ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES | ] JUNE BARSON AT REGENT j NEW ZEALAND DEANNA DURBIN •Tune Barson, the 14-year-old New Zealand girl who won the contest for a New Zealand Deanna Durbin, opened a Hamilton season at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Miss Barson sang ‘The Dancing Lesson” and “A Heart't That's Free," revealing a voice of great sweetness j and purity. She was warmly recalled. The accompaniments were played by Mr. J. T. Battersby. “You’re a Sweetheart” is an entertaining production. There Is an interesting and amusing story, some of the most tuneful melodies of the year, outstanding dancing numbers, and several new comedians. The story concerns a hotel waiter who becomes a millionaire for a week in order to provide publicity for a Broadway musical comedy. “You’re a Sweetheart” provides a good vehicle for the talents of Alice Faye and George Murphy, who prove themselves a perfect singing and dancing team. Alice Faye dances for the first, time on I lie screen, and also sings several numbers in attractive fashion. Two of the best, arc th% theme song of the picture, 4 “You’re a Sweetheart,” and “Scraping the Toast,” in which she is associated with George Murphy. Comedy is provided in full measure by Andy Devine and Charles Winninger. ROXY THEATRE Variations of the spy and counterspy scheme have served as the plot for countless films, but never have these inbredients been served up so skilfully and so entertainingly as In “"Dark Journey.” Most of the action of the film takes place in Stockholm during the war years, and provides Conrad Veldt with the type of role in which he revels as a suave, slightly sinister von Marwitz, spy in the pay of Germany. He runs counter to Vivien Leigh, as Madeleine, who under the cloak of running a modiste shop is deeply involved In International espionage. Events move swiftly to a climax. “Feather Your Nest” is a xery funny comedy, with George Formby, the English comedian, at the head of the cast. Several songs are introduced. “Leanin’ on a Lamp-post” has a pleasant swing and catchy tune and equally pleasing are “Feather Your Nest” and “I’m as Happy as a Sandboy.” STATE THEATRE “Everybody's Doing It” deals with the American craze for picture-puzzle contests, and gives a clever blend of action and comedy. Preston Foster and Sally Ellers are cast as commercial artists who are romantically interested in each other. They conceive and perfect the idea of advertising by means of the picture-puzzles, and sell the scheme to the manager of an advertising concern, a part played by Cecil Kellaway, the Australian comedian. The story quickens when Foster is kidnapped hv criminals who hope to win the prizes by extorting the correct answers from him. The climax is reached when the artist starts inserting clues as to his whereabouts in the pictures he is forced to send to his employer, and Miss Filers, by solving those, is able to lead the police to his rescue. “Big Town Girl” shows what can happen when a girl with a past steps inio the spotlight of fame. Three men —Donald Woods, Alan Dlnehart and Alan Baxter —provide the background for Claire Trevor’s adventures. THEATRE ROYAL “Texas Trail” brings back Ilopalong Cassidy and his pals, Lucky and Windy. The story deals with the Spanish-American war period, when Cassidy is commisisoned by the army to round up a huge herd of wild horses. Rustlers hear of the plan and try to steal the horses, overpowering Hopalong and his men while they sleep. But Cassidy fights his way out in one of the most exciting incidents of his career, snd joins the army to go to Cuba, after completing his misson. The cast includes William Boyd, George Hayes, Russell Hayden, Judith Allen and Mexander Cross. "Night Club Scandal” is an exciting story, presenting John Barrymore as a successful physician who murders his wife and Lynne Overman, and Charles Bickford as the reporter and detective who run him down. The picture fells of the attempt at a “perfect crime” and how the lenaeifv of the sister of a falselyaccused man and the intelligence of an alert reporter bring I lie attempt to failure CIVIC THEATRE “Wife. Doctor and Nurse” is an intriguing title, and the story lives up to it., with Loretta Young, Virginia Bruce and Warner Baxter in the leading roles. The film opens with a wedding between Dr. Judd Lewis and Ina (parts taken by Mr Baxter and Miss Young:. Dr. Lewis is a prominent member of the medical profession who is attracted by one, of his patients, a charming society girl, j Following the doctor’s marriage, his nurse (Miss Bruce discovers that ! a strong attachment has grown up ! between them in the years of their j association, and which on her part has ripened into love. Realising that in such circumstances she cannot conI her position. Dr. Lewis is restless and irritable in her absence, and his j wife, noticing the change, arranges a j meeting with the nurse, when they j discuss the man with whom they are ! both in love. The ensuing cornplicaj lions are brilliantly treated. The wife I plans a divorce, but before she takes j definite steps a solution is found in a dramatic yet humorous compromise. THE WEINTRAUBS The Weintraubs, who have been drawing large audiences elsewhere, with their entertaining mixture of melodv and humour, will appear at the Theatre *Roval next Thursday night. These artists have also proved very

successful over the air. The programme on Thursday will include Gershwin’s famous “Rhapsody in Blue,” also the always-popular “Blue Danube.” Other examples of harmony, syncopation, comedy and burlesque will be included in a promost entertaining yet presented in Hamilton. Seats may be reserved at the box plan office. PASSION PLAY “THE GARDEN” For three nights, April 10, April 13 and April 15, the parishioners of St. George's Church, Frankton, will present in St.. George’s Hall the Biblical play, “The Garden.” After many weeks of rehearsal the performers are weft acquainted with their parts, and a most impressive rendering of this play is forecast. Presented in five scenes, the play will commence each evening at. 7.45 o'clock, and a silver collection will be taken for the benefit of the Melanesian Mission. _________