tumbling, the climax of this thrilling act being the ‘Slide of Death” backwards down a wire from a height of Oh feet. The 10 Ziganles Introduce whirlwind displays of Spanish acrobatics: the three Houstons. in marvellous feats of balancing high in mid-air on the top of high poles, are direct from Europe; the four Dare-devil Onotos. daring aerial motor cyclists, make backwards and forwards somersaults high in midair with the cycle travelling at a terrific speed; Mons. Henri Martel comes from the Opera House. Paris, with his performing dogs; Fresco and Camillo are comedy acrobats; and the Great Markoni is the . world's champion leaper, who clears an automobile and ten men from a standing jump. Coming with the circus is Worths Bros.’ super menagerie, including a herd of 9 elephants. 18 cages of lions, tigers, jaguars, baboons, monkeys, orang-outangs, panthers, bears, and a complete stud of beautiful and marvellously trained horses, not forgetting “Harold.” the amazing orangoutang in comic antics. The box plan is now open. The location is Boyes Park.