ENTERTAINMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 245, 28 July 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE. “MAD HOLIDAY.” Concerned fully as much with the business of entertaining and amusing its audiences as with the more familiar one of mystifying them, “Mad Holiday” comes to the St. James Theatre to-night and to-morrow night, presenting the amusingly different phenomena of a murder mystery “kidding” murder mysteries. Edmund Lowe and the sophisticated Elissa Landi proved apt choices for the leading roles in the diverting entertainment, for Lowe, cast as a temperamental Hollywood player of detective characterisations, has actually appeared in several of them in his professional career, including Philo Vance in “The Garden Murder Case.” Miss Landi, appearing in the new film as a successful author, was likewise brilliantly cast, for in real life she has written no less than five novels, the latest of which, “To-day the Rebels,” is listed for early publication.

MAJESTIC THEATRE, Sandy Nelson, bushman, wanderer, feels that -nothing on earth can anchor him for long. With liis dog Don, his only companion, he arrives one day at the Rutherford farm, where he makes the acquaintance of another swagman, Dodger Green. Together they get temporary work, and Sandy is apparently content for the time being. Jenny Rutherford finds herself irresistibly curious about the big, care-free man. He is different. While the quiet life of the little homestead community goes on, interest between the two young people grows. It blossoms into love. But the course of true love does not run smoothly as is shown in this wonderfully entertaining way in “The Flying Doctor,” featuring Charles Farrell and Mary Maguire, showing at the Majestic Theatre to-night and to-morrow night.

MAORI CONCERT PARTY. Mr Te Ari Pitama, the well-known Maori lecturer, radio entertainer and student of Maori mythology and tradition, has spared no amount of timet and labour in the selection of his programme, “Cavalcade of Maori Song,” to be given in St. Andrew’s Hall tomorrow. With an entirely South Island cast of talented artists, he will present something novel in the way ol entertainment. The programme will be a generous one. A striking feature will be the unaccompanied part-singing in which the voices blend melodiously with the excellent time and rhythm. The party will also demonstrate the difference between tlie old-time songs and those which to-day pass as Maori songs.

HARMONICA BAND CONCERT. Remarkable success attended the inaugural concert of the Ashburton Harmonica Band, which was given in the Radiant Hall last evening. The Shall, although of good size, proved quite inadequate to accommodate all desiring to attend, and dozens were turned away. To meet the disappointment that may have resulted from ticket-holders not being ablo to secure seats, the band has decided to give a further concert at a later date for which these tickets will still be available.

As far as tlxe entertainment ofFered was concerned, there was no doubt that it met with the full approval of the audience. All items in the first half were so vigorously applauded that it was necessary to prohibit encores in tiie second half to keep the programme within reasonable limits. The opinion was freely expressed that it was the best concert given in Ashburton for a considerable time.

The entertainment was of a type new to Ashburton, and was certainly initiated in an auspicious manner. Some fine results were obtained with the harmonicas, demonstrating that the mouth organ is no longer a musical plaything. The members of the band showed to especial advantage in all their items, but the junior members who presented a quartette and a duet came in for especial applause. A wide range of music was presented by the band, .varying from old to modern tunes.

The members of the band appeared in a neat uniform of black shirts with red buttons and sashes, and it is hoped to have this uniform completed, shortly. The band showed it bad received careful tuitioiiNjit the hands of the conductor (Mr C. Bloomfield). Mrs H. J. Chapman was accompaniste, and assisting on the programme were many wellknown local artists who came in for their full share of applause.

The programme was: Items, band; tap dances, Misses H. Thompson and B. Stills; songs, Miss N. Healey; humorous items, Mr D. Drummond; dance, Barbara, Pamela and Alan Hunt; piano accordion duet, Mr C. Hansen and Miss Hansen; quartette, junior members; mouth-organ duet, Messrs G. Bloomfield and C. Bax; junior duet, Keith Jackson and Tom Healey ; xylophone solo, Air T. Brown ; piano and whistling solo, Air C. Hansen. A selection was also given by the Healey family, consisting of Air H. Healey and his five sons, whose ages range from seven to 12 years. After the concert, supper was served and a dance concluded the ('veiling. Alusic for the dance was played by the band, assisted by Air R. Dabourn. Air H. Freeman was master of ceremonies.